Recession, not overpaid public sector employees to blame for state and local budget woes

Income Gaps Between Very Rich and Everyone Else More Than Tripled In Last Three Decades, New Data Show

By Arloc Sherman and Chad Stone

“The gaps in after-tax income between the richest 1 percent of Americans and the middle and poorest fifths of the country more than tripled between 1979 and 2007 (the period for which these data are available), according to data the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued last week. Taken together with prior research, the new data suggest greater income concentration at the top of the income scale than at any time since 1928.” Read the rest of this entry »

2008 Nobel Prize winner for economics Paul Krugman, who has authored 20 books and more than 200 papers on the subject, offered an enlightening viewpoint on another aspect of spoon-fed fear in The New York Times in February.

In a sudden hysteria that could be likened to swine flu on many levels, Washington now has a chorus of hand-wringing-fear-filled politicos belting out a song of despair. And it now appears this choir has warbling voices from all corners of political ideology.

This unlikely acapella emanates from a bizarre belief that there is no time like the present to lower budget deficits. While I am no Krugman (who is?) a simple checkbook balancing approach and a look into the past while analyzing the present could reel in these Nervous Nellies if they just take the time to stop and think.

Checkbook: If my wife Karen and I are out of a job and private sector jobs are stymied, where can we hope to find relief? As bad as the budget deficit choir hates to admit it; government. But if government stops creating jobs by cutting spending through deficit reductions, well, I think you get the picture: How Now Brown Cow? Read the rest of this entry »

Nearly 7,000 low income children in Alaska can’t get a free or reduced price meal at school because their schools do not offer the breakfast program. Why not? The federal reimbursement for breakfast is simply too low to make it economically feasible for most schools.

Over the last three legislative sessions, Food Bank of Alaska, the Alaska Food Coalition, and the Alaska School Nutrition Association have partnered to request state support for school breakfast and lunch.  The Alaska State Legislature is currently considering legislation (SB 213) which provides state funding to supplement federal dollars received for school meals served to students who qualify for free or reduced price meals.  To view SB 213 follow the link to: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=SB%20213&session=26

The bill was passed through the Senate Education Committee and has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.  We need your help to keep SB 213 moving through the legislative process in Juneau. Read the rest of this entry »

Rep. Beth Kerttula and Sen. Menard pose with Matt and Sue, the office marmots. Both legislators are eagerly awaiting the historic first Alaska Marmot Day.

Alaskans and their young state will officially celebrate the newest tradition to be established in the Last Frontier February 2nd. Alaska Marmot Day pays homage to our very own marmot, an iconic creature that populates so many regions of Alaska.

[Excerpted from Senator Menard's newsletter]

SB 101, Student Questionnaires and Surveys (sponsor Senator_Bettye_Davis@legis.state.ak.us) is scheduled for a hearing in the House Health and Social Services Committee on Tuesday, February 2nd. This bill allows for passive parental consent for students taking the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS.)

ACTION NEEDED:

PLEASE Contact House H&SS Committee members before the 3 p.m. hearing on Tuesday. Testify in favor of the bill from you local Legislative Information Office at the hearing on Tuesday. To find your office: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/misc/lios.php Read the rest of this entry »

Congress is working on a major jobs bill that could help struggling transit systems across the country facing serious layoffs, service cuts and fare hikes, keep our buses and trains running, bring lasting improvements to our country’s transportation system…and strengthen our economy at the same time.

But only if it’s done right. And that is going to require some leadership. Read the rest of this entry »

Commentary by Representative Les Gara

Yesterday the United States Supreme Court did something so big that it even took that couple who broke into the White House party – and that 3D movie with the blue people – off the news radar.  For at least a minute.

If you thought the fight over who should be placed on the Supreme Court was only about abortion and social issues, you missed a bigger motive for some of the federal politicians who’ve pushed to appoint these guys.  Many partisan federal politicians have wanted to increase the influence of big corporations over your government.  Yesterday they won.  Yesterday they gave Exxon about $85 billion more in power than they left for you. Read the rest of this entry »

We have something that you can give to working families this year — and it doesn’t need to be wrapped.

Tax credits can provide thousands of dollars to working families — but only if families know about the credits and claim them on their tax returns.

