SESSION UPDATE – April 10, 2023
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
While some Alaskans complete final prep on tax forms to pay for the federal government this week, the State House is expected to make its first major decision on what to spend on state government today. A battle erupted over what boils down to the PFD versus school funding last week. The House Majority is signaling it wants both a decent and fair amount for PFDs and for school funding while the House Minority is signaling it wants a smaller PFD and a larger amount for school funding.
I predicted months ago the tug-of-war would be between these two items, and sure enough it is playing out before our eyes! It will only get more interesting as the budget bill is passed over to the Senate.
Biden’s New Title IX Rule Fails On Three Fronts
Another item we watched last week was the roll-out of President Biden’s new rule prohibiting a categorial limit based on biological sex for school sports participation. First, his move to write law via regulation is outside his powers; secondly, he has created a law that is counter to the intent of Congress when Title IX was passed in 1972; and thirdly, his new law creates a huge grey area which puts the onus and high risk of legal battles on school districts to determine when and if a team should be limited to those of the same biological sex to ensure safety, for example. I have called for a clear line in the sand; this rule provides no such clarity.
The Cart Before the Horse = A Runaway Horse
Right now, the Senate Majority is focused on SB114 (oil taxes) and number of their members are interested in an income tax. That is the cart before the horse, my friends. Pass taxes without a spending cap and what do you get? A runaway horse, i.e., runaway taxes coupled with runaway spending. This would be disastrous for a state with a small population. A tax package is not a long term fiscal plan. [continue reading online]
Pooling Option Picks Up Steam
The words “pooling” and “steam” in the title may conjure up images in your mind of hot springs and geysers but there’s something equally as exciting as these vacation destinations for school administrators right now: the chance to save millions in their district budgets. Health insurance pooling has great potential to produce real savings, freeing up dollars that can then be targeted to student learning. [continue reading online
The Perfect Pitch: An Honor to Keynotes Competition Event for Entrepreneurs
Being an entrepreneur is about taking risks. It’s about passion and innovation and creativity. It’s about recognizing the opportunities as they come your way, both good and bad, breaking down barriers and looking adversity in the eye. It’s about facing failures in the beginning and the middle but never allowing them to be the end result. I’m sure a little humor along the way helped too – and that you’ll look back and laugh at various points of your adventure. Just like the creator of Corn Pops who also invented Cocoa Puffs, Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, and Apple Jacks did… [continue reading online]
Keep scrolling, my friends!
Don’t miss the quotes by Alaskans giving me input—always insightful and varied, sometimes startling and sometimes amusing. See what bills are up for public testimony this week. Lots of great info and photos of friends and neighbors await you below. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom, so you don’t miss out on what may be relevant to you.
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As always, I look forward to meeting you when I’m back in district as well as in Juneau if you come for a visit. Hope to see those of you on the eastern (Palmer) side of Mat-Su on April 15 (scroll down for flyer). Senator Mike Shower will be joining me and possibly Rep. George Rauscher and Rep. DeLena Johnson depending on their schedules.
My responsibility to you is front and center, whether I am on the Senate floor, drafting policy, in a meeting, or out and about in our community. If you would like my feedback on your issue, please call my office (907) 465-3743 to set up a phone call with me or come by one of my coffee chats.
Working on your behalf,
Articles that are still relevant and very much worth reading!
Sitting on the Sidelines is Not an Option
We need to rally for public accommodation sanity.
Pay raises for legislators? Flawed process and policy
In response to the 67% pay raise proposal, I filed SB 111 “Rejecting Legislators’ Salary Increase”.
The Key Point is the Key Point in Email Traffic
I am seeing recurring themes in my inbox, some of which may surprise you.
How can we make sure we’re getting the most bang for our buck in state government operations?
With all the tax talk, it’s more important than ever to support SB 9.
SB 52: Rewrite is not yet truly student-centered or teacher-focused
The bill is not yet focused on improving student learning.
SB88 Pension “Pill”: Better reading the warning label
Some are touting the pension bill as a cure but is it really?
Tax Measures Absent: a Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Will be DOA
An isolated tax package is not a long term fiscal plan.
Directing more dollars to classrooms with funds districts already have
We can increase dollars for classrooms without one new penny.
Enough is enough! Healthcare costs are breaking the bank
Four solutions await your advocacy.
