February 1, 2000

Dear District 18 Resident:

The second session of the Twenty-first Alaska State Legislature began on January 10th. It shows all the signs of being an interesting and challenging session. As I promised in my last session letter to you, I will continue to do my best to honor the trust you have placed in me.

As part of my commitment to keep you and your neighbors in District 18 informed about what is happening down here in Juneau, I am writing to share the news with you and to seek your input. The enclosed survey asks your opinion about a wide variety of issues. Please take a moment to fill it out and return it to me -- your input makes the democratic process work!

Communicating with me in Juneau

In addition to my regular session survey, I have been sending out Legislative Updates -- e-mail messages to District 18 residents that provide immediate information about what is happening in the Legislature. I have found that it is an effective way for me to communicate with you and get your feedback. If you would care to be added to the list, please contact me or check the box on the survey. I have a strict privacy and "no spam" policy about these e-mails -- names and addresses are always kept private. As always, I can best represent you if you will let me know your concerns and opinions. If you don't care to participate in Legislative Update, you can always contact me by phone, fax, regular e-mail, U.S. mail, or by the Public Opinion Message system through the Legislative Information Office at 269-0111.

Legislature on TV

"Gavel to Gavel" is again broadcasting coverage of legislative activities on GCI Cable Channel 46 in Anchorage. Tune in to see what's happening! If you would like to see if "Gavel to Gavel" will be covering a meeting that you have an interest in, you can check out their website at www.ktoo.org/gavel or call 907-586-1670.

Legislature on the Web

If you are looking for information about bills, committee meetings, the state budget, or any other legislative topics, finding it has gotten even easier. The Legislative Affairs Agency's Information and Teleconferencing Division has redesigned the Legislature's web page. The address is www.legis.state.ak.us. There, you can look up a bill to see what progress it is making, find out what committee it is in, when hearings are scheduled and whether they are teleconferenced, get minutes of hearings, find out about legislators, get information on how to read a bill or understand the state's budget, connect to Legislative Finance, Legislative Budget and Audit, the State Ombudsman, or the web pages for the Majority and Minority. This is a non-partisan website, and I highly recommend it!

Another excellent website is the Republican Majority's at www.akrepublicans.org. Here, you can access my own website by clicking on "Members", take a poll by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page, or sign up for a free Legislative E-News Subscription. You can also "Research the Issues" to access all sorts of information -- statutes, the Alaska Constitution, hearing minutes from this session and sessions past, etc.

At the state's website, www.state.ak.us, are links to state departments. You can fill out your fishing license application, or get the status of your PFD payment, among other useful things. The internet is bringing Alaskans closer together, and there is a treasure trove of information about your state government on these pages. If you can't find what you're looking for, give me a call and I'll be glad to get it to you.

The State Budget

The most pressing problem facing the Legislature this session will, of course, be the budget and developing a fair and workable long-range fiscal plan. While I do not foresee the Legislature passing a statewide tax this session, I do anticipate some budget cuts again this year. While the Majority's goal is to trim a further $30 million from the state General Fund budget (bringing the total cuts to $250 million over the past five years) it's clear that, with the $500 - 800 million ongoing deficit, cutting alone will not balance the budget. In addition, to achieve our goal, we will need to cut over $80 million, due to mandatory budget increases of about $50 million for inflation and population growth in FY 2001 for such in formula programs like Medicaid and education. I think cuts to education, public safety, transportation, and public health should be limited. So, cuts in other areas will impact all Alaskans, including those of us in District 18. If you have any suggestions for cuts in services that you use, I would welcome your input. If you're not familiar with programs in the state budget, you can take a look at a variety of materials at www.legfin.state.ak.us or contact me. I will be happy to assist you.

As Vice-chair of the House Finance Committee, I will continue to be involved in the ongoing work to write and refine the state's Missions and Measures, which require each state department to have clear, measurable goals for the functions they perform. We will now be able to measure each department's achievements and problem areas, allowing funding to be more fairly evaluated and allocated.

I continue to be responsible for the budget subcommittees for the Departments of Revenue and Fish & Game this session. There are several important divisions within the Department of Revenue, such as the Child Support Enforcement Division, Permanent Fund Division, Tax Division, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Within the Department of Fish and Game are the divisions of Commercial Fishing, Sport Fish, and Wildlife Conservation, among others. If you have any suggestions about how these divisions or departments can serve Alaskans more effectively, please let me know.

Legislation I'm Working on for District 18

HB 133: Municipal Service Areas bill will strengthen local control of service areas requiring the consent of the people who live there before a borough or municipality could absorb, alter, or abolish a service area. This bill has passed the House and is now waiting for a hearing to be scheduled in the Senate.

HB 105: Licensing of Speech Language Pathologists bill would require speech-language pathologists to obtain a state license. This bill has passed the House Finance Committee.

HB 121: Dental Patients' Rights bill sets out the rights of dentists and their patients when dealing with an insurance company. HB 121 is currently in the House Labor and Commerce Committee.

HB 318: Found Property bill would clarify current law to ensure that property found on state land, that is legal to own, may be returned to the finder when the owner does not claim it. This is a new bill, introduced on January 24th. It has been referred to the House Judiciary and Finance committees.

If you would like to express support for any or all of these bills, please contact me. I will be glad to assist you in directing your comments to the appropriate legislators.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to represent you. If you have any questions or concerns about the budget, legislation pending before the Legislature, state services, or any other issue, please contact me. I will be pleased to assist you. And please, don't forget to fill out and return the attached survey.

Sincerely,
Con