Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

April 8, 2020

In this issue:

• Governor Makes Vetoes to Responsible Budget

• COVID-19 Resources: Cash Payments

• Administration Amends Health Mandate to Include Surgical Abortions

• Daily Briefings for Small Businesses

• Community Events

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

In March, the House and Senate agreed to a budget compromise that provides critical funding for the State of Alaska to effectively respond to the COVID-19 crisis, ensures that essential services will continue without interruption in the upcoming fiscal year, and funds a $1,000 Permanent Fund Dividend. On Tuesday, Governor Dunleavy announced $271 million (UGF) in cuts to the budget. The governor's cuts include $12.5 million from the University of Alaska, substantial

reductions to education, cuts to the ferry system, and reductions in COVID-19 funding. At a time when oil prices are dropping, our friends and neighbors are facing numerous hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we need to work together as Alaskans; these divisive line-item vetoes are shortsighted and will probably damage our economy and our quality of life for years to come.

Governor Makes $271 Million in Vetoes to Responsible Budget and Vetoes Inflation-Proofing of the Permanent Fund

Last month, the legislature passed the FY 2021 operating and capital budget, House Bill 205, and the FY2020 supplemental budget, House Bill 234. This week, the governor made vetoes to both HB 205 and HB 234 totaling $271 million. He also vetoed the transfer of $1,055,600,000 to inflation-proof the Permanent Fund principal and protect it for future generations.

Much like last year, the governor has shown again that his priority remains paying permanent fund dividends without regard to the impact those decisions have on public education, public health, and public safety.

Below is a brief summary of the governor's budget vetoes:

COVID-19

Municipality of Anchorage COVID‐19 Response Funding – Eliminated
AHFC Homeless COVID-19 Response Funding – Eliminated

Public Safety

LAW – $20,000 (eliminated funding for legal contracts)
Judiciary – $334,700 (reduced funding for the Appellate Court Budget equal to the FY18 cost of State Funded Abortions)
Civil Air Patrol – Eliminated

Education

Overall reduction of over $35 million
Early Childhood Education Grants – Eliminated
Consortium Library Support – Eliminated
Online with Libraries (OWL) – Eliminated
K-12 Non-Formula Funding – $30 million reduction

Health and Social Services

Overall reduction of $116 million
Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery Grants – Eliminated
Medicaid Services – $14 million (vetoed from supplemental budget to cover potential Medicaid-related costs of COVID-19)

University of Alaska

Overall reduction of $12.5 million (tracking the compact agreement between the UA President and the governor. This $12.5 million was supposed to be for debt service and maintenance.)

Other

Capitalization of Community Assistance Fund – Defunded ($1,268,500)
Public Broadcasting – Defunded ($2,669,900)
Ocean Ranger Program – Eliminated ($3,426,000)
Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) – Overall reduction of approximately $29,000,000 ($13 million in state appropriations for ferry operations and $16.2 million for adding crew quarters to an Alaska Class Ferry)
School Bond Debt Reimbursement – Eliminated ($84,333,800)
Earnings Reserve Transfer to Permanent Fund Principal – Eliminated ($1,055,600,000)

Click here to view a short summary of vetoes

Click here to see full list of HB 205 (operating and capital budget) vetoes

Click here to see full list of HB 234 (supplemental budget) vetoes

Click here for all other FY2021 Enacted Budget documents

COVID-19 Resources

As we continue to face the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be sharing important resources and information via our e-newsletter. In the meantime, here is a comprehensive list of COVID-19 related resources available to Alaskans. The list includes the following topics: relief for individuals, small business relief, relief for larger businesses, higher education, relief for upcoming mortgage/rent/utility payments, emergency sick leave, child welfare and nutrition, housing, and internet access.

Cash Payments for Individuals

As we discussed in our March 30, 2020 e-newsletter, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act, passed by Congress last month, will provide cash payments to millions of Americans who pay taxes or receive Social Security.

