Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Community Councils:

1. Monday, March 8, 2004, 7:00 p.m., Sand Lake Community Council, Sand Lake Elementary School, 7500 Jewel Lake Road. Check out the Sand Lake Community Council's web site at: http://www.communitycouncils.org/slccinfo.html
2. Thursday, March 11, 2004, 7:00 p.m., Taku/Campbell Community Council, Taku Elementary School, 701 East 72nd Avenue. Contact: Don Peacock, birdie ''at'' alaska.net

Legislative Meetings:

You may keep track of legislation and committee meetings by visiting the Legislature's web site at http://www.legis.state.ak.us.

Later this month, the full House will be considering the State's FY 05 operating budget. Currently the House Finance Committee is continuing its work on subcommittee recommendations for each department's budget.

Again, if you desire a good source for in-depth information on the state's budget process, check out the ISER site at http://www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu and select "Citizens Guide to the Budget" from the Special Programs Section

For information on the FY '05 budget proposal, visit the Legislative Finance site at: http://www.legfin.state.ak.us. My recommendation is to start with the item entitled "Fiscal Summary" as this shows this fiscal year's budget, the proposal for the next fiscal year, and information on the Constitutional Budget Reserve and the Permanent Fund.

Energy Council Meeting:

I will be traveling to Washington, D.C. later this month to attend meetings of the Energy Council. I am a member of the Executive Board of this group and Alaska's Senator Scott Ogan is the current president. The Energy Council is an organization of 10 states (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming), Canadian Provinces (Alberta, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia), and Venezuela.

Topics that will be covered at the March 2004 meeting include many issues that are facing Alaska: split estate (for example, where the state owns the subsurface rights and an individual owns the surface rights), carbon sequestration update, keeping pace with gasoline demands, and other issues. The Secretary of Interior, Gale Norton, will be the keynote luncheon speaker on March 12th. We will also have time to visit with members of the United States Congress to discuss the federal energy bill and its impact on all proposed natural gas pipeline projects.

Best regards,



Norman Rokeberg
State Representative
House District 27

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All addresses are "blind" for your privacy. A strict "no spam" policy is observed. If you don't wish to receive these e-mail notices, just let me know. If you know a friend or neighbor in District 11 who has not received my e-mails but would like to be included, I will be glad to add them to my list if they will contact me.

Your replies, comments, questions, and/or suggestions are welcome. Constituent comments on legislation and policy issues may be tabulated, shared with other legislators, or quoted in speeches. Names, however, will be kept private.