Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

January 21, 2021

In this issue:

• 32nd Legislative Session

• Tools to Stay Informed

• Alaska Budget Choices

• Meet Our Staff

• Thanks for Attending Our Constituent Meeting

• Community Events

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, I took the oath to support and defend the constitution and I'm honored to start my fourth term representing House District 21. We face many challenges as a state, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, and moving forward I

will continue working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to advocate for fact-based,

common-sense solutions to Alaska's budget challenges. We need to strengthen our economy and maintain the services that make our state a positive place to live, work, and raise a family.

32nd Legislative Session

The swearing-in ceremony looked a little different this year with masks and plexiglass partitions. The legislature has worked to put COVID-19 safety procedures in place. Health care providers are regularly testing legislators and staff and we are conducting many meetings remotely.

While the public does not have in-person access to the Capitol, I encourage you to use the resources below to tune in and participate in the session. We are also available to meet with constituents on the phone or by Zoom.

Tools to Stay Informed

This legislative session will be busy as we work to address the state’s ongoing financial challenges and issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will strive to keep you informed as we move forward. For weekly updates on legislation and constituent issues, you can check out past e-newsletters on my website. As always, you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email me at Rep.Matt.Claman@akleg.gov.

Below are some additional resources for staying up-to-date and engaged:

Keep Track of Bills – Interested in tracking bills through the legislative process? You can follow along on BASIS: http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Home/BillsandLaws. Just type in a bill number in the search bar (ex: HB1) at the top of the page.

Bill Tracking Management Facility (BTMF) – Track the status of bills as they pass through the legislative process. BTMF will display the status of bills you are interested in and can also send you email updates as the bill's status changes. BTMF is a free service and only requires you to set up an account.
SMS Bill Tracking – Text a bill number (ex: HB1) to 559-245-2529 to enroll in text alerts. You will receive an enrollment confirmation and instructions on how to stop receiving the alerts.

Watch Committee Meetings – Most committee hearings are broadcast on Gavel Alaska at www.360north.org or through the Live Now tab on the BASIS home page. House and Senate floor sessions are also available on Gavel Alaska.

Access Budget Materials – The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget website has helpful tools and presentations relating to the budget.

Use Your Legislative Information Office (LIO) – LIOs are a great local resource. The staff at the LIO can help you research bills and issues, navigate the state computer system, and participate in hearings by providing public testimony.

Chat with Legislative Information Staff – Monday-Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM, you will find a new chat interface in the lower right corner of AKLeg.gov. The LIO staff can help answer questions about finding things on the website, answer questions relating to tracking legislation, and help you get in touch with your legislator. Let us know how we can help you!

Contact the Anchorage LIO – You can reach the LIO by phone (907-269-0111) or email: LIO.Anchorage@akleg.gov.

Alaska Budget Choices

Getting Alaskans involved in the budgetary process is the best way for the public to understand the tough budget decisions that Alaska faces as we move forward.

This year, Commonwealth North launched a website to assist Alaskans in better understanding the State's fiscal

challenges. The website www.akbudget.com offers Alaskans the opportunity to make revenue and spending choices to address the projected $1.3 billion dollar shortfall in the State of Alaska’s fiscal year 2022 budget.

My staff and I went to the Commonwealth North website and found it to be accurate, informative, and easy to follow. I have encouraged others to work through the exercise and share their thoughts on what it shows about Alaska’s financial challenges.

Meet Our Staff

This year, we welcome back two returning staffers to our office:

Lizzie Kubitz

Sophie Jonas

Lizzie is our Chief of Staff and this is her sixth session with the legislature. She is a graduate of West Anchorage High School and received degrees in Politics and American Studies from Willamette University.

Sophie joins us for her second session with the legislature. Originally from Colorado, she graduated from Georgetown with a degree in Justice and Peace Studies and made the move to Alaska.

When you call, write, or email my office, Lizzie and Sophie will be available and happy to assist you.

Thank You for Attending Our Virtual Pre-Session Constituent Meeting

Thank you to all who attended our Virtual Pre-Session Constituent Meeting earlier this month. While I miss meeting with constituents in person, it’s always a pleasure to hear what’s on the minds of my friends and neighbors. I look forward to holding more virtual meetings during the 2021 legislative session. Please contact our office if you have any other suggestions or concerns.

Community Events

Mark your calendars for this upcoming event:

Virtual Open House #1: AMATS Spenard Road Rehabilitation, Minnesota to Benson Blvd.

Join the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) and the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) to learn more about the Spenard Road Rehabilitation Minnesota Drive to Benson Boulevard project.

The DOT&PF is proposing to rehabilitate Spenard Road from Benson Boulevard to Minnesota Drive to improve safety and drainage, and to bring the roadway and non-motorized facilities up to current design standards. Project design will be led by DOT&PF with support from the MOA.

Meeting materials, including the prerecorded presentation, will be posted to the project website by January 28. Comments can be made during the meeting verbally or in writing, as well as in writing via the project website or project email address.

When: Thursday, January 28 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM (Presentations at 5 & 6 PM)

Where: Join via Zoom at www.zoom.us and type in the meeting and passcode:

Meeting ID 937 4929 7504

Passcode 121406

or by calling:

1 (253) 215-8782

Meeting ID 937 4929 7504

Passcode 121406

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.

Visit www.spenardroad.com to join the email list, make a comment, and to learn more about this effort. To contact the project team directly, send an email to spenardroad@dowl.com.