News from Hughes » April 4, 2019

Bright and early on Thursday mornings, Sen. Hughes attends the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Subcommittee meetings to drill down in the numbers. Last week was an overview of the Division of Facilities Services. This week, it was the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Process.

My most recent Capitol Quick Clip, Number 5 has reached about 14,000 viewers. Entitled “The Real Deal: Alaskans Need to Know”, if you haven’t watched it, you’ll want to do so!

If we do nothing to bend down the spending curve, how many more PFDs will you get? If we do nothing in next two years to bend down the spending curve, and we leave the PFDs alone, what would the sales tax rate need to be, or how much would the per household income tax need to be?

You’ll be surprised. I was when I asked an economist in my office last week.

You may recall that in 1982, Alaskans constitutionalized a spending cap. Its structure, however, was such that it did not control state spending in any way because the cap grew at such a high rate. SJR 6 ties the limit on appropriations for a fiscal year to the average of the previous three fiscal years plus the inflation rate. The resolution allows capital spending outside the cap in years of excess revenue, but limits that capital spending to 10% of the appropriation limit. The resolution also make provisions for savings and removes the three-quarter vote requirement for the constitutional budget reserve (which has caused “horse-trading” for votes in recent years that has escalated the budget).

I believe an appropriate spending cap will provide a more stable path forward. With the volatile oil markets and revenues that can fluctuate drastically, it is important that in boom years we put away for the bust years rather than growing the size and cost of government to levels our small population cannot afford when the boom ends.

The Judiciary Committee also began work on Senate Joint Resolution 4, which adds a constitutional requirement that any tax passed by the legislature must be approved by the voters prior to implementation. Conversely, it also would require that any tax passed through a citizen initiative must be approved by the legislature. With a referendum process already in place that allows Alaskans to repeal tax policy the legislature may pass, and a legislative process already in place that allows, after two years, a legislature to repeal tax policy passed through a citizen initiative, this amendment is not bringing something brand new to the table. Essentially, it is making the two processes automatic. It makes it more convenient for voters (no need to collect signatures) to overturn a tax passed by a legislature, and less of a wait time for legislators (no two year wait) to overturn a tax passed through a citizen initiative.

Listening closely to the public testimony before the committee this week, testifiers focused on the part of the resolution which granted voters the final say in whether a new or increased tax would become law or not. The testimony came in 2:1 in support of the resolution. I invite you to weigh in on the public record by emailing Senate.Judiciary@akleg.gov to let legislators know what you think of this amendment to our state constitution.

The next proposal for a constitutional amendment the committee will be considering is Senate Joint Resolution 5. SJR5 constitutionalizes the permanent fund dividend, requiring any changes to the PFD formula made in statute by the legislature to be approved by the voters. The legislature would not have the ability to change the amount of the PFD in the annual budget process, as the amendment would require funds for PFDs to be transferred by the Permanent Fund Corporation directly to the PFD program. PFDs would no longer be a budget item and part of the appropriation process. Please stay tuned for more information as well as how you can participate in public testimony before the committee. Meanwhile, you may submit written testimony to Senate.Judiciary@akleg.gov.

The Judiciary Committee has also heard two crimes bills SB33 and SB34, in the last two weeks and is working on a third, SB35, with final improvements to this bill via a new committee substitute soon to be complete

SB35 is the second bill we’ve worked on this session pertaining to sexual crimes. The first, SB12, focused on closing the loopholes exposed by the Justin Schneider case which triggered the voters ousting Judge Corey. SB35 addresses other important elements of our criminal statutes to toughen penalties, including those for which minors are the victims such as child pornography, unlawful exploitation of a minor, and mandatory reporting of suspected sexual crimes. This bill also requires sex offenders who come from other states where they had to be on a sex offender registry, to register as well in Alaska. We expect this bill to be moved out of committee early next week.

SB33 pertains to pre-trial statutes and SB34 addresses issues related to probation and parole. Since the administration presented the bills to the committee, our office has been researching suggestions, including from the Chair (Sen. Hughes) and from other committee members (Senators Reinbold, Micchicle, Shower, and Kiehl). We vet the ideas and language for improvements with lead prosecutors with the Department of Law, our legislative legal support staff, law enforcement, and the Department of Corrections. Work will continue on both of these pieces of legislation over the next couple of weeks. We want to get them right! Once we do, they will move out of committee.

Be sure to tune in to Gavel to Gavel or 360North.com every Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 1:30pm to see committee proceedings.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Alaska team join Senator Hughes – Chris, Susan, Stewart and Kathy. We discussed the dreadful and multi-faceted problem of suicide in Alaska and how it is necessary to get to the root and convey value, love and care to all individuals as part of our culture, from a young age on up, every day, to everyone.

Mat-Su school principals rock! Such a delight to be joined by so many who serve our students in my district (left to right): Paul Reid (Palmer High), Jennifer Dowd (Machetanz Elementary), Rourka Spatz (Swanson Elementary), Mary Watts (Pioneer Peak Elementary) Brendon McMahon (Colony High) and Reese Everett (Mat-Su Borough School District Executive Director of Instruction).

Lastly, confirmation hearings were held for John Bania and Darroll Hargraves for the University of Alaska Board of Regents. Confirmation hearings for Bob Griffin, Sally Stockhausen, and Tiffany Scott for the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development were also held. The hearings can be viewed on Basis (dates April 2 and April 4, Senate Education Committee).

Be sure to tune in to Gavel to Gavel or 360North.com
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 am to see committee proceedings.

Senator Hughes and Shiela Morrison during SB79 Bill presentation on March 26th.

I (Shiela) presented my first bill in the Senate Education Committee. The bill was SB79, The Education Transformation Act.

This legislation is designed to improve and expand student learning opportunities, help ensure quality teachers, and incentivize efficiencies and savings in districts and in the department.

A key component of the bill is that it would establish a virtual education consortium that would give students and districts statewide access to great teachers and courses in other districts that they wouldn’t be able to access otherwise.

It was an honor to have Senator Hughes at my side, especially on an education bill which we passionately believe will enhance Alaska’s existing curriculum and improve student outcomes and teacher’s continuing education to help them serve their students.  First and foremost, it’s all about the kids, accountability and options.

Catch this #Telling_it_like_it_is video from March 25th in Juneau if you missed it live.