Dear Neighbors

I know you’re frustrated, and I’ve been incredibly frustrated, that we are in an extended session. But It seems like an end to the impasse may be near. So I won’t mention at all that I’d rather be in the middle of a fishing stream than in the middle of an extended session squabble. I will mention – for those of you who believe in needs-based financial aid so people can afford college and vocational education – that today we made some significant progress.

The unshakable reality is that the House Speaker, Senate President, and the Co-Chairs of the Senate and House Finance Committees get to negotiate the sticking point – the state’s capital construction budget, which the bi-partisan Senate majority and the Republican-led House Majority have had good faith differences over. Word is that the negotiators have made a lot of progress today. And I have to thank them for working with me, and with each other, on resolving differences over a separate item – the operating budget, which we essentially completed today. The full House and full Senate still have to approve the committee’s work.

I do want to thank Sens. Hoffman, Stedman and Thomas, and Reps. Thomas and Stolze for working towards a good operating budget compromise.

There has been a lot of good writing on why the capital budget became a sticking point, and I’ll share a good Alaska Dispatch article and my speech, talking about why the session didn’t end as it could have on Sunday.

Good News For Student Aid; Seniors & Pre-K

Seniors Helped: I thought I’d share some good news on an item we worked on with Senator Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), that passed this week. When the state started its Senior Benefits program, to provide small monthly payments to low income seniors, it specifically and unfairly excluded residents of the Pioneer Homes from eligibility. That seemed very wrong, and I’ve wanted to fix that for a long time. It was not fixed in the version of the bill extending this program that the House passed. So when the House failed to fix that problem, I went to Senator Stedman, who agreed the problem should be resolved in favor of our Pioneer Home residents.

The bill passed this week, with a fix the Senate added. Thanks to Senator Stedman for working with us, and for crafting a solution. For seniors without the funds to pay for their Pioneer Home rent, their living stipend will be increased by $100 per month. For seniors who pay for their rent, the Pioneer Homes have a policy of garnishing as much of their income as needed to pay rent, but all residents are left with at least $100 per month for a living stipend. That amount has been increased to $200.

It’s not a lot of money, but it allows Pioneer Home residents to pay for family gifts, a few personal items, and makes life a little easier and more dignified.

Better Financial Aid Plan – Opportunity for More Alaskans: The Governor has proposed a “merit” scholarship that keeps the flaws other states solve when they adopt similar plans. His plan included no companion needs-based aid for students who cannot afford college and vocational education. And to qualify for the merit aid, you have to take certain courses that aren’t currently available in many schools across the state. Also – smart children who get a GED aren’t eligible for this merit aid, even if they take the required courses after getting their GED, and have high standardized test scores. So – no matter how bright you are, you’ll be denied that aid through no fault of your own.

Most states with merit aid also have a strong needs-based financial aid plan to compliment it. Money should never be a barrier to education. Today the Conference Committee on the operating budget that I serve on reached a compromise - $4.5 million for the Governor’s plan, and $4.5 million for needs-based aid.

The Governor so far hasn’t supported a fair needs-based plan. He’s actually been a vocal opponent. Alaska currently has one of the worst needs-based plans in the nation (I worked to add funds to the needs-based program three years ago, but haven’t received the majority votes needed to add any more since). Today’s compromise provides for a modest plan that will help thousands of students attend higher education and vocational education in Alaska.

Funds were also restored for important University of Alaska programs (UAA Honors program; UAF Center for Energy and Power – to research renewable energy opportunities in Alaska).

Early Education – Improvements Made: Early versions of the House budget deleted funding for a small pilot pre-k program the state started two years ago. The Conference Committee was able negotiate most of those funds in, plus $200,000 for Best Beginnings to enhance pre-k education across the state. $380,000 was requested by Best Beginnings, but the $200,000 is more than what the House originally offered – which was nothing. This compliments modest additional pre-k funding I and others were able to negotiate into the budget last year. So we’re making baby steps towards needed, statewide pre-k education. We have a long way to go, though.

I agreed with many of the changes ultimately accepted in conference committee, disagree with some (funds for a needed psychiatric residency program were denied as were some additional funds for early detection of learning disabilities). But in a process that is based on compromise between Republicans and Democrats, and two houses of the Legislature with different, often opposite philosophies, I think good work was done to make a lot of progress.

All things considered, so far things look better today than they did a week ago.

That’s it from Juneau for now. Call or write if you have any questions.

My Best,