I’ve been busy assiting constituents in a range of issues, from employment concerns to the library issue.  I encourage you to come down to the office to touch base anytime.  My office is always open and my staff is always willing to help.

Best,

The capital budget was released two days ago, and here is a list of project in District 1:

Whitman Lake Hydro (16,680,000)

Bethe Substation (5,000,000)

Ketchikan Fire Station No. 1(5,300,000)

Replacement and Rehabilitation of Municipal Bridges and Trestles (1,000,000)

Jackson/Monroe Street 4^th/7^th Avenue Water and Sewer (3,459,375)

Baranof Reservoir Replacement                (1,986,330)

Ketchikan Senior Services Access Road to Pioneer Heights (250,000)

Southern Southeast Emergency Training Center                (500,000)

Coffman Cove Maintenance Station (900,000)

Alaska Avenue Water and Sewer Main Replacement (1,779,660)

Coffman Cove Wander Around Town Trail (450,000)

Airport Renovation and Reconstruction (1,500,000)

Hollis Emergency Services Facility Construction (1,500,000)

Cruise Ship Berth IV Traffic Signal (1,300,000)

Replace Cruise Ship Berths I and II (10,000,000)

I will keep you updated with any changes to this list.

Best,

We are in the last two weeks of session.  Yesterday, the Operating Budget went to Conference Committee, which means that we are now in the 24-hour rule.  The 24-hour rule means that bills will begin to move much quicker because they only have to be noticed one day in advance versus the usual five-day notice.

 In the very near future, the Senate Finance Committee will be releasing the Capital Budget.  Once that comes out, I will post what is in the budget for District 1 and continue to keep you updated on the budget as it goes through the committee process.

 Stay tuned.

Thanks to all who attended my Mid-Session Town Hall Meeting on Saturday.  There was a great turnout and a valuable discussion of some of the issues before the Legislature.  I appreciate all of you who came on during your weekend to speak with me and have your voice heard.

I will post again later in the week and give you an update of what is going on here in the Capitol Building.  Floor sessions are getting longer and committees are having two-a-day meetings to try and accomplish their work by the end of the 90-day session.

I am holding the first Mid-Session Town Hall Meeting this Saturday, March 13th, from 3-5pm at the Ketchikan Legislative Information Office.  I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about the issues affecting our District.  If you cannot attend in person, please call 1 (877) 763-5073 to be connected to the meeting by phone.

This is an open and public meeting.  Please spread the word.

See you there!

We have been busy this last week with the closing of the finance subcommittees this week.  The subcommittee reports will be forwarded to the full finance committee for their consideration.  I proposed several amendments to slow the growth of our operating budget.  Unfortunately, none of those reductions were accepted.  I am committed to making sure every dollar we spend of the public’s money is scrutinized and accounted.  I also introduced the concept of “short funding” or “Freemanizing” (after our own late Representative Oral Freeman) the operating budget.  Simply put, we would appropriate money to last 9 months and then next session ask them what they did with that before we gave them the final 3 months worth of funding.  We need to ask what are we getting for our money now before we blindly give government more.

I introduced a resolution, on the behalf of local business, to urge federal agencies to amend regulations regarding small vessels that are crucial to the economy of coastal Alaska.  Federal law currently prohibits small vessels in Alaska to carry fuel, cargo and passengers simultaneously and also forbids vessels that carry fuel be constructed with aluminum.  There are settlements, homes, and businesses in Alaska that cannot be served by the large barge companies and we must allow them to be serviced by smaller vessels.  These federal restrictions impede the economy and the must be amended. 

I also introduced a bill that would tighten up the mandatory insurance laws we have here in Alaska.  HB 380 would create an online, up-to-date database that would allow the DMV and law enforcement to check on the validity of a driver’s insurance.  We have laws that require automobile insurance, but these laws are difficult to enforce because of the loopholes in the system.  Drivers can obtain insurance, receive their insurance card, then turn around and cancel their insurance.  The current system does not allow licensing agencies and law enforcement to verify insurance.  HB 380 enables the State of Alaska to enforce laws that are already on the books.

The Arts Council bill, HB 311, was passed out of the Education Committee on Monday.  Its Senate companion, SB 209, is going to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday of next week.  I look forward to an easy passage that allows the State Council on the Arts to continue their good work with our local communities.

The Transportation Committee is very busy.  We’ve heard various bills such as the banning of cell phone use while driving, winter tire requirements, and the creation of a transportation permanent fund.  The latter has taken up a lot of the committee’s time.  It is an interesting idea but I do have some reservations.  I will monitor the plan closely and work with my colleagues to provide safe and reliable transportation infrastructure for Alaska. 

