Alaska News

The Alaska State House of Representatives today unanimously passed a bill that will benefit senior citizens across the state by including regional housing authorities in the eligibility pool for receiving housing development grants. Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, sponsored the bill, House Bill 65, along with fellow Bush Caucus members Reps. Bob Herron, D-Bethel, Neal Foster, D-Nome, and Reggie Joule, D-Kotzebue. HB 65 adds the state's 14 regional housing authorities, spanning from Ketchikan to Barrow, to the list of entities eligible for grants through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's Senior Citizens Housing Development Fund, or SCHDF. The fund contributes to organizations that develop quality housing for older Alaskans. Currently, the grants have been available to municipalities and 501(c)(3) and (4) nonprofits. "Senior housing fund grants are oftentimes the final piece in the puzzle - 'gap funding' that allows worthy projects to go forward," Edgmon said. "HB 65 brings...

The Alaska State House of Representatives today unanimously passed a bill supporting Alaska's military families by allowing for temporary professional licensing of spouses. House Finance Committee Co-Chair Bill Thomas, R-Haines, sponsored the bill, House Bill 28, along with fellow veterans Reps. Bob Herron, D-Bethel, and Eric Feige, R-Chickaloon. The bill proposes allowing military spouses to obtain a temporary license in their field of practice as long as they meet the professional standards that are already required by law or regulation. The licenses will be valid for six months, at which time the spouse has the option of obtaining an Alaska license or asking for a renewal of the temporary license. "Alaska's military families deal with deployments, training missions, relocations, and extended periods of single parenthood. HB 28 allows them to be able to not only continue in their chosen field, but also contribute income to help keep their families afloat," Thomas said. "Military......

House Speaker Mike Chenault comments upon introduction of his bill, HB 166, which would enroll a statewide performance audit for state departments and agencies. House Majority Press Releases

House Speaker Mike Chenault comments upon introduction of his bill, HB 166, which would enroll a statewide performance audit for state departments and agencies. House Majority Press Releases

House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, today introduced House Bill 166, legislation re-instituting performance reviews for state departments and agencies. Similar reviews for state boards and commissions are instituted through statute, AS 44.66, and HB 166 returns that duty to departments and agencies, a practice ceased in 1983. "Our Caucus's top guiding principle is fiscal responsibility, and one of the main themes we've recognized as key is restraining and re-examining state spending and budget growth to determine if programs and directives we fund are still necessary and essential state services," Speaker Chenault said. "We've been looking at what other states do over the past couple of years and this is something we've gone back to, and similar to what Texas does today." Speaker Chenault says that with shortened 90-day sessions the finance committees have less time to thoroughly review the governor's proposed annual budgets, leading to justifications of spending and...

In this Episode Speaker Chenault Recaps his Trip to Washington D.C., Comments on Fiscal Restraint, and his New HB 166, and More. House Majority Press Releases

House Majority Whip Peggy Wilson, W-Wrangell, speaks about today's Transportation Committee confirmation hearing for ADOT&PF Commissioner-designee Marc Luiken. House Majority Press Releases

House Rules Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, reacts lightheartedly to an answer from ADOT&PF Commissioner-designee Marc Luiken during today's House Transportation Committee confirmation hearing. House Majority Press Releases

Members of the House Transportation Committee listen to Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Commissioner-designee Marc Luiken answer a question from Rules Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, during today's confirmation hearing. House Majority Press Releases

Rep. Foster talks about pending AEA/AIDEA legislation (HB103) and the process the Energy committee is undertaking. The second half of the clip has Speaker Chenault recapping his trip to Washington, D.C. last week, including his meetings with federal officials and members of congress. House Majority Press Releases

Rep. Foster, Rep. Thomas & Speaker Chenault talk about the state stepping in to fund the potential federal shortfall in LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, after the Obama administration announced a cut to its funding in the federal FY12 budget. House Majority Press Releases

Rep. Foster talks about energy assistance/development parity, relating development of Susitna hydro and what can be done for Rural Alaska. The second half of the clip has Rep. Thomas recaps federal issues on development and last week's Finance committee hearing with North Slope Borough Mayor Ed Itta, Arctic Slope Regional Corp. President Rex Rock, AG-designee John Burns, and DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan. House Majority Press Releases

Speaker Chenault opens the event, then Finance Co-Chair Bill Thomas, R-Haines, gives the committee's subcommittee close-out schedule. Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, then gives a recap of the Energy committee's hearings to date. House Majority Press Releases

Rep. Thomas talks about hiring a new Veterans Caucus staff and some of the issues/bills that cover Alaska veterans. The second half of the clip has Rep. Thomas and Rep. Foster talking about the success of the energy efficiency program and ways the state can help increase participation/funding. House Majority Press Releases

Topics covered include fiscal responsibility, the governor's proposed operating budget, federal spending & its impacts on Alaska, Susitna hydro, renewable energy, energy efficiency, help for Alaska Veterans, and others. House Majority Press Releases