Why is Lady Justices’ blindfold slipping in Alaska?
Something has changed since statehood. What can we do about it?
“National Popular Vote” isn’t what it’s cracked up to be:
It’s bad for Alaska, bad for nation.
Hemp Saga: Effort to repeal ag crop statutes creates stir
Putting the crop under the Marijuana Control Board would be a mistake.
Thanks to Alaska Board of Education for Title IX Work
Safe and fair for all Title IX-related resolution passes.
Let’s Extend This Significant Day Throughout the Year
It won’t cost a penny but the returns will be invaluable…
Senator Hughes introduced Aaron McPheters, UAA Seawolves’ Director of Hockey Operations, on the Senate floor. Aaron is a Palmer resident and an accomplished athlete. Senator Hughes noted while introducing Aaron that with the growing Mat-Su, meeting the many residents is always a delight.
The Senator and Gaby “the Intern” Gonzalez presented SB 110 in front of the Senate Education Committee last week prior to strong and supportive testimony. Testimony will be reopened this Wednesday by Chair Tobin.
Billie June stopped in to highlight issues important to her based on firsthand experiences.
“A financial literacy requirement would be great!”
“…your over-reliance on the phrase “common sense” (and its implication that opponents lack it) says a lot about the integrity of your position.”
“I’d rather have a sales tax. No income tax.”
“…there are about 15,000 people that come here at work in Alaska from out of state during fishing season. Tax the employment.”
“Just the fact that legislators would even begin to think about raising their pay by any amount…How can Alaskans trust the obviously selfish, greedy, self-centered humans we voted for?”
“We support full funding of the BSA with back payments for all the years that allocation was shorted funds. Education funding should be a TOP priority not the PFD!”
“I strongly encourage you to take a more closely guarded approach to hastily writing any such law into our state without a more extensive public debate and research into the negligible effects of carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas that would or could have any detrimental effect.”
“Senator Hughes, please do NOT vote for the defined benefits plan until the legislature gets there [sic] fiscal house in order.”
“Would they feel the same way if I were to pull children aside and speak to them privately about my religious views or coerce them into joining an extremist cult? This doesn’t happen. So, what gives the LGBT advocates this privileged door into the lives of other people’s children?”
“These pension proposals could mean that Alaska would, for the first time, have either a sales tax or an income tax. Juneau legislators are already telling us that we cannot afford a full PFD. How will we pay for a return to defined benefit?”
“The attacks we’ve been hearing against the Electoral College are at best ignorant. It protects the balance of power between the states. A national popular vote—which people are pushing as an alternative–would take power from the states and give it to big cities and to Washington, DC.”
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO WEIGH IN THIS WEEK
Public Testimony
🎙️
If you’d like to provide public testimony for any bill, enter the bill number (for example “HB 22”) into the search bar here to learn the date and time. Scroll down toward the bottom of this newsletter or view the highlighted bill images to find the public testimony call-in phone numbers.
The following “News from Hughes Alerts” are highlighted bills for this week.
🖱️ Click on the image to view the referenced bill.
Click the button below to see all public testimony opportunities
occurring within the next seven days.
Other Hearings
That May Interest You
🔎
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 3:30pm
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Consideration of Governor’s Appointees:
State Board of Education and Early Development: James Fields
TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 3:30pm
SENATE HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
Consideration of Governor’s Appointees:
State Medical Board: David Barnes
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 3:30pm
SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Consideration of Governor’s Appointees:
Board of Game: Jacob Fletcher
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 3:30pm
SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Consideration of Governor’s Appointees:
Board of Fisheries: Gerald Godfrey, Greg Svendsen, Mike Wood
Big Game Commercial Services Board: Michael Flores
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 3:00pm
HOUSE HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
Consideration of Governor’s Appointees:
Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees: Anita Halterman, John Morris
State Medical Board: Dave Barns
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1:00pm
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Consideration of Governor’s Appointees:
Board of Governors of the Alaska Bar: William Granger
Alaska Judicial Council: Dennis DeWitt
Commission on Judicial Conduct: Todd Fletcher
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 6:00pm
HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
HOUSE FISHERIES COMMITTEE
Consideration of Governor’s Appointees:
Board of Fisheries: Gerad Godfrey, Greg Svendsen, Mike Wood, and Stanley Zuray
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1:00pm
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Consideration of Governor’s Appointees:
Big Game Commercial Services Board: Michael Flores
Board of Game: Jacob Fletcher
A constituent from District M, a student in the four-year Doctorate of Pharmacy program at UAA (in conjunction with Idaho State University), dropped by the office.
