Prior Updates - Week of:   

 Action necessary:
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 Calendar:
►  2/04/08: Senate HESS - 1:30 PM - SB233 Teacher Healthcare Housing Loans
►  2/05/08: House HESS - HB325 - 3:00 pm Teacher/Healthcare Housing Loans       
►  2/06/08: Joint H/S Deed Finance Subcommittee 5:00 pm - Budget Overviews
►  2/06/08: House Finance - 1:30 pm - HB 273 – Education Funding
► 2/06/08: Senate Education - 8:00 am - SCR16 - Cost Factor Commission  –

SB 183 (Return to a Defined Benefit Pension)
On Tuesday, the Senate Labor and Commerce committee, chaired by Sen. Johnny Ellis (Anchorage) met to consider SB 183. This legislation would return Alaska’s public employees to a Defined Benefit Pension System and do away with the damaging Defined Contribution Plan passed in 2005 (through SB 141).

Five selected labor leaders addressed the full committee.Representatives of the AFL-CIO, The Public Safety Employees (Cops and Troopers), the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), NEA-Alaska (Public school employees) and  the Alaska State Employees Association all addressed the committee.  The legislation was held in committee (as per recognized Senate protocol) and may be heard again soon.  SB 183 is now under the category of “bills previously heard/scheduled” and could come up at any future Senate L + C meeting.  The labor Coalition will work with Sen. Ellis and his staff to ensure we have as much notice as possible.  SB 183 could be brought up again as early as Tuesday, February 5th.

This was a good first start in making the senators understand the issues more clearly and we thank all of our Alaska Labor Coalition Partners for their participation.

Please contact your senator and ask them to support SB 183.  Returning to a Defined Benefit pension system is a level one priority of the 13,000 members of NEA-Alaska.

Senate Education Committee
On Wednesday, the Senate Education committee and heard two bills.  SB 240 is the K-12 education legislation in the senate and would adopt the proposals recommended in the Joint legislative Education Funding Task Force report issued in September.  The bills includes:

• $100 per student increase to BSA
• Increased funding for intensive needs students
• Adoption of district cost factors over five years.
• Hold harmless provisions for districts losing students

NEA-Alaska testified in support of the legislation but with the caveat that the legislature adopt Governor Palin’s suggestion of a $200 increase to the BSA.  A $100 increase is less than 2% of the current $5,380 per student and requires districts to lose further ground to inflation.  The Governor’s proposal of just under 4% will allow inflation protection and possibly sprinkle a little new money into districts.

SCR 15 would establish a standing committee for Education in the House and Senate.  This committee would deal with K-12 and the university which collectively represent about $2 billion per year in costs as well as many policy issues.  NEA-Alaska testified in support of this legislation.

House Finance (HB 310—Budget)

The operating budget was initially presented today in House Finance (Thursday).  There is tension between the Governor’s budget and the House Finance committee revolving around the increase in the administration’s proposals including the bigger increase for K-12 funding.  Let you lawmakers know that K-12 is a constitutional mandate and they should give as many resources as possible in this time of $90+ per barrel oil and the large surpluses generated by the extreme cost of fuel, gas, oil, etc.

Super Tuesday (February 5th)

Alaska will conduct our earliest presidential caucuses in history when both parties meet next Tuesday to determine Alaska’s choice for president of the United States.

The link to the presidential caucuses will get you to the information you need through our website at www.neaalaska.org

Please try to attend and work on behalf of the candidate of your choice.

The next Legislative Update will be published on Tuesday, February 5. 

Senate Labor and Commerce (SB183)
Today the Senate Labor and Commerce committee, chaired by Sen. Johnny Ellis (Anchorage) met to consider SB183. This legislation would return Alaska's public employees to a Defined Benefit Pension System and do away with the damaging Defined Contribution Plan plased in 2005 (through SB141).

Five selected labor leaders addressed the full committee. Representatives of the AFL-CIO, the Public Safety Employees (Cops and Troopers), the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), NEA-Alaska (public school employees) and the Alaska State Employees Association all addressed the committee. The legislation was held in committee (as per recognized Senate protocol) and may be heard again soon. Stay tuned to the LCS/Legislative Update for scheduling.

This was a good first start in making the senators understand the issues more clearly and we thank all of our Alaska Labor Coalition Partners for their participation.

Please contact your senator and ask them to support SB183. Returning to a Defined Benefit Pension System is a level one priority of the 13,000 members of NEA-Alaska.

House HESS (HCR14)

The House HESS committee met this afternoon and moved HCR14 out of committee with six "do pass" votes and only one "no recommendation." This legislation would form a standing EDUCATION Committee in the House and Senate. Rep. Keller (Wasilla) was the only "No Recommendation." Please contact Rep. Keller and ask why he does not support a standing committee for education.
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Alaska AFL/CIO Conference

NEA-Alaska has spent the past two days with our union brothers and sisters attending the AFL/CIO Legislative Conference in Juneau. The conference was a huge success and included presentations from Governor Palin, Speaker Harris, Senator Ellis, Senator French and several other lawmakers.

Congratulation to AFL/CIO president Vince Beltrami and staff Megan Collie for a conference that was described by one long-time attendee as “the best conference we have had.”

Super Tuesday, February 5^th

Alaska will conduct our earliest presidential caucuses in history with both parties meet next Tuesday to determine Alaska’s choice for president of the United States.

The link to the presidential caucuses below will get you to the information you need through our website at www.neaalaska.org.

Please try to attend and work on behalf of the candidate of your choice.

The next Legislative Update will be published on Thursday, January 31.

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.