Hello all,

I have received many phone calls and e-mails about the Economic Stimulus Package money.   We are currently going through the public hearings process to determine what money would be helpful for our State, and what funds may hurt our budget in the long run.  For example, some funds may last for two years, but then the State is required to pick up the tab after the federal money runs out. We need to understand the long-term effects of accepting certain portions of the stimulus money.  The legislature will continue to gather information concerning this money and make the best decision based on the information at the time.  We always have the ability to adjust our fiscal decisions as conditions change.

To deal with the huge amount of money that does not flow through our budget process at the State level the Legislature has formed an “Alaska Clearinghouse” to help agencies, non-profits, local governments, and other organizations find out what money is available to them.  This partnership is with the help of the Denali Commission, which is a State/Federal grant agency.  The number for the Alaska Clearinghouse is 1-888-480-4321 and the website is www.denali.gov.   If you are looking to apply for the many competitive grants available through the stimulus package, this is the place to start.

We haven’t seen many bills pass as most of our attention is focused on our budget deficits and the stimulus package.  Another topic that is at the forefront of this session is parental consent for abortion.  HB 35 is sponsored by Representative Coghill (R-North Pole), and I have signed on as a co-sponsor to this legislation because I believe parents have a right to know if their child is having any medical procedure.  As a father of three young girls, I could not imagine any one of my daughters making serious medical decisions like this on their own.  As a parent, I have to give approval for my kids to go on a field trip or to take an aspirin.  I think it is well within parental rights to be consented prior to their child having any medical procedure.  HB 35 has passed out of two committees and is awaiting a vote on the House Floor.

Last week in the House Special Committee on Energy, we heard a resolution sponsored by Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Haines) that addresses the Federal Government concerning hydro power.  HJR 25 encourages the Feds to recognize hydroelectric power as a renewable resource.  Because hydro is not yet recognized as a renewable resource, hydro projects are not eligible to receive certain funds.  I don’t need to tell the residents of District One what this resolution means to us.  Hydro is our biggest, most valuable renewable resource in Southeast Alaska.  If the Federal Government were to recognize hydroelectric power as a renewable resource, it would free up a lot of possible funds to build more hydro projects in our area.  This resolution passed unanimously out of the Energy Committee and it is on its way to the Resources Committee.

I am also pleased to see the Governor come to Ketchikan to sign the Joseph C. Williams coastal trail legislation I sponsored.  It is a good step in making her aware of issues facing District One.  We welcome her to Ketchikan in the future.

I also got to visit with Gavin Charrier and Marcia Lapinski who were in the building this week lobbying for the public employees.  It is always nice to see folks from town here in person.

I hope all is well in Ketchikan.  I’m looking forward to the end of session so I can come home and spend time with my family and friends.

Best,

Greetings from Juneau!

Thank you for signing up for my blog.  This week has been exciting.  Southeast Conference held their annual Mid-Session Summit, which was a great opportunity to catch up with folks from District One and other parts of Southeast Alaska.  Energy is the hot topic on everyone’s minds, and it is certainly a big issue we are dealing with this session.  I sit on the House Energy Committee, and I have had the privilege to be at the forefront of the energy discussion.  In the past few weeks, the Energy Committee has traveled to Nome, Kotzebue, Dillingham, and Kotlik to get a first-hand understanding of some of the issues facing Western Alaska regarding energy.  I hope that the Energy Committee continues these trips, as they are a great way to understand some of the concerns in other parts of the State and they offer an opportunity to educate others about our energy issues.  In Dillingham, a few locals opened their homes to us to show us what they were doing to help conquer high fuel prices.  A few people had wood-fired boilers, someone else had two windmills in their backyard, and another family had a Tulikivi fireplace.  Though these were big investments, it shows that people are taking things into their own hands and not waiting for prices to come down or someone to subsidize the fuel for them.  You can find photos of the trips in my Image Gallery.

I had the privilege of meeting with a few constituents this week – The Southeast Alaska Homebuilders were in town, as well as many folks from Southeast Conference.  The Homebuilders came to talk about legislation they were supporting or opposing, and other issues of concern.  We also spoke about possible funding for the construction academy in Ketchikan.  I sat on the Finance Subcommittee for the Department of Labor, and we added a 3.5 million dollar allocation for construction academies throughout the state, including the academy in Ketchikan.  The operating budget passed the House last week and is now on the Senate side.  Though this allocation will not be final until passed by both bodies and signed by the Governor, getting the allocation in the budget is the hard part.

I have received many e-mails and phone calls about HB 134, which amends wastewater “point of discharge” language.  As most of you know, an initiative passed in 2006 that enacted very stringent and nearly unattainable discharge standards upon cruise ships.  Keep in mind that no other municipalities are required to follow these same standards – the language of the initiatives specifically targeted cruise ships.  I am in full support of this legislation because I don’t like to see an instrumental element of Ketchikan’s business arena to be unfairly targeted.  Though I recognize and appreciate Alaska’s pristine environment, our already existing water quality standards prior to the passage of the 2006 initiative were stringent enough.  HB 134 is in the committee process and I hope to see it for a vote on the House Floor in the near future.

I am the Speaker of the House pro-tempore, which means that I act as the Speaker when Rep. Mike Chenault is not able to do so.  Rep. Chenault was out of town for part of this week, so I had the honor of serving as the Speaker during that time.  We had a full calendar and it was an honor to be up on the podium as the Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives.

I also had the special treat of having my oldest daughter, Jacie, and my parents, Linda and Jerry, in Juneau for Spring Break.  Jacie was a guest page on the floor.  Being away from my family is difficult during session, so it was very nice to have some of them visit Juneau.

Thanks for taking the time to stay updated on the issues here in Juneau.  Feel free to contact my office with any questions, concerns, or insights.

Best,

Welcome to my blog. I created this blog so it is easier for you to find out what is happening here during session. With the 90-day session, it is very difficult to find time amidst endless committee meetings, floor sessions, and other legislative business. I think it is important that the people I represent have an easy way to find out what I’m doing for them.

Saying that this session has been busy is an understatement. In my new position as the House Majority Leader, my responsibilities range from member relations, floor sessions, and press availabilities. On top of those tasks, I serve on a number of committees and subcommittees, and I also have introduced personal legislation. Though this position is very busy, I think it brings a great advantage to Southeast Alaska, and I am enjoying the fast pace of my workload.

 This is my first blog post of many. I plan on updating my blog a couple times a week as business progresses and the session advances. Please visit often to read about what I am working on. I encourage your input and involvement, as you are the people I am working for.

 Best,

 Kyle