Representing the neighborhoods of Airport Heights, Campbell Park, College Village, Downtown, Fairview,
Geneva Woods, Government Hill, Green Acres, Midtown, Rogers Park, Spenard, South Addition, Tudor and Waldron
 

Working hard • Solving problems • Getting things done

July 29, 2008
 

Senator
Johnny Ellis

July 29th, 2008

SPECIAL SESSION IN
THE HOME STRETCH

Friends and Neighbors,

         The pace is starting to pick up in Juneau, as the Legislature is getting closer to acting on the gas line and energy relief. The first bill we are considering, which would award a license to TransCanada (the only company that complied with the state’s requirements) to pursue a natural gas pipeline, passed the House last week and is now in the Senate’s Special Committee on Energy. The second topic we are tackling is energy relief, which is working its way through the committee process. Here’s an update on these two issues:

On July 19 I moderated a discussion on higher education at the Council of State Government’s Western Region conference at the Hotel Captain Cook. The forum was hosted by the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE), of which I am a former commissioner. Rep. Berta Gardner and other legislators joined me for the discussion.

         Natural Gas Pipeline- The Senate has until Saturday at midnight to approve TC Alaska’s bid to be awarded a contract under the state’s terms. Senators have been reviewing the Senate version of this bill (SB 3001) this week and it should be before the full body on Friday for a vote. We continue to hear about other potential pipeline proposals, whether ANGDA or the Denali group, but to date TC Alaska is the only proposal that includes all the “must haves” that the Legislature required in law.

         Energy Relief- Bills designed to help Alaskans deal with high energy costs are currently in committee. Contained in these bills is the much-publicized idea to send $1,200 relief checks to all Alaska residents, but there are other potential components to energy relief. Some of these components include helping hard-hit Alaskans by increasing money for power cost equalization, expanding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), suspending the state’s gas tax, and making capital investments in renewable energy development. As these ideas take shape, I will continue to push for a forward-thinking energy package that prioritizes renewable energy and other long-term solutions. The Legislature has until August 7 to act on any proposals.

At the Fairview Block Party July 19 I joined Assembly member Patrick Flynn in presenting the Johnny Ellis Community Service Award to former Fairview Community Council President Darrel Hess. Darrel has been a tireless advocate for the residents of Fairview and did an excellent job as the council’s president.

         One of the other hot topics in Juneau has been the dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. I worked closely with Mr. Monegan, first when he was Anchorage Police Chief, and then as DPS Commissioner, and he earned my respect in those roles. Yesterday I attended the Legislative Council hearing where there was a 12-0 vote to hire an independent investigator to examine the firing. I absolutely believe an independent investigator is the right course to determine whether there were any violations of state law in the firing of Commissioner Monegan. I am confident this will be an arm’s-length, objective review free of political pressures.

         I will keep you updated on all of these issues as the special session comes to a close.

         Until next week,

        Senator Johnny Ellis

http://ellis.aksenate.org