News from Hughes » February 7, 2018

Hearing issues important to my constituents at my Coffee Chat at Vagabond Blues in Palmer. You’ll have another opportunity to weigh in soon: Mat-Su Delegation Town Hall on Saturday, Feb. 24 from 9:00 – 11:00am at the Palmer Senior Center and the Chugiak / Eagle River Delegation Town Hall, also on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 2:00 – 4:00pm. Big shout out to those who show up at chats and town halls to let me know your concerns and ideas!

I partnered with the Division of Veterans Affairs and Director Verdie Bowen to host a Veterans Informational Lunch on January 27th at the Palmer Senior Center. We had a great turnout! DVA provided resources for our veterans and their families and took questions. I was honored to present a coin to each veteran to thank them on behalf of our nation. As a military mom and veteran’s wife, it was moving to share a moment of gratitude with each man and woman for their service.

A little light browsing and transparency for you! Do at least take a glance at the links at the end of this article. I look forward to your feedback. Do you think departments are still too top heavy? Should a 4-day trip to Boston by a commissioner cost $5800? Guess who spent $139,000 on travel last year and has a salary of $546,000? How do the salaries plus per diem and travel of legislators in the legislative branch compare to that of leadership in the executive (governor’s) branch – that of the many directors, assistant and deputy commissioners, commissioners and others in leadership in the multiple departments and state agencies?

If you’re quick to say legislators work part-time, please know that is not the case for many of us (possibly even most of us) – we work full-time year round.

I am including this in my newsletter because the media often only reports on the legislators – and that’s fine that they do – but you deserve to know too that the executive branch is costing us a tremendous amount in these areas – far, far more. Don’t get me wrong: we need good people in many of these positions and competitive salaries are necessary. But I’m not convinced all these positions are necessary nor am I sure that all of these salaries need to be as high as they are to be competitive.

Here’s the executive branch report:
http://doa.alaska.gov/dof/reports/resource/ctep/2017_fullreport.pdf.

Here’s the legislative branch report:
http://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/2017Report.pdf

Mat-Su Delegation Town Hall
Saturday, February 24, 2018
10:00 a.m. to Noon
Mat-Su Senior Services (Palmer Senior Center)
1132 S. Chugach St
Palmer, Alaska 99645

Chugiak / Eagle River Delegation Town Hall*
Saturday, February 24, 2018
2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center
22424 N Birchwood Loop
Chugiak, Alaska 99567

*A public safety meeting at 4:00 p.m. will immediately follow the town hall.

I’ve known Ms. Van Diest since the early 1990’s; she is a woman of character and integrity with a solid work ethic. Thank you to Governor Walker for his choice for the Third Judicial District seat on the State Education Board.

Her experience and work in education extends from the public school system to private schools in Alaska as well to homeschooling; Ms. Van Diest will bring a depth of knowledge in all three areas to the table and certainly be an asset to the present board. From teaching to school counseling to high school coaching, Ms. Van Diest, has a good handle on the issues and challenges districts, teachers, and students face.

Thank you for stepping up, Lorri! Congratulations on your appointment and good luck on your confirmation by the legislature.

On Tuesday I met with (left to right) Assistant Chief Clifton Dalton, Chief Tim Benningfield, and Lieutenant Chris Steeves, all of the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department. Thanks to these brave firefighters, families in the area rest easy and have help when needed. Mat-Su commuters are served well too by this good organization as they provide high quality emergency services along a busy section of the Glenn Highway.

Will Chinese engineers take jobs away from Alaskan engineers? What does China expect in return for investing? Does AGDC expect use of funding from the Permanent Fund? (AGDC = Alaska Gasline Development Corporation)

View the hearing and get the answers straight from the president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corportation, Keith Meyer.

AGDC is not requesting additional “new funds” but does have $67 million as of this January as their project fund balance and a $10 million line item in the operating budget (same as last year’s). That’s $77 million total. They do want access to some “old funds” though. They want the $12 million leftover from the Alaska Stand Alone Pipeline project transferred to their AKLNG project. They also want receipt authority so they can accept funding from third party entities.

Sen. Hughes sits in on a Joint Senate Finance and Resources meeting. Despite the fact that she’s no longer a member of these two committees due to her departure from caucus because of her vote against the budget, she is engaged and working with members on the committees to address the concerns of those she represents.