Nhico Moises (second from left) directs his LEGO robot towards a platform as teammate Andyn Mulgrew Truitt looks on during this morning's House Education Committee hearing. The Mendenhall River Community School students are members of the LEGO L'Eagles, who recently competed at Anchorage Robot Rendevous. http://fllalaska.com for more information.<br><br><a href=http://housemajority.org/press...>House Majority Press Releases</a>

Andyn Mulgrew Truitt (speaking, left) tells members of the House Education Committee about her and teammate Nhico Moises' LEGO robot during this morning's committee hearing. The Mendenhall River Community School students are members of the LEGO L'Eagles, who recently competed at the Anchorage Robot Rendevous. Visit http://fllalaska.com for more information.<br><br><a href=http://housemajority.org/press...>House Majority Press Releases</a>

Members of the House Education Committee look on as Andyn Mulgrew Truitt (left) and Nhico Moises (right) describe their LEGO robot during this morning's committee hearing. The students are members of the LEGO L'Eagles from Mendenhall River Community School in Juneau that competed in Anchorage Robot Rendevous. Visit http://fllalaska.com for more information.<br><br><a href=http://housemajority.org/press...>House Majority Press Releases</a>

Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, answers a question from Associated Press reporter Becky Bohrer during this morning's weekly press availability. House Majority Press Releases

House Finance Committee Co-Chair Bill Thomas, R-Haines, listens to a question from a reporter during this morning's weekly press availability. House Majority Press Releases

House Finance Committee Co-Chair Bill Thomas, R-Haines, addresses reporters during this morning's weekly press availability. House Majority Press Releases

Freshman Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, sits down for his first Majority Radio podcast. Pruitt talks about bringing a fresh, young perspective to the Caucus, learning the process, his approach to the job and as co-chair of the energy committee, the importance of communications, and how he hopes to move forward through the 27th Alaska Legislature. House Majority Press Releases

House Finance Committee Co-Chair Bill Thomas, R-Haines, and House Special Committee on Energy Co-Chair Neal Foster, D-Nome, will be the featured members for the weekly Majority Caucus press availability. The duo will join House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. in the Speaker's Chambers. Majority press availabilities are scheduled every Monday at 9:00 a.m. during session unless otherwise noted. A teleconference for reporters unable to attend in person has been arranged through the legislative teleconference center at 877-763-5073. House Majority Press Releases

Majority Whip Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell, recites part of the daily script during today's House floor session. Whip Wilson acted as Majority Leader today while current Leader Alan Austerman, R-Kodiak, assumed the dais as Speaker. House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, is away on business so Leader Austerman and Whip Wilson led the session. House Majority Press Releases

Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Su-Valley, speaks with Majority Leader Alan Austerman, R-Kodiak, during an at ease of today's House floor session. Leader Austerman assumed the Speaker's dais today to oversee the session since House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, was away on business. House Majority Press Releases

This actuality features Rep. Bryce Edgmon commenting on today's House Finance Committee hearing on federal involvement in Alaska. Rep. Edgmon provides his thoughts and reactions to the hearing. North Slope Borough Mayor Ed Itta, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation President Rex Rock, Attorney General-designee John Burns, and Dept. of Natural Resources Commissioner-designee Dan Sullivan spoke to the committee about federal regulatory issues and hurdles the state faces to develop our resources, and by extension our economy. House Majority Press Releases

This actuality features Rep. Bob Herron commenting on today's House Finance Committee hearing on federal involvement in Alaska. Rep. Herron provides his thoughts and reactions to the hearing. North Slope Borough Mayor Ed Itta, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation President Rex Rock, Attorney General-designee John Burns, and Dept. of Natural Resources Commissioner-designee Dan Sullivan spoke to the committee about federal regulatory issues and hurdles the state faces to develop our resources, and by extension our economy. House Majority Press Releases

[2 of 2] This actuality features Rep. Reggie Joule commenting on today's House Finance Committee hearing on federal involvement in Alaska. House Bush Caucus Chair Reggie Joule provides his thoughts and reactions to the hearing. North Slope Borough Mayor Ed Itta, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation President Rex Rock, Attorney General-designee John Burns, and Dept. of Natural Resources Commissioner-designee Dan Sullivan spoke to the committee about federal regulatory issues and hurdles the state faces to develop our resources, and by extension our economy. House Majority Press Releases

[1 of 2] This actuality features Rep. Reggie Joule commenting on today's House Finance Committee hearing on federal involvement in Alaska. House Bush Caucus Chair Reggie Joule provides his thoughts and reactions to the hearing. North Slope Borough Mayor Ed Itta, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation President Rex Rock, Attorney General-designee John Burns, and Dept. of Natural Resources Commissioner-designee Dan Sullivan spoke to the committee about federal regulatory issues and hurdles the state faces to develop our resources, and by extension our economy. House Majority Press Releases

North Slope Borough Mayor Ed Itta introduces himself for the record at the begin of Thursday's House Finance Committee hearing on federal regulatory issues affecting Alaska development. House Majority Press Releases