Contact Info:
Session:
Alaska State Capitol, Rm 427
Juneau, AK 99801
Toll Free:
(800) 892-4843
Fax:
(907) 465-3871
Sen.Cathy.Giessel@akleg.gov
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Senator Cathy Giessel
Twitter:
@GiesselAKSenate
Senate Majority Webiste:
http://giessel.alaskasenate.org
In this issue:
-Message/Update
-Constituent Visits
-Senate Resources Committee
-My Bill Hearings
-Town Hall Meetings
-Seward Highway
-Open House
-Senate State Affairs
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Contact My Staff:
Sharon.Long@akleg.gov
Margaret.Dowling@akleg.gov
Lindsay.Williams@akleg.gov
Heather.Fison@akleg.gov
Joe.Byrnes@akleg.gov
Quick Links:
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The Alaska State Legislature
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Congressional Delegation:
Senator Lisa Murkowski
Anchorage Office:
907-271-3735
http://murkowski.senate.gov/
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http://begich.senate.gov/
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Anchorage Office:
907-271-5978
http://donyoung.house.gov/
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Constituent Meetings in the Capitol
Mary Lucas, Alaska Brain Injury Network Board of Directors Chair, stopped in to talk about the great work they are doing. You can find them at http://www.alaskabraininjury.net.
This nonprofit offers all kinds of assistance for folks who have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI). That injury could result from an athletic contact sport, assault, fall, or motorized vehicle accident. TBI affects thousands of Alaskans every year. Their main office is in Anchorage: (907) 274-2824.
Alaska Brain Injury Network: Mary Lucas
Dr. Roger Pearson, Professor Emeritus of Geography, stopped in to talk about the great geographic information and geospatial skills that the Alaska Geographic Alliance is providing to Alaska K-12 students. Dr. Pearson lives in Nikiski, but travels all over Alaska as part of this university-based, statewide partnership between volunteer professors and K-12 teachers. You can contact the program coordinator, Katie Kennedy at cmkennedy@alaska.edu for more information. They provide geography materials to teachers in all schools and home school.
Alaska Geography Alliance: Dr. Roger Pearson
Senate Resources Committee
SB 21 Oil and Gas Production Tax is the most important bill before the Legislature this session. I support the Governor’s four principles for our oil and gas tax structure: Fair to Alaskans, Encourage New Production (not just drain our treasury from generous credits for projects that never produce oil), Simple so it restores Balance, and Durable for the long-term. (Alaska has changed tax law 3 times in last 7 years.)
The Senate Resources has introduced some changes to the Governor’s bill (SB 21) that we believe will meet the 4 principles even better.
Changes are:
- Creates flat 62-65% (average) total government tax take
- Creates a non-political competitiveness review board to continue watching the world oil and gas scene
- Alaska Manufacturing Credit for oil/gas goods made in Alaska by companies paying Alaska Corporate Income Tax
- Continues the Gross Revenue Exclusion for new oil, and expands it to include new oil from new areas in legacy fields
Find the press release at
http://www.alaskasenate.org/Docs/
pressreleases/022213_SB21_Changes.pdf
The CSSB 21 will continue hearings today (Feb. 25). Public testimony will begin at 5:30 P.M. (Go to your Legislative Information Office or email your comments to me to be placed in the public record of the bill.) Some additional amendments may be made to the bill.
Senate Resources committee meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:30 P.M. You can watch on your computer at http://akl.tv.
To watch meetings from last week follow the link at:
2/18/13 meeting, 2/20/13 meeting, 2/22/13 meeting
Senate Resources Committee: Sen. Bishop, Sen. Giessel, Sen. Fairclough
My Sponsored Bills Hearing Dates
Senate Finance Committee has passed out my SB 7 Corporate Income Tax. I expect it to be heard on the Senate floor in the next few weeks.
SB 7 updates Alaska’s corporate income tax brackets. The current ten tax brackets were put in effect in 1981. The top bracket, of 9.4%, is currently reached when a “C Corporation” reaches $90,000 of taxable income.
SB 7 adjusts the tax brackets to account for inflation over the last 32 years. The top bracket would not be reached until $222,000 of taxable income is met. The effect is a reduction in Alaska Corporate Income tax for our small and medium sized “C Corporations.”
The bill is endorsed by countless Chambers of Commerce around the state, as well as small and medium sized businesses.
http://www.alaskasenate.org/Docs/pressreleases/
022313_Giessel_Corporate_Taxes.pdf
SB 2 Interstate Mining Compact & Commission will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, February 26 at 9:00 A.M. This bill authorizes the state to join and participate in the Interstate Mining Compact. The Interstate Mining Compact Commission is a multi-state governmental agency/organization that represents the natural resource and related environmental protection interests of its member states. By uniting with 19 other member states we magnify our voice as we seek to implement effective regulatory programs that will promote best practices and secure a vibrant state mineral economy. Five other Western states are following Alaska’s lead to join the Commission. To watch this meeting follow the link: http://akl.tv/
Upcoming Meetings:
Saturday March 23rd
Seward Community Library & Museum 10:30am-11:30am
Cooper Landing Community Hall 2:00pm-3:00pm
Peninsula Town Hall Meeting: Thursday, March 14 6:00 P.M.
Join Legislators from your area for a town hall meeting via teleconference. The Legislative Information Offices in Kenai, Homer and Seward will be open to individuals interested in connecting with legislators representing the Kenai Peninsula. This is a great time to voice your concerns, questions, and comments to your local representatives. For more information contact my office at 1-800-892-4843.
Girdwood Town Hall Meeting
Seward Highway Improvements Announcement
When: Monday March 4, 2013 at 6:30 P.M.
Where: 250 Egloff Drive, Girdwood, Alaska
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is hosting an Open House Public Scoping Meeting to present information on the proposed safety improvements for the Seward Highway between Rainbow and Indian. The focus will be on realigning and dividing the highway to improve safety in the corridor. For more information contact: 866-535-1877 or windycorner@dowlhkm.com.
Senate State Affairs Committee
Last week, the State Affairs Committee considered SB 36 Missing Vulnerable Adult Response Plan and HB 67 Vietnam Veterans Day. Both were moved from committee.
The next meeting is Tuesday, February 26 at 8 A.M. It will be a Joint meeting with House State Affairs to discuss federal overreach. To watch this meeting and archived meetings from last week follow the link: http://akl.tv
Dean Hamburg-KPBSD/Alaska School Nutrition Assn., Linda Kendal and Linda Swarner-Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, Inc., Sen. Giessel
It’s a pleasure to serve and represent District N – the BEST district in the State!
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