Doug Ward from Alaska Ship & Drydock came to Juneau this week to make a presentation to the Economic Development, Trade, and Tourism committee.   It was a great forum for Ketchikan and I’ve received many compliments from around the state about our operation and support of our State-owned shipyard.  We have worked hard to create a manufacturing industry in Southeast Alaska.

Southeast Conference’s Mid-Session Summit is this week, and I look forward to meeting with folks from the region.  I am also heading to Washington DC for the annual Energy Council meeting.  The Energy Council is made up of 11 energy-producing states, five Canadian provinces, and Venezuela.  I will take the opportunity to meet with all three of our Federal Delegation as well as various administration officials.    

Feel free to contact my office at any time.

Regards,

Senator Lisa Murkowski was in the Capitol on Thursday to give her annual address to the Legislature.  Her message was clear: Alaskans need to be concerned about our economy.  I agree whole heartedly with the Senator.   Alaska is plagued by many Outside threats.   From our own Federal Government in the form of over-reaching EPA regulations that are closing down sectors of our economy to highly-funded radical environmental groups that file lawsuit after lawsuit to stop any sort of development, we are challenged.  I was encouraged by Senator Murkowski’s comments and her efforts to keep Alaskan families prosperous.

This week I had numerous operating budget meetings, as I sit on six finance subcommittees that are preparing to propose their recommendations to the full House Finance committee.  The operating budget, unlike the capital budget which fuels the economy with construction appropriations, is the recurring cost of government operations.   The growth of government concerns me greatly, so I’ve directed my staff to work on amendments to hold down government  growth and spending.  I look forward to the conversation those amendments are sure to start.  We must get back to scrutinizing each and every operating budget appropriation.

This week I met with Margaret McCloy from the Ketchikan Youth Court and the Randall Family from Ketchikan as they work to end Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  It is always good to have folks from home come and visit my office in the Capitol.

HB 311 passed the House Education Committee this week.  As I mentioned previously on the blog, HB 311 is a bill I sponsored to allow the Alaska State Council on the Arts to adopt their own regulations.  The arts are an important part of the community in District One as well as the economy, so I am happy to sponsor this bill.

I met with folks from Metlakatla this week about the Metlakatla-Ketchikan intertie and the proposed terminal out South for the Lituya.  I strongly support this project and look forward to working with our neighbors in District 5 towards its completion. 

The House Transportation Committee met with its Senate counterpart this week to hear a report on the Alaska Marine Highway System.  I’m impressed with the operations and professionalism of the ferry system.  That doesn’t mean I won’t continue to ask pointed questions and demand accountability.  We have come a long way in a couple of years and we will continue to push for replacement vessels built in our shipyard.

Judy, Sonia and Dave are always here to serve your needs.  You can be assured that when you are talking to them you are talking to me.  I have the best staff in the building.

Stay tuned for the a new post next Friday!

Last week the House Energy Committee heard HB 306, which is the State Energy Policy bill.  As I have mentioned before on my blog, the State Energy Policy was created with a variety of interests from the bottom up.  HB 306 is an innovative piece of legislation because it involved a number of different stakeholder groups and agencies, most of who have experience providing energy to Alaskans.  I proposed an amendment to HB 306 to ensure that Alaskan’s energy needs are met before exporting power for profit.  It is important that we provide affordable energy to our own people first before fulfilling the energy needs of other outside interests.  I am not opposed to export projects, but I believe we can revisit that idea once the needs of our communities are met and there is an energy surplus.  This amendment was added to HB 306 and the bill was passed out of committee.  It was referred to the House Resources committee, which Alaska’s public lawmaking process will continue.

Speaking of our public lawmaking process, HB 36 was heard in the House Finance Committee on Monday.  This bill focuses on ballot initiative reform so that Alaska’s laws, whether made by the legislature or made by the people through the citizen’s initiative, are made with integrity and transparency.  Alaskan’s deserve this.  I hope that HB 36 will be heard in House Finance next week, but I will keep you posted.

Last Friday I introduced legislation to strengthen Alaska’s anti-drug laws.  HB 327 would classify “salvia divinorum” a schedule II-A drug.  Salvia is drug similar to mescaline, peyote, and LSD and can be purchased legally in Alaska – it is my feeling that this cannot continue.  This proposed legislation would also require those who buy products containing dextromethorphan (DXM) to be at least 18 years old or have a prescription from a doctor to do so.   DXM is a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough suppressants that teens take in large doses (20 to 30 times the recommended dosage) to get high.  Severe health risks occur because of other ingredients in the cough suppressants such as acetaminophen.   I was approached by constituents in Ketchikan regarding these two substances and was convinced that our anti-drug laws had to be updated to reflect today’s issues and drug abuse trends. 