Eligible individuals with a Social Security Number will receive rebates worth $1,200 for individuals ($2,400 for couples) and $500 per child under 17. A family of four would receive $3,400. Payments phase out above $75,000 for singles filers, $112,500 for heads of household, and $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns. There is no income floor or phase-in. Each member of your family must have a Social Security Number (included on your last tax return) to claim a rebate.

People receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are also eligible. Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an Economic Impact Payment. Instead, payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts. The payments, also described as rebates, will not be counted as income for income-related programs like Medicaid, SSI or SNAP. Rebates will not be subject to garnishment unless back child support is owed. You must file a tax return this year (or have filed last year) to receive a rebate check (or direct deposit). Payments will start going out in the weeks following passage of the Act. The IRS has a detailed webpage with detailed information on the Economic impact payments and what you need to know.

Read a summary of the CARES Act here.

Ongoing COVID-19 Updates and Information

Alaska Dept. of Health and Social Services (HSS) - COVID-19 Overview
Anchorage Health Department - Novel Coronavirus Information
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - Cases in the U.S.

Administration Amends Health Mandate to Include Surgical Abortions

On Tuesday, the Dunleavy administration announced an amendment to the COVID-19 Health Mandate 005 – Non-Urgent or Elective Procedures and Surgeries clarifying the non-urgent medical procedures to be postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. The extensive list includes numerous neurosurgeries, cardiac and cancer surgeries, as well as surgical abortion, unless the life or physical health of the mother is endangered by continuation of the pregnancy during the period of postponement.

The Anchorage Daily News reports the revision is based on non-urgent or elective procedures as defined by the American College of Surgeons, but guidance from Temple University on the American College of Surgeons’ website explicitly states that pregnancy termination surgeries, whether at the request of a patient or for a medical reason, are procedures "that if significantly delayed could cause significant harm."

As a life-long supporter of every woman’s right to make their own, private health care decisions, I oppose this decision to limit access to reproductive health care. It interferes with our efforts to work together as Alaskans to address the COVID-19 pandemic by adding a highly partisan, divisive issue. The Alaska Constitution protects our right to privacy and gives Alaskans a greater right to privacy than the United States Constitution. Part of our right to privacy set forth in Article I, Section 22 of the Alaska Constitution includes privacy with respect to medical care: these decisions are personal, private decisions that must be left for individuals and families to decide. As an elected representative, I do not want to interfere with how women manage their health and autonomy. Rather, I will work to protect their privacy as they make sensitive, personal decisions.

At a time in history when abortion bans are advancing in places like Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Ohio, plus additional restrictions on abortion rights in Texas, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and more, we must continue to protect individual rights in Alaska. By classifying surgical abortions as procedures to be delayed, the Dunleavy administration is knowingly harming women and their families. Attacking these rights goes against our American and Alaskan values of freedom and self-determination.

Daily Briefings for Small Businesses

Join the Alaska Small Business Development Center Business Advisors Monday - Friday at 2:00 PM online for the latest updates in COVID-19 related news and resources (Emergency Loans, Unemployment, etc.) for small businesses. Participants will be able to ask the advisors and guests questions in real time to get the latest information and support.

Once you register, follow the link to receive the webinar information.

These live webinars will be recorded and will be stored in the COVID-19 Informational Videos Channel. Visit the SBDC COVID-19 Resource Center for more resources and information: https://aksbdc.org/covid19/.

Community Events

Mark your calendars for this upcoming event:

Hunker Down Anchor Town

The Mayor is giving weekly community updates about the Municipality’s response to COVID-19.

The discussion is hosted by longtime Alaska broadcaster, Steve Heimel. Community members may ask the Mayor questions by calling 907-222-1061 during the show or tweeting @outnorthradio.

Listeners outside of the Anchorage area can listen online from anywhere by visiting outnorthradio.com/stream from a computer or smartphone.

When: Every Thursday at 4:00 PM

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