Serving Muldoon and
Northeast Anchorage

Representative
PETE PETERSEN
Visit my Website
Write me an email

Contact my office:
State Capitol Bldg.
4th Floor, Room 422
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 465-4939

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

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

Senator Lisa Murkowski,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-3735,
EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

February 5, 2010

Working for Lower Fuel Prices;
Elmendorf-Richardson Merger Update

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

     New information came out this week about just how much Alaskans are paying for gasoline.  The state Department of Commerce released a report on gasoline and heating oil prices in communities across Alaska.  The report confirms what we already know; Alaskan fuel prices are staggeringly high.  The highest gas price in the state was Arctic Village at $10 per gallon, while Juneau had the lowest at $2.96 per gallon.  Anchorage was not included in the survey, but according to the leading national survey the average price in Anchorage was $3.28 at about the same time in early January as the data for the report was collected.  The national average was $2.74. 

    It is particularly troubling that Southeast Alaska has the least expensive gas in the state, since all they get their gas shipped up from Washington.  Alaska is the largest per capita oil producing state in the country, and Washington has no oil production.  Clearly something is wrong with Alaskan prices.  I am still fighting to lower Alaskan prices by outlawing fuel price gouging.  My bill, HB 68, is still in the House Labor and Commerce Committee, and if you would like to make your voice heard on this issue please send me an email and I will pass your comments on to the committee members.

Representative Petersen with Major W.B. Allen IV of the U.S. Marine Corps in Alaska

     This week the Joint Armed Services Committee received several briefings from Alaska’s military leaders. On Thursday we heard from Lt General Dana T. Atkins, Commander of Alaskan Command about the progress on the merger of Elmendorf and Fort Richardson.  As you may have heard the Anchorage military bases of Elmendorf and FT. Richardson are combining into JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson).  While it will have a new name, the facilities are still an important part of our national defense infrastructure.

     Often when you hear of mergers, you think about job losses- but this was not the case with this one.  Because of the importance of these facilities, General Atkins said that even though some positions have been made redundant, there was actually an increase in employment to provide for the greater number of service members at individual support locations.  He also spoke on the many opportunities that Alaska provides to the country in regards to diverse training opportunities available as well as the disaster relief trainings conducted with state, municipal, and national organizations.

     On Monday, the House will be voting on a bill I have sponsored with a bipartisan group of colleagues to establish August 7 officially as Purple Heart Day in Alaska.    The Purple Heart was established August 7, 1782 and is our country’s oldest military award.  Passing this bill into law will be one small way of showing our appreciation for the brave men and women who have sacrificed for our country.

     As always, please call or email me with any thoughts, ideas or concerns.

     Sincerely,

P.S.  Remember the deadline for applying for the Permanent Fund Dividend is March 31. You can go here and apply online now.

Representative Pete Petersen
District 19 - Muldoon & Northeast Anchorage
State Capitol, Room 422
Phone: 907-465-4939
Fax: 907-465-2418
Representative_Pete_Petersen@legis.state.ak.us