During a joint session last Monday, I voted to override the Governor’s veto on the education bill, SB 140. Although 65% of the legislature voted to override the Governor with a vote of 39 to 20, we were still one vote short of the 40 votes required.

SB 140 was a truly bipartisan compromise between the House and Senate that I was disappointed to see vetoed. Education continues to be a top priority for the Senate Majority. Our schools have not seen an increase in education funding for eight years and during that time we've seen inflation costs grow significantly. That's why the Senate passed a bill to increase education funding last year and we continued to push for an increase again this year after that bill died in the House.

A vibrant education system is the backbone of our economy. I appreciated hearing from many of you, and I hope you will continue to make your voice heard to those who voted “no” against the override.

Ballots were mailed to qualified, registered voters three weeks prior to the election. Ballots are due back no later than Tues, April 2.

To learn more about how to track your ballot, how to request a replacement ballot, and where to find drop-boxes in Anchorage, visit the Municipality's website here.

Remember to apply for your Permanent Fund Dividend check before March 31st. The deadline is Sunday, March 31, at 11:59 pm. Log into your myAlaska account to apply or check on your application.

I value hearing from my neighbors! I recently sent paper newsletters to East Anchorage constituents. If you haven't already, please take one minute to complete my survey here: East Anchorage Legislative survey