That’s why we need your help. Please help spread the word about tax credits for working families by downloading our new outreach materials and sharing them with your community — schools, non-profit agencies, child care centers, places of worship, etc. Read the rest of this entry »

I retired from the Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) after 29 years of service and had some opportunity to be aware of some of the fire statistics and fire-loading statistics. AFD is rated by the Insurance Services Organization (ISO), which is a standards evaluating firm used by many entities nationwide. ISO ratings for fire departments are based on certain criteria including water supply, size of department/equipment/manpower/training, fire codes and enforcement and communications, along with other details. The result of their evaluation is a rating from 10 (unprotected – no fire protection) to 1 (the fire department is exceptionally competent).

AFD has achieved an astounding 2 rating. The rating interprets into the loss ratio used by many insurance companies for establishing their rates. For the most part, the ISO rating interprets fairly directly for homeowners insurance rates; businesses are usually rated individually with consideration given for their specific hazard-of-business and the local fire department capability/rating.

Having said all of that…churches are one of the highest and most problematic hazards in any city. Read the rest of this entry »

Sam Seskin, national expert on transportation and urban planning will be in Anchorage next week, and will offer two public presentations. See below.

There is also a smaller group debriefing Tuesday, Dec 15 from 3:30 – 5:30 to discuss the outcomes of Anchorage’s computer modeling for the various inputs staff worked up. If you will attend the 3:30 debriefing, please RSVP to Julie.Jessen

Tuesday, December 15th at 6:00pm, Sam will present land use and transportation planning in Portland and how it relates to Anchorage. This presentation will be followed by a question and answer session intended to spur discussions on conceptual planning practices and approaches. Read the rest of this entry »

Last [Friday] night, H2H staff asked Anchorage’s Transit Advisory Board for a resolution supporting the project, explaining Anchorage needed to protect its funding from other big projects such as Juneau Access and the Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges.

They called the freeway a “springboard for an increased transit system,” explaining that we could to build the freeway now, and then in 10, 15 or perhaps 20 years, build out transit as, perhaps, a Bus Rapid Transit system.

The Transit Advisory Board said they’d like to hear more about how and when transit will be improved, mentioning the vast cost differences ie $700 million for three miles of freeway vs $1 million per bus route per year. They questioned how commuters would get around Anchorage once they got here, without improved transit. Read the rest of this entry »

There will be 2.4 million foreclosures in 2009 along with 9 million foreclosures between 2009-2012, according to the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). CRL also estimates that 69 million homes will lose property value because of nearby foreclosures for a total property value loss of $502 billion.

The Progressive States Network is working with its partners and leading experts to promote reforms to stem the foreclosure crisis and put in place reforms to discourage predatory lending practices in the future.Through coordinated, strategic support, PSN and our allies will be working to introduce and advance legislation to address foreclosure and predatory lending reforms, providing model legislation, policy analysis, messaging and more – all of which has been gathered and will be constantly updated on our Foreclosure & Predatory Lending web page. Read the rest of this entry »

New report shows staggering increases

ANCHORAGE – As school districts and local governments across the state are facing budget shortfalls, a report released today by Rep. Pete Petersen (D-Anchorage) shows that Alaska’s high energy costs are making these problems worse.  Petersen serves on the House Energy Committee which is working to create a statewide energy policy and on Tuesday will be taking testimony from mayors from across the state about their communities energy needs.

“High fuel prices have caused communities and school districts to consider painful cuts to services,” said Petersen.  “I look forward to hearing from the mayors about the individual energy needs of their communities.”

While the Anchorage School District is facing up to $15 million in budget cuts, the report shows that ASD heating fuel costs have risen from less than $2.5 million in fiscal year 2004 to more than $5.6 million in FY2009.  ASD vehicle fuel costs rose from less than $1 million in FY2006 to more than $1.5 million in FY2009.  The Mat-Su School District, whose budget woes have lead to a labor dispute with their classified employees, has seen its heating fuel costs rise from less than $1 million in FY2006 to more than $1.5 million in FY2009, and their vehicle fuel costs go from $119,540 in FY2008 to $177,299 in FY2009. Read the rest of this entry »

NEW REPORT:

