FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 19, 2019 Anchorage, AK- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed amendment 90, being called the “Huffman Amendment,” to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act (H.R. 2740) bill that would suspend funding for permitting of the proposed Pebble mine in federal fiscal year 2020. The Alaska Center salutes Representative Huffman and House members for taking decisive …
Alaska Teens Come to Washington, Lobby Against Pebble Mine
A group of Alaska teenagers met with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) June 12 and asked that she help stop the planned Pebble Mine, but were left disappointed by the senator’s unwillingness to make any commitments. The seven teens visited Murkowski in her Washington, D.C., office for half an hour to talk not only about the proposed massive gold, copper, and …
Alaskan Youth Bring Their Pebble Mine and Climate Demands Directly to Murkowski
Youth Community Leaders Push Elected Officials for Climate Action and a Stop to Pebble Mine WASHINGTON D.C.- Wednesday, June 12, 2019, Seven young Alaskans with Alaska Youth for Environmental Action traveled to the nation’s Capitol to speak to their representatives on Climate Change and Pebble Mine. Over the course of two days, they toured D.C. and met with Senator Murkowski …
Leg with Louie: what’s next?
There is little to no chance the legislature will accede to Governor Dunleavy’s request for a special session at a middle school in Wasilla (though the idea is fun). This administration is no friend to the Legislative majorities right now and appears to have an instinct for bullying. I bet if they go, they go to gavel in and gavel …
Leg With Louie: Summer Homework
Friends, I know it is sad to think about, but someday the fanfare will fade, the bloggers and pundits and lobbyists will move on to other questionable endeavors, and the special session will conclude. Our lawmakers will voyage in the annual diaspora to their home districts where they will convert to members of the community again, and be welcomed back …
Leg With Louie: The Awesome Power of the Dividend
Without an income tax and/or a change in oil taxes we cannot have an adequately funded state government and a full statutory PFD at the same time, at least I think we cannot. Please correct me if I am wrong. My kids heard about 3K Dividends and went spinning around the yard like Sufis with visions of new phones, video …
Press Release: Anchorage’s Climate Action Plan Brings out Broad Community Support
From inception to vote, the Climate Action Plan in Anchorage paves a way for Clean Energy for All Alaskans. ANCHORAGE, AK – On May 21, 2019, the Anchorage Assembly adopted the Anchorage Climate Action Plan and joined over 7000 other communities in taking an active stand in the future of Climate Change Mitigation. For the past year, hundreds of community …
Leg With Louie: Alaska legislature and 415 parts per million
The Earth’s atmosphere is reported, as of May 12, 2019, to contain 415 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, primarily from human activities. 415 ppm is a number unknown to humans. The news that humanity is killing itself off by way of petroleum use is not new news; hitting 415 ppm is an ominous benchmark and it …
Leg With Louie: The End May Be in Sight
The naming of conferees to an operating budget conference committee marks the beginning of the end of the legislative session, usually. Under Alaska legislative uniform rule 23(d), once the conference committee (composed of three House and three Senate members) is formed, standing and special committees can hold committee hearings with 24-hour notice, instead of the one-week notification required for committees …
Alaska High School Students Join Youth Climate Strike
High school students from Anchorage and the Valley skipped the end of their school day on Friday, not to enjoy the weather but to fight for their futures. Rallies took place around the world on Friday as part of the Fridays for Future movement and the Youth Climate Strike. The international movements aim to prevent the worst effects of climate …