Prior Updates - Week of:   

 Action necessary:
►Print and distribute this message to colleagues and friends.
► Send an e-mail to your representative and senator supporting a Base Student Allocation of $5,953

 Calendar:
►  Mar 2 : Senate Finance:  Supplemental Appropriations  – 8:30 am
►  Mar 5:  House Ways + Means:  HB 13 – Retirement System Liability/Bonds – 3:30 pm

MARCH IS HERE AND IT'S INDEED A LION:

Today marked the 45th day of the 2007 legislative session. The calendar page has turned, but it remains COLD throughout Alaska .  As Juneau braces for the first “blizzard warning” in decades, Fairbanks remains in the deep freeze (41 below)!  8 to 14 inches of snow expected in Juneau tonight with 65 mph winds.  All I can think of is Johnny Horton belting out “the song she was singing, made a mans blood run cold.  When it's springtime in Alaska its 40 below.”  Even for a lifelong Alaskan that has lived (briefly) in Fairbanks this is tough stuff.  OK, enough winter whining on to the legislative news.

GOVERNOR PALIN AMENDMENTS (HOUSE FINANCE DEED SUBCOMMITTEE):

Tonight, the DEED House Finance subcommittee met and heard the new amendments from the administration.  The largest component was a reduction of almost $30 million in the foundation formula and pupil transportation costs.  This is driven by the student count being far short of projections.  DEED estimated the student count to come in at about 132,000 K-12 students and it has come in under 130,000.  There were several more amendments deleting another $4 million.  This includes a $1 million reduction in the Ready to Read, Ready to Learn program and $140,000 that pays for 4 part time assistants at Mt. Edgecumbe High School .  Stay tuned for further details.

SENATE  FINANCE COMMITTEE:

The Senate Finance committee met this morning to hear from the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.  The fund peaked at over $37.9 billion on Monday but then lost over $600 million on Tuesday when the DOW dropped over 400 points.  Senators expressed concerned about the principal of the permanent fund growing to an unwieldy size.  Permanent Fund representatives stated that the fund would have to grow to between $60-70 billion to inhibit its ability to be flexible.  There will be more conversations about the permanent fund this session.  The Senate Finance committee meets again tomorrow to continue work on the $98 million supplemental budget (reported on Tuesday). There is $208,000 for the Department of Education.  $108,000 for a two year old arbitration award to the Mt. Edgecumbe teachers and another $100,000 for the State and the Moore v Alaska lawsuit. This is at least the 4 th appropriation made to fight the adequate funding lawsuit.  The decision on the case is due in June.

BETTYE FAHRENKAMP CLASSIC:

This weekend the 18 th annual Bettye Fahrenkamp putting tournament takes place in the capitol building.  Bettye Fahrenkamp was a former teacher from Tennessee that became a force as a State Senator in Alaska .  NEA-Alaska presents the “Bettye Fahrenkamp Award” for political action to members and occasionally to elected officials that keep K-12 education a highest priority.  We continue to help sponsor the tournament and to remember Senator Fahrenkamp for her great work!  JEA members Jamie Marks, Sara Hannan and Kathy Brown will participate on Saturday.  NEA-Alaska wishes them a good time and good luck as they participate in this long honored tradition. 

 The next LCS will be published on Tuesday, March 6th.  If you know anyone who wishes to receive the LCS/Legislative Update, please send us an e-mail with their home e-mail address if possible, and we'll add them to the growing list of K-12 education advocates!
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MARCH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CONER

Today marked the 43rd day of the 2007 legislative session. The weather throughout Alaska has been, let’s face it…COLD!  I think many Alaskans are ready for March, even if it comes in like a lion!  There are 78 days left in the 2007 session and the legislature has hit the doldrums, as they wait for Governor Palin to produce her budget amendments on March 1 and her Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) on Friday, March 2.  This weekend the 18^th annual Bettye Fahrenkamp putting tournament takes place in the capitol building.  Bettye Fahrenkamp was a former teacher from Tennessee that became a force as a State Senator in Alaska.  NEA-Alaska presents the “Bettye Fahrenkamp Award” for political action to members and occasionally to elected officials that keep K-12 education a highest priority.  We continue to help sponsor the tournament and to remember Senator Fahrenkamp for her great work!

SENATE HESS COMMITTEE

Yesterday, the Senate HESS committee (chaired by Bettye Davis- Anchorage) met and heard a presentation of the System of Early Education Development (SEED).  One of the interesting statistics shared was that the only state funded program that was given a higher priority than early learning and child care (66%) was K-12 education (88%).  K-12 education has consistently led all state expenditures as the NUMBER ONE priority of Alaskans.  The constitutional delegates had it right in 1955-56 when they put public education as a constitutional mandate and it continues to be the most important topic in Alaska. We all need to continue to remind lawmakers that K-12 education must be adequately funded.

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Senate Finance committee met this morning (Co-Chaired by Sen. Hoffman – Bethel).  The senators took up SB 83 (Supplemental Appropriations).  This bill contains $98 million in spending and about $208,000 for the Department of Education.  $108,000 for a two year old arbitration award to the Mt. Edgecumbe teachers and another $100,000 for the State and the Moore v Alaska lawsuit. This is at least the 4^th appropriation made to fight the adequate funding lawsuit.  The decision on the case is due in June.  Unfortunately after almost two hours the committee had not made it to the Dept of Education requests and will take up the legislation again on Friday morning.

SENATE STATE AFFAIRS

The Senate State Affairs committee (chaired by Sen. McGuire – Anchorage) took up the “Impacts of the 90-day session.”  There seems to be much angst on how the legislature will be able to meet the will of the people and conclude their business in 90 days next year.  The past few years have been flush with special session (even with the current 121 day limit) so only time will tell if 90 days leads to better government.

 The next LCS will be published on Thursday, March 1st.  If you know anyone who wishes to receive the LCS/Legislative Update, please send us an e-mail with their home e-mail address if possible, and we’ll add them to the growing list of K-12 education advocates!

  Bill Bjork, NEA-Alaska President
  Lydia Garcia, Interim Executive Director
 John Alcantra, Government Relations