Immigrants and the Economy

New report shows robust immigrant contribution to GDP

During boom years, fast-growing Phoenix, Dallas, and Houston metros experienced largest growth in immigrant workers

New York, NY — In the 25 largest metropolitan areas of the United States, immigrants are contributing to the economy in very close proportion to their share of the population, according to a report released today by the Fiscal Policy Institute. The report looks at all immigrants – documented and undocumented, across the economic spectrum. Funding for the report was provided by 32BJ SEIU and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

“Immigrants are an important part of our economy,” says Ray Marshall, former Secretary of Labor and a member of the advisory panel to the Fiscal Policy Institute’s Immigration Research Initiative. “This valuable report provides a solid basis for understanding the impact of immigration on our country’s metropolitan areas.” Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Ms. Spitz:

Please accept the following comments on behalf of the Anchorage Citizens Coalition. We support Anchorage’s comprehensive plan, Anchorage 2020, and its goals for infill and redevelopment, improved neighborhoods, less reliance on automobiles, more transit, biking and walking, and a healthier community overall.

We commend the intention to evaluate this project against established plans, and ask that those plans include Anchorage 2020.

The coalition feels it is premature to propose a roadway connection between the University Medical District and East Northern Lights before the city has fully explored its options to reduce vehicle demand (vehicle miles traveled) by: Read the rest of this entry »

Informative if not calming highway communique from Rep. Les Gara… ~ldw

Dear Neighbors,

Lots of you are justifiably scared that state, city and private traffic planners have, well, gone loopy on us. It’s time for some straight talk about threats you’ve heard that traffic experts would actually build a new highway through Anchorage’s densest neighborhoods, and maybe even through your kitchen.

Here’s the skinny. These folks aren’t necessarily nuts. They’re just messing with you. The National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) probably requires them to pretend they are considering completely insane highway route alternatives through Anchorage that, from the mail I’m receiving, have scared the bejesus out of many of you. What they haven’t told you is that most of their proposed route alternatives have almost no chance of moving forward. Read the rest of this entry »

Excellent review of social, economic, and health problems and proposed solutions in rural Alaska. The report is lavishly illustrated. It was authored by the Yukon-Kuskowim Health Corporation, and became available August 2009.

forgotten_america.pdf

How American Labor Law Denies a Quarter of the Workforce Collective Bargaining Rights

The right to organize and bargain collectively under the protection of law is the bedrock upon which workers are able to form or join a labor union. American labor law has not kept pace with the changing nature and face of the modern workplace and increasingly excludes more and more workers from this legal protection. Increasing numbers of employees have a supervisory aspect or capacity of their work. More and more immigrants join the workforce, especially in the agricultural sector, and more people have been classified as independent contractors, whether by choice or by an employer’s decision. As these changes take place, American labor law denies these workers their legally-protected right to form unions and collectively bargain by either defining workers as not employees or by expressly excluding them. Read the rest of this entry »

In celebration of the ecologist’s life and work Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) invites you to this event, in commemoration of the birthday and life of Rachel Carson, scientist and author of Silent Spring.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 2, 2009, 7-9pm

WHERE: Wilda Marston Theater, Z.J. Loussac Public Library, 3600
Denali Street, Anchorage Read the rest of this entry »

ANCHORAGE CITIZENS COALITION, ALASKA CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY, AND THE BICYCLE COMMUTERS OF ANCHORAGE SUPPORT BLUEPRINT FOR TRANSPORTATION REFORM

Road map for transformational change will enhance Alaska’s economic future

Anchorage – Today, as Congress prepares to rewrite the federal transportation law, Alaskan organizations join Transportation for America to release a detailed plan to recreate the nation’s transportation program in order to build a smart, safe and clean transportation system that provides real choices to all Americans. Read the rest of this entry »

Economic Crisis Seminar & Update
An event sponsored by the Business Administration Department, APU

The faculty of Alaska Pacific University will hold this free public event on APU campus Carr Gottstein Building Room 102 on May 9, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance. Limited seating.  For RSVP and questions call Tania Marsh at 564-8234.

