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Alaska: Governor Calls 5th Special Session After House Adjourns Without a Fiscal Plan to Protect Alaska Economy By MARY KAUFFMAN - After the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday night closed out the Fourth Special Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature without making any substantial progress towards creating a balanced and sustainable plan to address the ongoing fiscal crisis in Alaska, Governor Bill Walker followed with an announcement on Sunday that he is calling the Legislature back into a fifth special session. The 5th Special Session will take place in Juneau on July 11, 2016 at 11:00 AM.

The Governor during Sunday's news conference announcing the 5th Special Session, Photo clip from video,
Office of the Governor.

The House Finance Committee's failure to move SB 128 to a full vote of the Alaska House of Representatives could mean a further downgrade in Alaska's credit rating, as the state could see lost earnings from a draw in savings by not pooling financial assets and continued depletion of Alaska's budget reserves.

The Fourth Special Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature was called by Governor Walker with a set agenda that included several revenue measures, the FY 2017 budgets, and a handful of important bills that failed to garner legislative approval during the regular session. The House adjourned without passing any of the revenue measures they were called into the Fourth Special Session to consider by the Governor.

Governor Walker issued a prepared statement Saturday regarding adjournment by the House saying, "“I am deeply disappointed that, after more than a year of conversations with Alaskans and more than 400 meetings with legislators about our fiscal problems, SB 128, a critical piece of legislation for Alaska’s future, never made it to the House floor for a vote. With a $4 billion deficit, it is time we pull together as Alaskans to address this fiscal deficit now. Again, I thank members of the Senate for their leadership on this critical issue and their passage of SB 128.”

Regarding questions about can Alaska afford another special session, Governor Walker said, "We can not afford not to have a special session." A Special Session costs about $13 Thousand per day and the deficit is about $11 million a day said the Governor.

The Governor's Executive Special Session Proclamation dated June 19th again lists the subjects to be addressed by the Legislature in the Fifth Special Session:

1. An act relating to the Alaska Permanent Fund and the earnings reserve account for purposes of a sustainable draw; relating to the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, and to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation;
2. An act relating to a personal income tax, a sales and use tax, the motor fuel tax, the excise tax on alcoholic beverages, the mining license tax and fees, the mining exploration incentive tax credit, the fisheries business tax, the fishery resource landing tax, the annual base fee for entry or interim-use permits, and relating to refunds to local governments and to taxes on tobacco products;
3. An act relating to the oil and gas production tax, tax payments, and credits; relating to oil and gas lease expenditures, and production tax credits for municipal entities, and relating to the interest applicable to delinquent taxes.

Members of the Alaska Senate Majority expressed disappointment Friday in ?the House Finance Committee's failure to move SB 128 to a full vote of the Alaska House of Representatives. The Alaska Senate Majority said in a news release SB 128 is a critical measure that would close a portion of the budget shortfall while preserving the Permanent Fund dividend.

"We are facing uncertain times. SB 128 provided some level of certainty to help stabilize our economy and continue the divided program Alaskans have grown to rely on," said Sen. Anna MacKinnon (R-Eagle River), co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee. "The tough decisions have only just begun. We will continue to change the status quo and business as usual. The Senate stands ready to act."

In a news release, the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition (AIDC) said the 13 members of the AIDC remain committed to working on a comprehensive fiscal plan that will protect the Alaska economy and the essential functions of state government.

The Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition was instrumental in the deal in May that allowed for passage of a fully funded budget that prevented a government shutdown on June 1st and protected the important tourism, commercial fishing, and construction industries that are all vital aspects of the overall Alaska economy. - More...
Monday PM - June 20, 2016

FISH FACTOR: NW Herring Week aims to restore herring to its proper place as a commercial fishery for human consumption By LAINE WELCH - There’s much more to Alaska herring than roe and bait.

Togiak Herring “Old Bay” Escabeché from Le Petit Cochon for Northwest Herring Week.
Photo courtesy Northwest Herring Week

To prove that point, nearly 40 of Seattle’s finest restaurants and retailers will celebrate Northwest Herring Week as a way to re-introduce the tasty, health fish to the dining scene.

“There’s more herring eaten all over the world than you can imagine. Some years there’s as much as four million tons harvested in the world. You can have a year when the herring fishery is as large as the whole Bering Sea pollock fishery,” said Bruce Schactler of Kodiak, a longtime fisherman and director of the Food Aid Program for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). He is helping to coordinate the weeklong event as part of ASMI’s Alaska Herring Development Project.

Featured in the fine dining showcase will be 5,000 pounds of herring fillets from this year’s Togiak fishery, donated by North Pacific Seafoods at Naknek.

Herring long ago disappeared from American menus, although the fish has a mild flavor, similar to trout, and is loaded with healthy omega-3s. Herring week will showcase recipes ranging from smoked, pickled, pates and fancy fillet entrees.

Schactler said he was “shocked” when he first tried the dishes at the first Herring Week last year, which only included eight restaurants.

“I didn’t know what to expect. You walk into one of these restaurants and they set these beautiful dishes in front of you and by the time you’re done eating, you’re saying I’ll have another,” he said with a laugh.

Each year in Alaska more than 40,000 tons of herring are harvested from Southeast to Norton Sound. Nearly all of it is valued for the roe-bearing females, with most of the male fish getting ground up and discarded. Smaller amounts of Alaska herring are used as bait.

“Having one of our major processors come up with a customer to supply herring in any other way than bait or roe - I think it’s maybe the first time ever herring has been filleted for food for a commercial market in the state of Alaska. I think it’s a big step forward,” Schactler said. - More...
Monday PM - June 20, 2016

Alaska: Dr. Michael Johnson Named Alaska Education Commissioner - The Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Johnson as Commissioner of Education and Early Development. Governor Bill Walker has approved the appointment, which will officially begin July 1, 2016. The appointment was made by the Board on Thursday, June 16th.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Michael Johnson as the Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner, and as a new member of my cabinet,” said Governor Walker. “As a longtime educator, administrator, and the President of the Alaska Superintendents Association/Alaska Council of School Administrators, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position.”

“With 53 school districts across the state, Alaska’s education system has unique challenges and opportunities associated with it,” said Lt. Governor Byron Mallott. “Having spent a large portion of his career in rural Alaska, Dr. Michael Johnson brings a perspective to this job that will serve our students well.”

“The State Board of Education and Early Development has unanimously selected Dr. Michael Johnson to be the next Commissioner of Education and Early Development. We look forward to Dr. Johnson’s leadership and the support he will give to Alaska’s dedicated educators as they provide every student the opportunity to succeed,” said Board Chair James Fields.

Dr. Johnson has served in the Copper River School District as superintendent, school principal, district curriculum and staff development director, elementary teacher, and special education program assistant. During his tenure as its principal, Glennallen Elementary School was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Johnson also is a recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award. - More...
Monday PM - June 20, 2016