News from Hughes » January 26, 2021

It was my honor last week to speak briefly on the Capitol steps in solidarity with the 48th National Right to Life Day Rally where a number of legislators, staffers, and community members gathered.

The oath I took along with other legislators recently elected by the voters to represent their districts.

Three of four of our Senate Pages are from Mat-Su and are returning from previous sessions! From left to right: Julie Fonov, Jared Leonard, Jacob Pennell, and (from Juneau) Nate Van Sickle. Thank you, Senate Pages, for tending to the duties on the Senate floor!

Whether we have an “appetite” for it or not, the political reality is that we have a gap of over $2 billion between incoming revenues and spending levels. Time and savings are running out to close it; nor are there 11 votes in the Senate and 21 votes in the House to cut the budget by over $2 billion to close it (not to mention doing so quickly instead of via a carefully vetted stepped-down approach would be irresponsible).

For these reasons, considering cost saving reforms in statutes, a constitutional spending cap, a PFD formula rewrite that is fair to Alaskans, allocating some of the pipeline property tax to state coffers, shifting some account balances to pay down our PERS/TRS liability (running at about $300 million per year), and considering provider fees for participation in Medicaid are among some of the fiscal solutions I expect to be on the “menu” for consideration in the coming months.

For those of you who may be disappointed at this point in the article that there is not the political will to close the gap with cuts alone, here’s a little “sweet treat” to think about and tide you over until the full “meal” (i.e., longterm fiscal solution) is ready. It takes 51% of the Senate (11 members out of 20) and 51% of the House (21 members out of 40) to agree on a particular budget reduction – and getting that level of agreement can be tough. On the other hand, it only takes 25% of the House and Senate combined (so 15 total of the combined membership of both bodies) to agree with a budget reduction the governor makes with his veto pen.

I’d like to point out something else for your edification in regard to the budget process that might be a tad different this year than what has been typical in prior sessions. Usually, all eyes are on the Senate Finance Committee, and rightly so as they have been responsible for crafting the budget and setting the PFD amount in a bill which then headed to the floor for passage. Because the binding rule was in effect in most past sessions, the decisions made on the fifth floor of the Capitol more or less would become the law of the land. It’s a new day. Now other senators will have an increased role, not only through greater involvement earlier in the process and later in the final numbers, but also in the policies adopted in the policy committees which will help shape cost saving reforms and what happens to the PFD in the future.

Some of the media may continue to focus solely on the Finance Committee, but the smart and savvy news gurus and bloggers will direct the spotlight too on the powerful policy committees. Smart and savvy Alaskans should too.

Again, multiple “menu” options should and will be on the “table” for consideration. The input of Alaskans in this process will be essential. Put your “order” in by contacting my office at 907-465-3743 and weighing in too during the committee process, as both policy bills and budget bills come before the Senate.

I enjoyed a scoop of ice cream with my colleague Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D-Sitka) as a demonstration of friendship and a willingness to work together with those across the aisle.

The Roles are Cast:
Let the Production Begin

National Right to Life Day 2021

January, 22nd was the 48th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Since 1973, more than 62 million precious little babies were not given the choice to live.
With this in mind, I have introduced SJR 4, an amendment to the Alaska State Constitution to provide clarity regarding Article 1.

Pro-life laws passed by the Alaska Legislature in recent decades have been overturned in our courts while similar laws in other states have been upheld for many years. The amendment would ensure that our Alaska State Constitution in regard to privacy and equal protection is not more restrictive than the U.S. Constitution as it pertains to abortion. Some members on both sides of the aisle recognize this issue – and for that I am thankful.

Returning with me for the 32nd Legislature are my chief of staff, Buddy Whitt, and legislative aide, Lisa Hart. Both Buddy and Lisa worked with me for District F over the interim, and I am thrilled that they will be joining me again in Juneau. This is Buddy’s fifth session and Lisa’s second.

I’m happy to welcome back Dawson Mann, our Ted Stevens Foundation intern from the 2020 session. He did such a great job as an intern, I hired him as a full staffer! He is my Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee Aide.

With great excitement, we welcome the newest member to our team: Ted Stevens Foundation legislative intern, Riley Nye. Riley is a student at University of Alaska – Southeast and is adapting quickly to his assignments in the Capitol. What an excellent addition to our staff!

Catch our latest  #Telling_it_like_it_is Facebook Live video from Juneau. Capitol Series #1 aired January 25, 2021 and includes introductions of our intern and staff, discussion about the formation of the Senate Majority and its agreed upon guidelines, and bills scheduled this week. Questions and comments from live viewers are always part of our format.