The Legislature continues to astonish!
I am told that a long-held tradition of legislators meeting on a bipartisan basis every Friday evening to hold a musical hootenanny has succumbed to the political differences of our time. This is a bad sign and a dire portent. A society cannot hold together without cooperative and joyful noise making by lawmakers. It is not long now until the whole capitol building fades into a joyless insane abyss of finger pointing and vendettas.
Yet, this week, in addition to the legislators, staffers, and industry spokespersons, and agency spokespersons, bloggers, hacks, and lobbyists lurking around in the building a whole team of brightly dressed high school students with Alaska Youth For Environmental Action marched in out of the snowy street – smiling, awkward, shy, happy – going to see the Governor and legislators to lobby on some priority bills. People often call youth “future” leaders – though it seems that right now we might need to be looking to younger people to help lead our body politic onto a new track – and soon!
Also this week – after the sad scandals that have taken up much oxygen during this legislature, a new hope. Today the House of Representatives welcomes its newest member, Representative Tiffany Zulkosky. Former Bethel Mayor, and vice president of communications for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp, Zulkosky is a fresh voice. Like new Representative John Lincoln of Kotzebue, Zulkosky seems capable and ready to hit the rough ground running. We wish these members good luck.
Louie Flora, Government Affairs Director
HEARINGS TO WATCH THIS WEEK
Monday, March 12
1 PM House Resources
HB 272 TANGLE LAKES STATE GAME REFUGE
–Public Testimony
Tuesday, March 13
9:00 AM Senate Finance
Power Cost Equalization and Community Assistance Overview
1:30 PM Senate Labor & Commerce
Presentation: Update of the 2020 Census Operations
- Jamey Christy Regional Director
- Julie Lam Assistant Regional Director, US Census Bureau
3:30 PM Senate Community and Regional Affairs
HB 7 MARKED BALLOT PHOTOS; PERSUASION AT POLLS
Wednesday, March 14
1:00 PM House Resources
HB 272 TANGLE LAKES STATE GAME REFUGE
— Testimony —
Thursday, March 15
3:15 PM House State Affairs
HB 352 VOTER REGISTRATION & PFD APP REGISTRATION
Friday, March 16
3:15 PM House Labor and Commerce
HB 374 ON-BILL FINANCING OF ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS
— Public Testimony —
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