Bjorkman-OnTheKenai

The Alaska State House is expected to finally pass the State’s operating budget this week and send it to the Senate for consideration. Neither the Governor nor the House have proposed material cuts to state spending and are deficit spending by hundreds of millions!

Happy Easter! I am looking forward to spending Easter with my family. Please enjoy the day with your family and friends. He is risen indeed.

Right now Alaskans are at risk of being robbed blind by conmen and hucksters via money transfer apps and cryptocurrency. The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee this week will hear a bill to protect Alaskans electronic banking and hard-earned money. We can help protect Alaskans by securing convenient and safe money transfers in law.

Many of my Senate colleagues and I are strongly opposed to Joe Biden’s National Park Service rule change that would limit Alaskans’ ability to hunt and trap on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. There is no scientific evidence to support the rule change. This gross example of federal overreach is a violation of the Alaska

In the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee this week we considered whether the State’s retirement plan is effective in retaining the employees which provide crucial services. It’s important that any changes we make to improve recruitment and retention do not add to the unfunded liability of our state’s retirement system. 

The bill I co-sponsored to ensure that civics is taught in Alaska schools passed out of the Senate Education Committee last week and is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee next week. I believe that students must have a good foundation in the rights and duties of citizenship to better engage in

I introduced SB 87 this week to allow sawmill operators here on the Kenai and around the state to become certified to grade and sell specified grades of dimensional lumber for use in residential construction. This will create economic opportunities for small businesses, and will allow Peninsula residents to take advantage of our abundant timber

Kenai Peninsula residents must have the ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights without restrictions from government. I’ve co-sponsored Senate Bill 63, which would prohibit state and local government from infringing upon Alaskan citizen’s right to keep and bear arms through an emergency declaration.

I hope to see you at my Town Hall meeting with Representative Justin Ruffridge on Saturday February 25 at the Kenai Borough Assembly Chambers at 10 am. Please come to hear the latest news from Juneau and share your questions and ideas. 

I appreciate Senator Sullivan’s hard work to help get the Willow project across the finish line. When he spoke to the Legislature, he asked for a resolution in favor of Willow. I fully support this project. Instead of importing foreign oil, we need to produce more energy in Alaska. We must get the Willow project