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Voice your opinions!
Here are some ways to let your voice be heard regarding issues important to you.

Write a Letter to the Editor
submit your 225 word letter to the Anchorage Daily News via e-mail letter@adn.com, or fax them to 258-2157, attn: letters to the editor.

Contact the Governor
Governor Parnell's Anchorage office may be reached at 269-7450, or e-mail him at sean.parnell@alaska.gov
You can also visit the state website at www.state.ak.us

Contact your
Congressional Delegation
Senator Lisa Murkowski,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-3735,
EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Senator Mark Begich,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5915
EMAIL: Sen. Mark Begich

Congressman Don Young,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5978
EMAIL: Rep. Don Young

March 3, 2010

HB 307 – First Out of The Gate!

A common theme in letters to the editor in the Anchorage Daily News is that the legislature has too much pending legislation and it isn’t moving fast enough.  There are lots of reasons for this.  We want to take time to carefully evaluate bills, which is why most legislation is passed at the end of session.  Some bills get introduced simply to generate discussion with no intention of being passed.  Other bills have serious defects and it is just as well that they go nowhere.  However, having said all of that, I am very happy to tell you that my HB 307 is the first bill to be introduced this session and pass both houses!  At the beginning of February it passed out of the house unanimously, and last week it was voted out of the Senate 20-0.  It is now on its way to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

As you may remember from previous e-news, HB 307 increases protections for victims of sexual assault by granting magistrates and district court judges jurisdiction to issue protective orders in cases of sexual assault.  As the law was originally written they did not have the ability to grant these orders, meaning victims had to go to a superior court to get the order.  This is an especially serious problem in rural communities where a magistrate is the only court available.  Sexual assault is a complicated problem that requires a comprehensive solution.  We need to successfully prosecute offenders, offer services to victims, and increase our focus on prevention and education.  A lot of this is getting attention this year with the Governor’s initiatives on sexual assault and domestic violence, and I am proud to have led the effort on one piece of the solution.

Rep. Holmes meets with her friend, Dare to Care founder Bettsie Wild and her daughter Lena.

New Legislation

The deadline for filing legislation has now passed and I have several new bills starting their way through the process:

HB 364 is a measure to reduce the tax rate on motorcycle rentals.  The legislature passed a law in 2004 imposing a 10% tax on all vehicle rentals.  The intention of the legislation was to tax rental cars.  However, the definition of “vehicle” is broad enough to include motorcycles as well.  This is a problem because while rental car companies can rent their vehicles year-round, motorcycle rentals are only viable for three months out of the year, making it difficult to recoup their investment.  The Legislature recognized a similar problem in 2003 when it amended the law to reduce the tax rate on RV rentals.  This bill would create a fairer playing field for locally-owned businesses who rent motorcycles, including some in our neighborhood.

HB 385 would reduce the use of toxins in flame retardants.  Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are toxic chemicals used as flame retardants in many household items.  There has been an especially high concentration of the toxin found in Yupik women.  There is a lot of concern about the negative effects of PBDEs, and the EPA has worked closely with industry to work on a plan to phase out use by 2014.  This bill will increase the urgency and limit use by 2011.  This bill will also help to identify future toxins that might be used in the future and try to establish regulation. 

HB 395 – is a bill that deals with auto insurance policies covering damage from underinsured or uninsured motorists. Right now, if you have a disagreement with your insurance company over how much your policy should pay to cover these sorts of damages, chances are good you will end up in court. Unfortunately, going to court is expensive and time consuming. HB 395 would allow for either party to request arbitration by three arbitrators (one representing you, one for the insurance company and one neutral). Arbitration is much faster, less expensive and still guarantees a fair outcome.

Anchorage Caucus and Pizza Party

Due to both history and design, Alaska’s capital is in a remote location.  It is in southeast because that was the historical seat of Alaska’s government during colonialism, and we have kept it off the road system throughout statehood in order to remind legislators that much of the state is not connected to Anchorage and Fairbanks.  While these are important considerations, it does make it hard for constituents to stay in touch with their representatives and engage in the legislative process.  Because of this, it’s especially important for legislators to return to our districts to meet with our constituents, who sent us here and for whom we work every day.  I will be returning to Anchorage the weekend of March 13-14 to co-chair the Anchorage caucus and attend the Senate district M pizza party. 

Anchorage caucus is made up of all the legislators, House and Senate, Republican and Democrat, who come from Anchorage.  We meet to consider municipal priorities in the legislature and hear from constituents.  As in previous years, I will be co-chairing the Anchorage Caucus meeting along with Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom.  The caucus will be held in the Anchorage Assembly chambers at the Loussac Library on Saturday, March 13.  There will be public testimony from 10 A.M. until noon.  I can’t know what your priorities and concerns are unless you bring them to me, so I encourage you to come participate!

Senator Hollis French, Representative Mike Doogan and I will also be holding our annual pizza party for all of our West Anchorage constituents on Sunday, March 14, from 1-3 P.M.  It will be at Romig Middle School, and as always there will be a clown to amuse the children, and all three of us will be available to talk to constituents about whatever is on your mind.  This is a great chance to meet and chat with the three of us in an informal and fun setting.  Come join us for some pizza and make sure we return to Juneau with a good understanding of your priorities as we finish session.

Keep In Touch!

As always, I am eager to hear your concerns. Please contact my office when you have questions, concerns or comments.  It’s located in Juneau at State Capitol, Room 405. My e-mail address is Rep.Lindsey.Holmes@legis.state.ak.us and our toll-free phone number here in Juneau is (888) 465-4919. Thank you for your interest, I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Lindsey Holmes
Alaska State Representative
District 26 - Anchorage

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