Best,

Well, it is officially the third week of the 2010 legislative session.  I just returned home from the “Throw the Breaker” party in celebration of the Swan-Tyee hydroelectric line.  It was a great way to celebrate our long-awaited intertie.  There were quite a few lawmakers attending this event, and it was good to show off our town.

Last week I met many people, but the folks from Ketchikan always get special treatment when they stop by my office.  Patti Mackey from the Ketchikan Visitor’s Bureau stopped by to discuss Alaska Travel Industry Alliance’s (ATIA) priorities.  Taylor Gregg from the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Education, David Mitchel from OceansAlaska, and Brien Salazar from the Alaska Air Carrier Association also came by for a visit.  I enjoy having people from the District in the office, and my door is always open.

I introduced a bill earlier this week, which I mentioned in my last blog post, to allow the State Council on the Arts to adopt their own regulations.  This bill also has a Senate companion, SB 209.  I plan to have hearings on this bill within the next couple of weeks.

The House Finance budget subcommittees are beginning their work.  I am on Revenue, Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Labor & Workforce Development, Governor, and Legislature committees.  These are the committees that review the operating budget and closely examine the expenses, duties, and purposes of programs.  Positions on these committees allow me to have an in-depth understanding of state department operations.  Although this work is tedious, it is an experience that I value and it is an integral part of the legislative budget process.

The House Special Committee on Energy met twice this week.  We are reviewing and amending the statewide energy policy bill, HB 306.  This bill is the product of endless hours of hard work by the Energy Committee and various stakeholders.  This innovative piece of legislation worked from bottom to top and included people on the frontlines of Alaska’s energy issues.  This group of stakeholders was diverse and comprehensive; including members from regional economic development agencies to alternative energy organizations, and electric co-op representatives to native organizations.  These groups assisted the Energy Committee in understanding and developing an energy policy for the State of Alaska that works for the best interests of our land and our people.  If you’re interested in reviewing the list of stakeholders and/or any of the committee hearings, documents, and information, please visit http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20306&session=26.  I applaud the work of the Co-Chairs of the House Special Committee on Energy, Reps. Millet (R-Anchorage) and Edgmon (D-Dillingham) and the hard-working stakeholder group.

Today marks my first constituent teleconference.  I hold these meetings with Sen. Stedman and Rep. Wilson to ensure that our constituents have an opportunity to voice their concerns, talk about the issues, and provide input.  These meetings are held once a month during session, so please attend if you are able.  The Ketchikan LIO will have the teleconference set up, so all you have to do is show up.  Again, this meeting will be held on Monday, February 1^st from 6-7pm.  If you are unable to attend in person, please call 1-877-763-5073 and the operator will connect you to the meeting. 

If you are unable to attend the teleconference this evening, feel free to contact my office at any time.  Our phone number is (907) 465-3424 or toll free (800) 303-2455, and our mailing address is:

Representative Johansen

Alaska State Capitol, Room 204

Juneau, Alaska  99801

I look forward to speaking with you and working to make our District a better place to live.

Regards,

The second session of the 26^th Alaska State Legislature commenced this week in Juneau.  It’s been a busy week, but not short on excitement.  The Legislature welcomed two new members to the body, Representative Neal Foster of Nome and Representative Tammie Wilson of North Pole.  Governor Sean Parnell addressed the Legislature in the annual State of the State address last night.  We are gearing up for another productive session.

A number of bills were introduced this week, and they are available on the Legislature’s website at www.legis.state.ak.us, or they are always available in hard copy at your local Legislative Information Office. 

I am continuing to push HB 36, which addresses the many problems with the current initiative process.  I will be the first person to admit how important the initiative process is to Alaskans.  However, the loopholes in the process are big enough to drive the Matanuska or the Malaspina through.  HB 36 requires more information to be given to the public before an initiative is placed on the ballot, and HB 36 also brings the financial disclosure requirements up to par with candidate requirements.  It is very important to me that Alaskans know the source of money when it comes to influencing public policy.

Today I introduced HB 311, which allows the Alaska State Council on the Arts to adopt their own regulations.  The Council has previously been adopting their own regulations, but according to the Department of Law, they do not have the authority to do so under the Administrative Procedure Act.  I am happy to introduce this bill at the request of the Alaska State Council on the Arts because of District One’s strong arts community.  This bill will empower our arts community, and arts communities around our state, to ensure that they are able to carry out their message and mission.

I plan on posting to my blog often during session, so please check back often.  I will keep you updated on the issues affecting District One and our great state.

Regards,