Representative Berta GardnerBERTA'S BRIEFINGS 

Representative Berta Gardner
Serving Geneva Woods, College Village, Green Acres, Tudor, Taku and Campbell Park

Write Me:     State Capitol Bldg., Room 422
                       Juneau, AK 99801
Call Me:        1-800-331-4930
E-Mail Me:   Rep_Berta_Gardner@legis.state.ak.us
My Website: http://gardner.akdemocrats.org

Coming Home to Connect

Hello Friends and Neighbors,
Earlier this month, I met with Barb Dubovich (left) of CampFire USA's Alaska Council and Candace Winkler (right) of Child Care Connection in Anchorage. We discussed early childhood care and education.
Earlier this month, I met with Barb Dubovich (left) of CampFire USA's Alaska Council and Candace Winkler (right) of Child Care Connection in Anchorage. We discussed early childhood care and education.

        Senator Ellis and I are looking forward to our constituent pizza party, coming up this Saturday, 1-3pm at Tudor Elementary School.  We get to meet with you informally, talk about the legislative session, and answer your questions. More importantly, it is your chance to bend our ears about your own concerns, so we hope you’ll join us.  Of course, kids are welcome.  Click here for a map.

        In the meantime, I’m looking forward to a hearing for my “Purple Heart Trail” bill, HB 283, that will honor all the men and women who have been injured or killed in service to the nation.  Alaska’s “Purple Heart Trail” would be the Alaska Highway from the Alaska-Canada border to Delta Junction, and also the Richardson Highway between Delta Junction and Fairbanks.  Visitor pullouts would have informational displays explaining the significance of the Purple Heart Medal and the Trail.  I’m delighted to say this is the only specific legislation mentioned by Senator Stevens in his address to the legislature this week.  He loved it.

In the office Friday morning, writing an email about the University of Alaska’s FY 2009 budget.
In the office Friday morning, writing an email about the University of Alaska’s FY 2009 budget.

        Coming to a House vote this week is HB 297, good legislation permitting Alaskan veterinarians to hire fourth-year veterinary students to help in their practices.  I’ve learned the Board of Veterinary Medicine has regulations forbidding veterinarians from reporting animal cruelty to law enforcement.  I’ll offer an amendment to correct this serious problem, allowing veterinarians who choose to do so to make reports when they are aware of animals suffering because of neglect or intentional cruelty.

Do you want to testify on the FY 2009 Operating and Mental Health Budgets?

        The House Finance Committee will take testimony on HB 310 (the operating budget) and HB 312 (the mental health budget) from 4:00 to 5:30 P.M. this Friday, February 22 – today.  Testimony is limited to two minutes per person.  Folks wanting to testify should gather at the Anchorage LIO, downtown at 716 W. 4th Ave.  Click here for an area map.

        I'm Berta, and I'm listening.

signed: Berta

 To unsubscribe from Berta’s Briefings click here