Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN - Juneau
agutierrez (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.209.1799 | About Alexandra
Parnell Says No To Medicaid Expansion For Now
So far, eight Republican governors have decided to split with their party and accept federal funding for Medicaid expansion in their state. Today, Sean Parnell announced that he won’t be joining them -- at least for now.
Senate Committee Considering Bill Defining ‘Medically Necessary’ Abortions
Epilepsy, eclampsia, pulmonary hypertension, and sickle cell anemia. Those are all conditions where a low-income woman would still qualify for abortion coverage under a new bill being considered by the Alaska state legislature. But depression, schizophrenia, alcohol dependence and bulimia aren’t on the list. Nor are any other mental heath conditions.
Legislature Considering Chinook Research Fund
Last year, chinook salmon runs were so weak that the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers, along with Cook Inlet, were designated federal disaster zones. Now, a group of legislators from those regions want to create a permanent endowment that would fund research on the fish.
House Votes to Block Federal Gun Control Regulations
The Alaska House of Representatives passed a bill today that would make it a felony for federal agents to enforce new gun control measures within the state.
Senate Committee Offers Changes to Governor’s Oil Tax Bill
The first changes have been made to Gov. Sean Parnell’s oil tax proposal. The Senate resources committee offered their substitute on Friday, and it would bring the current base tax rate up from 25 to 35 percent. It also includes $5 per barrel production tax credit and exempts 30 percent of new oil production from taxes. Like the governor’s bill, the committee substitute gets rid of progressivity, a mechanism that raises taxes when oil prices are high.
Constitutional Delegate Wary of Education Funding Amendment
One of the drafters of the state constitution has weighed in on a proposed amendment to that document. Vic Fischer appeared before the House education committee on Friday to oppose a resolution that could allow for public funding of religious schools through vouchers. He cautioned legislators against taking a casual attitude when considering constitutional changes.
Task Force Report Reveals Ways to Help Victims of Sex Trafficking
The scope of Alaska’s sex trafficking problem remains unclear, but there’s plenty that can still be done to help victims -- that’s the conclusion of a report issued by astate task force charged with studying the issue.
Lawmaker Pushes Photo ID for Voters
A measure that would require voters to show photo identification at the polls got its first hearing today (on Thursday). Rep. Bob Lynn, a Republican from Anchorage, sponsored the bill, and he views it as a simple way of preventing voter fraud.
School Voucher Resolution Will Be Heard In Judiciary, Finance Committees
The normally dry subject of committee referrals is creating a bit of a stir in the Capitol. Last week, a group of five senators introduced a resolution to amend the Alaska Constitution to allow for a school voucher program. The measure was supposed to be heard in the education committee. That is, until it suddenly wasn’t, as Sen. Gary Stevens – a Republican from Kodiak and chair of the education committee – discovered while traveling in Kentucky on business.
Cruise Ship Waste Water Bill Goes To Gov. Parnell
The first bill to land on Gov. Sean Parnell’s desk will be one that he introduced. The measure relaxes regulations on cruise ships, and lets them use mixing zones when they release waste. By doing that, it strikes part of a citizens’ initiative requiring vessels to meet clean water standards at the point of discharge.
Some Legislators Attempting To Start School Voucher Program In Alaska
A dozen states across the country have school voucher programs. Now, some legislators are trying to bring vouchers to Alaska. APRN’s Alexandra Gutierrez reports that push for directing state funding to private schools has more momentum than it’s had in the past.
Cruise Ship Waste Bill Opened To Amendments
Yesterday, the Alaska State Senate was expected to vote on a bill that would change the way that waste from cruise ships is regulated. But instead, they opened the bill up to amendments and put off a real vote on the measure until next week. The bill is a priority of the governor, and the administration had hoped for passage by this week. APRN’s Alexandra Gutierrez is here with us to explain why that didn’t happen.
Chief Justice Dana Fabe Stresses Preventative Approaches
Bringing justice to all Alaskans. That was the major theme of state Supreme court Chief Justice Dana Fabe’s speech at the Capitol today. Fabe stressed the importance of preventative approaches – like an early resolution process to help settle divorce cases quickly – to improve outcomes for both the participants involved and taxpayers.
Vote On Cruise Ship Waste Bill Delayed
A vote on a controversial bill involving cruise ship waste has been put off until next week. The legislation would strike provisions of a citizen’s initiative requiring cruise ships to meet clean water standards at the point of discharge by the 2016 season, instead of allowing them to release their waste into mixing zones. The bill was introduced by the governor’s office, and it easily passed in the House last week.
Legislation Defines Medically Necessary Abortions
Legislation that would limit the circumstances in which public funds can be used to pay for abortions was introduced in the Senate on Monday, and the bill may have trouble standing up to court scrutiny.
Alaska Democrats Introduce Oil Tax Proposal
Democratic legislators have rolled out their oil tax proposal, and the bill is more of a modification of the current tax structure than an overhaul. It would cap the windfall profits tax at 30 percent, and create credits for heavy oil research and development and the construction of new processing facilities on the North Slope.
Oil Taxes Remain Top Priority In Legislature
Oil taxes remain the legislature’s top issue this week, with six hearings scheduled on Gov. Sean Parnell’s bill to bring them down. But there’s also plenty else going on in Juneau, from consideration of education and home energy bills to visits from state dignitaries.
Expelled GOP Leader Files Appeal
The recently ousted leader of the Alaska Republican Party is fighting his removal. Russ Millette, who was elected chair in April, is appealing his dismissal on a technicality. In a letter e-mailed to the party’s executive committee, Millette alleges that the committee “illegally met … to prevent [him] from becoming Chairman” and that the group was wrong to have him expelled before he was actually seated as chair.
Senate Committee Advances Gov. Parnell’s Bill Cutting Oil Taxes
A special Senate committee on oil production has advanced Gov. Sean Parnell’s bill to lower taxes on oil companies without any amendments. But that does not mean the committee is in total agreement with the bill.
Wastewater Upgrades a Focus in Debate Over Cruise Ship Bill
A piece of legislation that would roll back discharge regulations on cruise ships could appear on the Senate floor as early as next week. It’s already passed in the House, and today the Senate finance committee invited the public to comment on it.