Legislature

by Rhonda McBride and Mike Ross Thursday, April 16, 2009 JUNEAU, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin must now select a new attorney general after the Legislature rejected her choice in a joint session Thursday. The vote was 35 to 23 against confirming Wayne Anthony Ross. A week ago, word at the Capitol was that the vote would be close, but that Ross would probably win confirmation. But that was before the controversy over the Juneau Senate seat, and Ross' role in helping Gov. Sarah Palin with her latest effort to fill the vacancy.

All the publicity about the daring raid into Pakistan to take Osama Bin Laden has put the Navy Seals in the spotlight. The Alaska Legislature took time out today to recognize one of the very first Navy Seals, 80-year-old Solomon Atkinson of Metlakatla. Atkinson was tapped to be a member of the team created by President John F. Kennedy. At the time, he was the only Native American to serve in that capacity. While in the Navy, Atkinson taught 48 astronauts to scuba dive. Lawmakers say they want to salute Solomon for his service to both his country and his state.  He also served two terms as mayor and city manager of Metlakatla.

A new system of webcams at the Capitol is offering Alaskans a front-row seat to state politics without ever having to travel to leave home. This week, the House Transportation Committee is hearing legislation like the gasoline tax bill and a variety of road projects -- which you can watch live from the convenience of a computer. Under the initiative, called AlaskaLegislature.tv, web cameras have been placed in nine committee rooms. They’re linked to a site which can live-stream up to five meetings at once.

A bipartisan group of 12 House lawmakers is making up the 2013 Legislature's version of the Bush Caucus. The group is chaired this year by Rep. Bryce Edgmon (D-Dillingham), who replaces retired Rep. Reggie Joule. "We have our work cut out for us, as we always have," Joule said. "Sort of as a smaller subset of the Legislature, we do our best to band together and put our energy toward promoting the issues. " Although the issues are different in rural Alaska from the rest of the state, oil tax reform is something most of the caucus within the 40-seat House sees eye-to-eye on with the rest of the Legislature.

The state Legislature's Democratic minorities in the House and Senate introduced their answer to the state's oil-taxation woes Monday, a bill competing with Gov. Sean Parnell's proposed revision of Alaska's oil tax regime. Supporters say the unveiled measure, designated House Bill 111 and Senate Bill 50 in the respective chambers, would make 20 percent of oil production from new fields tax-exempt for seven years. New production from old fields would be rewarded by producers' choice of lowered tax rates on any increased production from current levels, specific tax breaks on finding new oil, or a tax reduction on heavy-oil production.

by Channel 2 News staff Saturday, January 16, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A bill proposed for the upcoming legislative session wants the state to pay attorneys' fees for governors accused of ethics violations. The bill applies to current and former officials accused of executive branch ethics violations. The state would pay "reasonable" fees if the official accused was cleared in the matter or the case was dismissed. A separate pre-filed bill aims to keep ethics complaints against the executive branch confidential until they are found to have merit.

by Channel 2 News staff Sunday, April 5, 2009 JUNEAU, Alaska -- The state Legislature is in the home stretch with only two more weeks to go before the 90-day session comes to a close. The main job ahead for lawmakers is to finish work on the capital budget, but a number of bills will be up for a vote this week. A measure pushed by students from the Polaris Charter School in Anchorage is scheduled for debate on the House floor Monday morning. It would make the Alaskan malamute the state dog, but it faces opposition from dog mushers.

State lawmakers say they need a few weeks to decide how best to study the proposed Pebble Mine near Bristol Bay. They want to make sure they hire researchers who will provide an honest report with useful information. The Legislature has budgeted $750,000 for the Pebble study. The appropriation is rather broad, and the money could be used to study anything from the project’s economics to its environment effects. The Legislature does not often carry out studies of this size -- then again, there aren’t many projects out there quite like Pebble.

by Rebecca Palsha Monday, October 6, 2008 ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The so-called "Palin Truth Squad," working for the McCain-Palin campaign, told reporters on Monday that Todd Palin will give written testimony to the Legislature's investigator, Steve Branchflower. "We believe that the written responses to these (questions) will satisfy the Judiciary Committee subpoena that was served upon Mr. Palin," McCain-Palin spokesperson Meghan Stapleton said. The campaign has been fighting the legislative investigation, saying the Personnel Board is the legal route.

by Channel 2 News staff Friday, May 7, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Eagle River state Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Eagle River, announced Friday afternoon that she will be leaving the Legislature. A release from the House Majority says Dahlstrom will be taking a position with the Parnell administration as a Senior Advisor for Military Affairs. Dahlstrom's district covers Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson, Government Hill, a section of Muldoon Road, parts of North Eagle River and the Glenn Highway.