Program details

10:00 a.m.      Credit Crisis and the Economy: Presenters:  Lehman & Wladkowski
11: 00 a.m.     Panel: Is capitalism in crisis? Discussants: Faller, Lane, Lehman, Rawson, Thiru, Stewart (Moderator)
12:15 p.m.      Working Lunch: Breakout sessions
1:30 p.m.       Report back & closure: what next? Audience input (Moderator: Stewart)
2:00 p.m.       End

Presenters: Read the rest of this entry »

On March 4, 2009, Wall Street Watch released a damning report about the cause of the current economic meltdown, “Sold Out: How Wall Street and Washington Betrayed America.” This report “has one overriding message: financial deregulation led directly to the financial meltdown.”

Part I of the report documents a dozen specific deregulatory steps (including failures to regulate and failures to enforce existing regulations) that enabled Wall Street to crash the financial system:

1. In 1999, Congress repealed the Glass-Steagall Act, which had prohibited the merger of commercial banking and investment banking.
2. Regulatory rules permitted off-balance sheet accounting — tricks that enabled banks to hide their liabilities.
3. The Clinton administration blocked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from regulating financial derivatives — which became the basis for massive speculation.
4. Congress in 2000 prohibited regulation of financial derivatives when it passed the Commodity Futures Modernization Act.
5. The Securities and Exchange Commission in 2004 adopted a voluntary regulation scheme for investment banks that enabled them to incur much higher levels of debt.
6. Rules adopted by global regulators at the behest of the financial industry would enable commercial banks to determine their own capital reserve requirements, based on their internal “risk-assessment models.”
7. Federal regulators refused to block widespread predatory lending practices earlier in this decade, failing to either issue appropriate regulations or even enforce existing ones.
8. Federal bank regulators claimed the power to supersede state consumer protection laws that could have diminished predatory lending and other abusive practices.
9. Federal rules prevent victims of abusive loans from suing firms that bought their loans from the banks that issued the original loan.
10. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac expanded beyond their traditional scope of business and entered the subprime market, ultimately costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.

Read the rest of this entry »

Juneau, Alaska–In efforts to make our voices heard by Alaska legislators on the Employee Free Choice Act and public employee pension reform, 130 ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 members converged on the capital for an educational conference highlighted by lobbying and an exciting rally. The event took place over two days, February 18th and 19th.

Prior to meeting legislators in person to lobby, Local 52 members received in-depth information on the voting records and tendencies of legislators whose votes we need for passage of the proposed measures under consideration.

Next, our members met with their legislators in personal one-on-one meetings to add their personal touches to the context of the Employee Free Choice Act and Alaska legislation in the forms of HB 30 and SB 54. The latter measures seek to return public employees to a defined benefit [retirement plan] from the present defined contribution (401k). The defined benefit was erased and replaced with the defined contribution by the Alaska Legislature in 1995 as a cost-saving mechanism, resulting in minuscule savings since its enactment.

The event included an all-union rally on the capitol steps where over 350 Alaska unionists turned out to remind the Alaska legislature that if talking fails to get our voices heard, we don’t mind yelling a little. Read the rest of this entry »

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law by President Obama last week, allows involuntarily unemployed workers to continue their employer-based coverage by paying 35% of premiums, while the federal government pays a 65% subsidy. Unemployed workers can get this assistance for up to 9 months if they lost their jobs between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. In order to get full federal help for unemployed workers in paying for health insurance premiums, Alaska will have to write a new state law immediately.

Unemployed workers who lost jobs in firms of 20 or more will get this help in all states, because they are eligible for COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) benefits under federal law. However, in order for workers in firms with fewer than 20 workers to get this help, the state must have a “state continuation coverage law” known as a “mini-COBRA law” in place. Alaska is one of only 10 states that doesn’t have that kind of a law.

Model bill language is available from the National Association for Insurance Commissioners.  Minnesota state law is one example of the “mini-COBRA law” Alaska must write to help unemployed workers continue their employer-based coverage.

For more information about the COBRA subsidies in the Recovery Act, use the following link to view a Families USA report: http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/unemployed-uninsured/protecting-unemployed-workers.pdf. Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

Some information in this post has been excerpted from a Families USA correspondence.