The Senate unanimously passed SCR14 last week to honor Alaskan soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in the past year. The resolution awarded the Alaska Decoration of Honor to military members from Alaska who were killed in action. The legislature has passed such a resolution every year since 2007.

SCR 14 awards the Alaska Decoration of Honor  to Private Hansen B. Kirkpatrick of Wasilla (died July 3, 2017), Chief  Warrant Office Jacob M. Sims of Oklahoma and Southeast Alaska (died October 28, 2017), and Staff Sergeant David T. Brabander of Wasilla (died December 11, 2017).

SB152 passed the Senate unanimously today establishing September 11 of every year as Patriot Day. In addition, SB 152 requests the Governor of the State of Alaska to order the observation of Patriot Day and the display of the U.S. flag at half staff in honor of individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

I hope you’ll take a quiet moment to join me in thanking these heroes and to pray for the family members they left behind.

Good news for anyone thinking about enrolling in a certificate program at the University of Alaska (including at Mat-Su College). President Johnson stated in the Joint Education Committee hearing tody that tuition for these programs will be reduced starting next fall – as much as by 25%. (photo credit to ACPE)

I met with Pat Raeber, a member of the Board of Directors of Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. and Chuck Foster, CEO of WASI to talk about Agenet and their priorities for senior Alaskans.

“I strongly support spending trimmed before taxes imposed”

“All the talk about proposed tax increases…especially a new income tax… cost Alaska the services of a physician. I moved Outside because of it. Taxes have consequences. So do bloated governments.”

“Stop wasting our time and money. We sent you there to get your jobs done. Not enough punishment for you for not getting it done.”

“Please restore our FULL PFDs according to written statute. Taking **OUR** PFDs has the WORST effect on local economies, small businesses, and families according to ISER.”

“I strongly support an Alaskan income tax.”

“1. More state police. 2. More funding for University of Alaska. 3. Payroll tax is OK but cap it. 4. Stop killing wolves and bears. 5. Yes to Bristol Bay Salmon and NO to giant toxic pebble mine.”

TO EARLY FUND OR NOT?

In this photo, my Education Committee colleagues and I are listening to young Oliver Lamkin testify before the Senate Education Committee in support of determining the education budget early and separately. I always welcome the involvement of young students; after all it’s all about their future!

Sen. Steven’s senate bill and Rep. Seaton’s house bill would require the governor to present a separate budget for education funding and for the legislature to pass this separate budget bill by April 1 of each year. Due to the late passage of the overall state operating budget in previous years, school districts have not known their final budget numbers and have issued pink slips to teachers, only to rehire most back once the numbers are finalized. This has a detrimental impact of teacher retention and morale.

My concern with the house version of the bill is the early draining of the CBR (Constitutional Budget Reserve) to fund education, which I believe is an attempt to try to force an income or payroll tax. I realize that the stress and drama caused by the annual pink slip situation is not good for teachers or students.

We could move the legislature to the autumn and remedy the problem! We could also go to a biennial budget process like other states and provide more certainty for a two-year period (I’d pushed this idea in the house 4 years ago to no avail, btw). The challenge for the finance committees is that the education spending is such a huge portion of the general fund spending and all the pieces need to fit together in the end.

We’re already hearing that other groups (university is a case in point) will want to line up for the same consideration – being pulled out of the regular operating budget bill and being put into a special early bill.

Another way to avoid the pink slip dilemma without a separate bill is simply for the majorities in each body to announce their target for education funding early instead of leaving everyone guessing. Districts could then plan on the midway point of the two targets.

It’s interesting to note that when I asked in committee whether the passage of the bill would prevent pink slips from being issued, I was told that no, some would still be issued. When I asked if passage would prevent requests for more education funding in the regular operating budget after a separate education funding bill were passed, the answer was no; the expectation was that education advocacy groups would likely still press for additional funding in the overall operating budget bill. When I suggested the possibility that we first fund school teachers in an early bill, and then work out the rest of the education budget through the normal process, those representing school administration organizations opposed the idea.

The senate bill (SB131) awaits a hearing in Senate Finance. The house bill (HB287) is being debated on the house floor today with an expected vote this evening.

Catch this #Telling_it_like_it_is video from Feb 6 in Juneau if you missed it live. Do you like my idea about an audit? Do you think we should give more money to the AKLNG project? These topics and more with your input at the forefront.

If you missed my first #Telling_it_like_it_is Facebook Live of the session from Juneau you can catch it now!