Giessel-Newsletter

Dear Friends and Neighbors, The Governor is now advocating for a broad sales tax. The 2% sales tax the Governor talks about would have no exemptions for purchases of food, medical services, winter clothes, etc. But he has not written any legislation to move it forward. Representative Carpenter (Nikiski) has also proposed a 2% sales […]

Dear Friends and Neighbors, As some of you know, Alaska’s election system, which includes open primaries, has been under serious threat during this legislative session. Right now, members of the House of Representatives are pushing forward legislation to repeal the system that Alaskans voted for in 2020.

Dear Friends and Neighbors, It is day 101 of the legislative session. I’m very careful about not inundating you with emails. As session gets closer to end (20 days left until Day 121 Constitutional endpoint), I want to be sure you know what’s happening as close to timely as possible.

Dear Friends and Neighbors, I appreciate the emails that I receive every day from constituents and readers of this newsletter. I manage my own email, which means I am the only person in my office who reads and responds to emails. (Some offices have staff doing that work.) I can’t respond to every single email,

Dear Friends and Neighbors, The Senate Finance committee has been working on budget issues with diligence. Now that the House has provided their version of the Operating Budget, that will be the focus. The Senate is completing the Capital Budget work and will send that to the House soon. Since there’s not spare money, it

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today is day 87 of the session! Please take a look at “What Dividend Makes Sense?” At the community meetings in March, we talked about this topic. There are lots of bills being worked on and/or moving these days. The Operating Budget is in the House but we expect it to

Dear Friends and Neighbors, This week we had visitors from 4-H Clubs around Alaska. Pictured is Mia Wiederspohn from Wrangell and Elle Gifford from Fairbanks.I belonged to 4-H as a youngster growing up in Fairbanks and loved it! I learned so much in 4-H and I am a huge fan of this program.“4-H” stands for

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Day 73 of the 121-day session. Met with YOU! The last 2 Saturdays I held community meetings in our District.

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Day 66 of the 121-day session. The art work you see is created by students in Kiana School in the Northwest Arctic Borough School District in Kiana Alaska!Teachers from all over Alaska are invited to send student art to us, for display on the 5 floors of the Capitol.

Dear Friends and Neighbors, I have a constituent meeting in Anchorage this week. It is on Saturday, March 18 at 12-2 at Cornerstone Church in South Anchorage. Stop by and tell me your thoughts!