President Obama signed the economic stimulus bill into law today. The Alaska Center for Public Policy (ACPP) is pleased to present findings on how the federal economic stimulus package will bolster low- and moderate-income families in Alaska. Recently, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) released a report detailing these projections. The report indicates that Alaskan families will receive funds for the following programs:

• $220 million temporary increase in the federal share of Medicaid expenses (known as the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage or FMAP)
• $113.7 million “State Fiscal Stabilization Fund” to avert budget cuts—one block grant for education ($93 million), and one flexible block grant for basic state services ($20.7 million)
• $79.3 million toward education
• $14,898 increase in unemployment insurance
• $4.36 million toward child care
• $9 million for training and employment services
• $36 million increase in the Food Stamp (or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance) Program
• $1.9 million toward the Emergency Shelter Grant Program
• $1,000 federal income tax credit per child
• $400 federal income tax credit per worker

Read the rest of this entry »

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During the week of January 26th, a recovery package with nutrition program investments and other targeted relief cleared the U.S. House of Representatives. A companion bill is scheduled for vote in the Senate early in the week of February 2nd.

Spread the word and help fight hunger in Alaska. Contact Alaska’s Senators, Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today. Urge them to support a strong economic recovery package that includes nutrition and other targeted assistance to get the economy moving and cushion the blow on struggling families.

Call 866-544-7573 or 800-828-0498 and ask to be connected to the office of Senator Murkowski or Senator Begich. When the staffer answers the phone, be sure to identify yourself as an Alaskan. Give them your message, and do the same for the other Senator’s office. If you have trouble getting through you can call direct to:

o Senator Lisa Murkowski – 202-224-6665

o Senator Mark Begich – 202-224-3004
Read the rest of this entry »

Alaskans currently pay the highest prices at the gas pump in the nation. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $1.84 on January 27. The Alaska average was $2.54. The soaring cost of home heating fuel around the state continues to make headlines as well.

To address the pinch on Alaskans’ wallets, Anchorage Democratic Representatives Pete Petersen and Chris Tuck are pushing anti-price gouging legislation at the start of the 26th Legislature. House Bill 68 (Price Gouging Involving Energy Resources) would make it a crime in Alaska to sell gas at outrageous and exorbitant prices.

“An anti-gouging law is long overdue in Alaska,” said Representative Tuck, who represents the Dimond area of Anchorage in the State House. “The families I represent are stretching their budgets to be able to afford to drive their kids to school and hockey practice, and to commute to work each day. With two in-state refineries it is unacceptable that Alaskans are paying nearly 70 cents per gallon higher than the national average.”

Read the rest of this entry »

This month, Families USA has released a report detailing the plight of recently unemployed American workers trying to continue their health care coverage after losing their jobs. The report, “Squeezed: Caught Between Unemployment Benefits and Health Care Costs,” shows that the COBRA program (from the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) designed to help workers continue seeing the same doctors and keep the same insurance coverage, while transitioning to new work, simply costs too much.

The numbers are escpecially grim for Alaskans. Among the key finding, research shows that a newly unemployed worker in the state would need to spend, on average, more than 49.2 percent of their unemployment insurance income on COBRA premiums. The average premium for family coverage under COBRA would equal 131.7 percent of their unemployment insurance income. The costs of COBRA premiums for Alaskans are some of the highest in the nation. Read the rest of this entry »

On January 9th, 2009, Democratic Legislators renewed their efforts to stop Alaska investments in foreign companies complicit in the 5-year old Darfur genocide. It is expected that the legislation will have bi-partisan support this year, after it became an issue in the national presidential election. “We don’t need to make money off genocide in this state. Congress has banned American companies from doing business in Sudan, and we can find better investments than in the few foreign companies still doing business there,” said newly elected Rep. Pete Petersen (D-Anch).

Reps. Les Gara, Berta Gardner, Beth Kerttula and Petersen have filed the legislation, which requires the state, and the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, to stop investing in companies the international community has identified as complicit in the Darfur Genocide. Roughly 30 other states have already joined the Darfur Divestment movement. Since 2003 the Sudanese government and paramilitary groups have killed over 200,000 of their own citizens, and jeopardized the lives of 2 million others through displacement.