Senator Hughes met with smiling pharmacy advocates from the Doctorate of Pharmacy program that UAA hosts in conjunction with Idaho State University.
Space is extremely limited. If you or someone you know qualifies, apply early!
Looking forward to meeting with you. Click the image to see the details on Facebook.
Check out articles from our senators as we post them, take surveys, and more by clicking the picture above.
Then check out and follow our social media platforms
for even more up-to-the-minute info!
FACEBOOK | X (TWITTER) | INSTAGRAM
Space is extremely limited. If you or someone you know qualifies, apply early!
Help do your part to keep our land and community clean from drug pollution/abuse.
Senate Assignments:
- Alaska Food Strategy Task Force, Chair
- Food and Farm Caucus, Co-Chair
- Special Committee on World Trade
- Victims’ Advocate Selection Committee
- Law Finance Subcommittee
Other Appointments and Assignments:
- State Agricultural and Rural Leaders, National Board Member
- Article V Phoenix Correspondence Commission, National Commissioner
- NCSL Cybersecurity Task Force
- CSG-West Canada Relations
- CSG Interbranch Committee
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🔥HOT TIP🔥 BE AN ADVOCATE! If you are following a bill and wish to increase public support or knowledge for that bill, contact the sponsoring legislator of the bill to seek recommendations on how you can best advocate in your community. |
For information on bills I’m co‑sponsoring
For information on all bills filed during this session,
Bills I’ve Filed on Your Behalf
Health Insurance Info; Incentives/Agreements
Alaska Sunset Commission
Constitutional Amendment: Abortion/Funding
School/University Employee Health Insurance
Rejecting Commission’s Recommendation to Raise Salaries
Keep up with updates, notices, news, and photos throughout the week and live broadcasts every Monday evening at 6pm.
Join Shelley on Facebook Live each week to ask questions and give input.
We typically broadcast Mondays at 6:00 pm, but watch for a notification on Facebook as the day/time is subject to change.
Be sure to “like” the “Senator Shelley Hughes” Facebook page www.facebook.com/AKShelleyHughes
so you’ll get a heads-up each time we air!
WATCH OUR MOST RECENT BROADCAST BELOW
& THEN JOIN US LIVE TONIGHT AT 6PM!
MORE TIPS TO STAY IN THE LOOP✏️
More important than ever!
#1
Alaska State Legislature web site is the place to track bills, locate and contact your legislators, and access committee information. Questions? Try the help wizard or call 1-800-478-4648.
#2
SMS Bill Tracking! Once you know what bill(s) you want to monitor, here’s a convenient way to track what’s happening. Text any bill number (ex: SB1) to 559-245-2529 to enroll in text alerts for that particular piece of legislation. You’ll receive an enrollment confirmation as well as instructions on how to unsubscribe.
#3
How to Get in Touch with Shelley! Give our office a call at 907-465-3743 or 800-565-3743 or send an email to Sen.Shelley.Hughes@akleg.gov. If you need assistance, want a response, or need other follow-up, please call rather than email.
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Gaby Gonzalez Staff Intern Gaby.Gonzalez@akleg.gov 907-465-3743 |
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Stephen Knouse Legislative Aide Stephen.Knouse@akleg.gov 907-465-1172 |
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Anneliese Roberts Chief of Staff Anneliese.Roberts@akleg.gov 907-465-5025 |
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| Juneau Office Alaska State Capitol Rm 7 Juneau, Alaska 99801 907-465-3743 800-565-3743 |
Mat-Su Office (closed while in Juneau) 600 E. Railroad Avenue Wasilla, Alaska 99654 907-376-3725 |
HAVE A FEDERAL ISSUE???
Contact Alaska’s US Senators and Congressman
| Lisa Murkowski – Senator Anchorage: 907-271-3735 Mat-Su: 907-376-7665 |
Dan Sullivan – Senator Anchorage: 907-271-5915 Mat-Su: 907-357-9956 |
| Mary Peltola – Representative Anchorage: 907-921-6675 |
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