Letter to the Residents of District 18 from Rep. Con Bunde

Chair:
House Health, Education & Social Services Committee
Vice-Chair:
House Juduciary Committee

Member:
Legislative Budget and Audit Committee
House Special Committee on Oil & Gas
Select Committee on Legislative Ethics

During Session:
State Capitol, Room 104
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
(907) 465-4843 or (800) 892-4843

During Interim:
716 W 4th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501-2133
(907) 258-8168

e-mail:
Representative_Con_Bunde@Legis.state.ak.us

The Twentieth Alaska Legislature has begun its second session, picking up where we left off last May. I am proud to be working again to represent your interests in the Capitol, and promise 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 legislative business, I am writing to share the news with you, and to seek your input. The enclosed survey asks your opinion on the subsistence issue and invites you to identify the issues that are your top priorities. Please take a minute to fill it out and return it to me.

As I share the high concern of District 18 residents for education, my priority this session is making our education funding system simpler, more equitable and more efficient. It is simply not fair for Anchorage to educate 40 percent of Alaska’s students, but only get 30 percent of state education funds. As chair of the House HESS committee, I have introduced House Bill 148 to simplify the "Foundation Formula" from a complex "per-unit" formula to a simpler, fairer "per-student" plan. This will go a long way toward bringing Anchorage schools the resources we need to relieve overcrowding.

Likewise, the University of Alaska campus in Anchorage serves more than 60 percent of the state University’s students, but receives just 33 percent of the university’s funding. I have introduced House Bill 302 to require the state to fund campuses according to the number of students in attendance, so that UAA gets its fair share.

I have followed the subsistence issue carefully. Our challenge in the Legislature is to craft a way to let Alaska continue managing its fish and game. Well-intentioned as it is, the Governor’s Task Force plan does not meet this challenge, as it would bring oversight by federal courts, and de facto federal control. I believe we should pursue all avenues to resolve this conflict, including changing state law, challenging the federal law in court and, if necessary, making realistic amendments to Alaska’s Constitution that would truly preserve state control.

The tragic deficiencies of Alaska’s child protection and child support systems have been made too apparent in recent months. Declaring 1998 the Year of the Child, the Republican Majority is thoroughly reviewing the Division of Family and Youth Services and the Child Support Enforcement Division. We want to determine whether the solution lies in spending more money, or in securing better management. Our goal is to correct any existing problems while making sure our children grow up safe, healthy, and secure.

Many people have told me how much they value freedom of choice in health care. Accordingly, I have introduced House Bill 300, to give Alaskans the right to see the doctor of their choice, without paying extra fees under their current health insurance coverage.

And finally, as the Municipality of Anchorage pushes to impose additional services and property taxes on the Hillside and other outlying areas, the autonomy of our Limited Road Service Areas is under attack. I have introduced HB 365 to ensure no changes can be made in a local service area against the wishes of those living in that area.

This session I am again serving as the chair of the Health, Education and Social Services Committee, as vice-chair of the Judiciary Committee, and as a member of the Oil & Gas Committee and the Legislative Budget & Audit Committee. I also serve on the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. While I am interested in all your concerns, I can have the most influence on issues that come before these committees.

As always, I can best represent you if you will let me know of your concerns. Please use any of these channels to reach me, and I will be glad to respond:

You are invited to the District 18 Town Meeting on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2-4 p.m. at Bear Valley Elementary School, 15001 Mountain Air Drive. The Anchorage Caucus’s town meeting is 10 a.m. to noon at Z. J. Loussac Library. Please attend and share your opinions.

You are always welcome in the Capitol, and now a group of Juneau residents has offered to help find housing for those making a lobbying visit to Juneau. They can be reached on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ptialaska.net/~jcrondah/juneau/welcome.htm

Televised coverage of legislative activities is carried on "Gavel to Gavel," broadcast on GCI Cable Channel 62 in Anchorage. Tune in and watch your legislators in action!

Again, I would appreciate your taking a minute to fill out and return the enclosed survey. And thank you once more for allowing me to represent you.