Read the rest of this entry »

This public forum is your chance to learn more about the issue and to tell your legislatures why Alaska needs to return to a safe and secure retirement system in order to attract and retain qualified firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other public employees.

JOIN IN

Saturday, January 10                    10am-12noon

Dena’ina Center, Tyonek Room, 600 W. 7th, Anchorage

Three years ago, the Alaska legislature dismantled the public employee retirement system.  Overnight, Alaska went from a retirement system that helped build our state to one that is no longer competitive for quality public employees.

Even before recent stock market problems, quality employees were going elsewhere.  Alaska has high turnover and too many job vacancies – 40% in public safety alone.  Without retirement security, how will we recruit police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, teachers, and other public employees to provide vital services to Alaskans?

Most public employees in Alaska do not receive Social Security.  Under the current state system, most newly hired employees will have only a risky stock market account when they retire and no affordable health care.

Alaska needs to return to a safe and secure retirement system to stay competitive.  Join us to find out how you can help get Alaska back on the right track and protect our critical public services. Read the rest of this entry »

Voices for Alaska’s Children and Youth

Voices for Alaska’s Children and Youth creates awareness of and advocates for effective public policy on behalf of Alaska’s children, youth, and their families.

Join us for an advocacy networking lunch

• Could you use some assistance in your advocacy efforts?
• Don’t have time, energy or resources to get your advocacy efforts underway?
• Does your agency want to work more collaboratively with other agencies to increase the power of our advocacy efforts?

VOICES for Alaska’s Children and Youth is hosting a FREE soup luncheon. Meet representatives from other organizations that you can actively collaborate with on behalf of the whole child.

Date: January 20th, 2009

Location: Success By Six Building, 3350 Commercial Dr.  Suite 201

Time: 12:00-1:00

For more information please contact Meghan Johnson at 360-7384 meegorama@yahoo.com or Sallye Werner at 345-6354 slwerner@alaska.net Read the rest of this entry »

Image by James Morrison via Flickr

The following is a slightly edited description of Gapminder taken from their own website. Really, they are trying to describe an orchid by listing the chemical composition. You have to go to the site and play with the software. Otherwise, you will never see the beauty of the “orchid.”

Gapminder is a non-profit venture promoting sustainable global development and achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by increased use and understanding of statistics and other information about social, economic and environmental development at local, national and global levels.

Gapminder was founded in Stockholm February 2005. Gapminder does not award any grants. It is an operating foundation that implements activities as defined by the board, often as collaborative projects with universities, UN organizations, public agencies and non-governmental organizations. Read the rest of this entry »

We invite you to check out PSN’s new website at www.progressivestates.org

While it is very much a work in progress, we hope it will make it easier for state leaders to access the wide variety of legislative and policy resources that Progressive States Network has archived over the three years of our existence, along with information from allied organizations that we highlight.   From health care to tax policy to election reform to technology issues to fighting foreclosures, our website aims to be a “first stop” destination for legislators and advocates, who can read about topics and find links to legislation enacted in other states, research reports, and the range of organizations available to support legislators looking to enact similar policies in their state. Read the rest of this entry »

Image by Steve Rhodes via Flickr

New Study By FamiliesUSA Jointly Released with Alaska Center for Public Policy

A new study by FamiliesUSA released today shows that over the past eight years (2000 through 2007), family health insurance premiums

for Alaska’s workers rose 5.7 times more quickly than average earnings. On average, health care premiums for families rose by 73.6 percent, while average earnings rose by only 13.0 percent.

For family health coverage in Alaska, the average annual premium (employer and worker share of premiums combined) rose from $7,456 to $12,942, an increase of $5,486. For family health coverage in the state, the employer’s portion of annual premiums rose from $5,484 to $9,901 (a difference of $4,416), while the worker’s portion rose from $1,972 to $3,041 (a difference of $1,069). Read the rest of this entry »

When: September 2008

Who: Parks Volunteers

What: Grade your neighborhood park with an Anchorage Park Report Card

Why: To assess park needs and involve the public in improving our Anchorage neighborhood parks

Download: Report Card [note: this is a large 10 MB PDF file] for your own evaluation of your neighborhood park. See Instructions, a Park Setting Guide, and evaluation pages for:

* Outer Park Edge & Entry
* Active Recreation Areas
* Passive Recreation Areas
* Playgrounds
* Pathways
* Green Space
Read the rest of this entry »

Image by *Zara via Flickr

Research Matters No. 38. Kids Count Alaska Data Book 2006-2007
August 25, 2008

Compared with kids around the country, Alaska’s kids are more likely to be born at a healthy weight, about as likely to live with single parents, and less likely to commit violent crimes. But kids in Alaska are more likely to be killed in accidents and less likely to graduate from high school—and fewer of those who do graduate go on to college.

