Fairbanks: State of the State, Coming Home, Bills on the Move and more!

February 3, 2024

Dear Neighbors,

The Legislature completed the third week of a 16-week legislative session beginning with the State of the State address by Governor Dunleavy and rounding out the week with movement on important legislation. I am excited to announce yet another opportunity to meet in town with the Fairbanks District legislators in the upcoming week. Check out and keep informed with another e-newsletter update from the Capitol in Juneau!

The State of the State is ___________?

As the Senator for the last five years, a local government public servant, super-volunteer and engaged young person I strive to make Alaska a better place to live, work, raise a family and retire. But that is more than just my personal motto-it is how I approach every day, every job with every fiber of my being!

A ‘State of the State’ Address or ‘SOTS’ is the time-honored tradition to hear from the Governor on his thoughts on the executive branch government and how he intends to run his administration. Governor Dunleavy addressed all Legislators in a joint session on Tuesday. While he is the Governor and has much control over the day to day operations that impact the daily lives of Alaskans, the legislative branch can act as a check and balance, is the lawmaking body of government and also controls the budget. I look forward to working closely with Governor Dunleavy on the issues of which we can both agree. And I will not fear standing up to the Governor when it will adversely affect the people I represent in the district.

The Governor mentioned a few things that his administration is focused on which will help Fairbanks – particularly in terms of energy and communications cost. Thanks to the President Biden Jobs Act, more than $1 billion will come to Alaska in the form of energy transmission line upgrades, new energy project development, high speed broadband internet across the state and additional funds to the interstate highway system, marine highway system and airports. There is more to come on this topic.

The Governor also commented on his support for education as he was a former administrator and teacher. His direction on home school vouchers and direct teacher payments outside of a funding formula are very likely unconstitutional and will not serve the FNSB School District well. The Governor has also been slow to support the underlying foundation funding formula which was created to ensure parity among school districts in this vast state. Increases to the Base Student Allocation or BSA along with inflation proofing will go a long way to ensure students get the tools they need to become successful adults and districts have the state funds they need. Without more state support for education that the Bipartisan Senate Majority has been pushing, teachers will continue to leave our state, test scores will decline and the outmigration of young families with children will be the legacy of this administration.

Alaskan Workers Deserve a Retirement with Dignity

A public worker retirement bill introduced last year by my Republican colleague Senator Giessel of Anchorage and several others, finally passed the Senate this week by a vote of 12 to 5. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. SB 88 creates a retirement system for both state and local government workers, from teachers and plowmen to cops and firefighters. Alaska remains one of the only states without some sort of ‘defined benefit’ retirement to reward workers who choose to stay for 20 years and more in service to Alaskans. Teachers and state employees also do not qualify for federal social security so many new workers average only a few years of service before they leave the state-taking their knowledge, savings and families to other states with more attractive benefits and signing bonuses.

The last several years, as the remaining public employees and teachers on a defined benefit system have begun to retire, has been a challenge for employers-including the State of Alaska. As you may have heard, the public assistance backlog, permitting for mines and energy projects, road plowing service and even attempts to get birth and death certificates have stymied Alaskans. The state government has an average shortage of workers in the 25% range, meaning many necessary public services are not available and the public is being shortchanged. A decent public retirement will not solve the problem of recruiting or retaining state workers, but it will go a long way to staunch the bleeding of good, qualified public workers to serve Alaskans.

Our Grandparents Deserve Our Support

It has been rewarding to serve in a legislature of a young state like Alaska. Everywhere I drive, I recognize the name of a pioneering ancestor because I know their son or granddaughter. I feel especially blessed because so many first generation Alaskans continue to call Fairbanks home, rather than moving to Florida or Arizona. Our state is richer because grandparents can continue to live in Alaska with their grandkids. Everything we do to keep families together is a good thing!

The Senate Finance Committee heard SB 170, to extend the Senior Benefits Program on Monday. The bill I introduced, along with Rep. Sarah Vance, would extend the senior benefits program which is set to expire in June of this year. The program provides modest monthly cash assistance to low-income seniors so they can pay for things like heating oil, food, electricity, medication and transportation.

These low-income seniors make up one of the most important and vulnerable groups in our community and we must do right by them by passing this legislation. While this hearing did not have the opportunity for public testimony, if you or someone you love is benefitted by this program, please send an email of support to sen.scott.kawasaki@akleg.gov. Showing that this bill has support from people around the state will help it pass.

You can check out this week’s hearing here. And check out a shortened version of my editorial in the Anchorage Daily News here!

Join Me and Rep. Dibert at Another Town Hall!

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend my two constituent meetings this past weekend in Fairbanks! Keeping in contact with my neighbors in district while working in Juneau is integral to an active and productive session. During these conversations I heard many concerns surrounding the Base Student Allocation for education, the Mahn Choh project and social service needs. I answered questions about the veto override of the Governor’s cuts to education as well as many of my pre-filed bills. In school I was taught that no question is a dumb question and if I was curious, it was more than likely that at least one other classmate had the same or a similar question.

I will be back in Fairbanks from February 9^th to the 11^th and am hosting two more constituent meetings! On Saturday, February 10^th the Fairbanks LIO will once again host a town hall style meeting with Rep. Dibert who will also be in person. Rep. Stapp will host one the following weekend but plans to be online with us. On Sunday, February 11^th I’ll be hosting another coffee klatch at the Alaska Coffee Roasting Company. More details will follow in the next week.

Avast Ye Matey! Free Money for Young Mariners!

The Alaska Association of Harbormasters & Port Administrators has once again opened their application for their annual scholarships for students going into fields of study or vocation related to the maritime industry and environment. This year, with support from TransPac Marinas & Resolve Marine they are able to offer three $4,000 scholarships as well as a $5,000 STEM scholarship. The applications are due by March 25, 2024. More information can be found here.

My Staff and I are Here for You

As always, I and my staff are are still working for you. Feel free to contact my office and we will assist you with issues important to you and your family.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,