These and many more measures of the well-being of children and teenagers in Alaska are reported in the new Kids Count Alaska 2006-2007 data book from ISER. These data books are funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which publishes its own national data book every year and also sponsors Kids Count programs in every state.

Printed copies of the new data book were paid for by Wells Fargo and are available from ISER; call Virgene Hanna, director of Kids Count Alaska, at 907-786-5431.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

One year ago (August 1), Minneapolis’ I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed during rush hour, killing thirteen people. This tragedy is an illustration of a much larger problem—the deterioration of our nation’s infrastructure. Progressives should not be afraid to talk about spending priorities during this election. A new poll by Time magazine and the Rockefeller Foundation found that 83 percent of the public supports “increasing government spending on things like public-works projects to help create jobs.”

America’s bridges and roads need much repair. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that nearly 25 percent of bridges in the U.S.—over 152,000 bridges—are “structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.” Nearly one in four miles of urban interstate is in only “poor” or “mediocre” condition. Read the rest of this entry »

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In the July 25, 2008 issue of Senator Elton’s off the record, he expresses his dissatisfaction with the Governor’s energy bills:

The gasline rhetoric unfortunately obscures the rest of this special session’s agenda–energy. The energy bills include: the governor’s $1,200 cash payout; and the governor’s proposed suspension of the state’s motor fuel tax.  To spare anyone the pain of reading all the way to the bottom of this newsletter to get my reaction to the governor’s energy lynchpins, I’ll be upfront. In my considered, calm and nonjudgmental opinion, these two bills have all the nutrition of bon-bons.

He poses as alternatives this set of suggested policies, which do have, in my humble opinion, the appearance of reasoned substance.  Would you agree? Read the rest of this entry »

The following has been excerpted from a communication sent by Kathleen Fitzgerald, Coordinator- Partners in Policymaking, and from the Partners in Policymaking web site:

Partners in Policymaking is a national model of advocacy and leadership training. Alaska’s Partners in Policymaking Program is funded through the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and has been designed for Trust beneficiaries and their families. This project identifies individuals from around the state who have not held a leadership position and helps them develop advocacy and leadership skills to improve the lives of Trust beneficiaries. Read the rest of this entry »

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeThursday, June 26 [was] the anniversary of the Senate filibuster that blocked the Employee Free Choice Act. …. This is a good day to explain why we’re proud to protect workers’ rights and support the Employee Free Choice Act.* More than half of all U.S. workers—nearly 60 million—say they would join a union right now if they could. Their best opportunity to get ahead is by uniting with co-workers to bargain with employers for better wages and benefits. Working people want that opportunity.

* The current system for forming unions and bargaining with employers is broken. Corporations routinely intimidate, harass, coerce and illegally fire people who try to organize unions. Workers are fired in a quarter of private sector union organizing campaigns; 78 percent of private employers require supervisors to deliver anti-union messages to their employees; and even after workers successfully form a union, they can’t get a contract one-third of the time. Read the rest of this entry »

Image via WikipediaTitle 21 is the legislation that governs land use in the Municipality of Anchorage. If you are not quite sure what this is all about, there is excellent background information presented in language you can understand at the Anchorage Citizens Coalition web site. Title 21 has been under review for 6 years. After strong urging from Mayor Begich and Assembly Chair Matt Claman to speed up their review, the assembly’s Title 21 Committee began relying more on Planning and Zoning Commission decisions June 19, and less on committee members’ opinions. Several bullets were dodged, including: Read the rest of this entry »

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Paid Sick Days Approved by California Assembly

Last Thursday, the California Assembly approved a bill guaranteeing all workers in the state a minimum number of paid sick days each year, becoming the second legislative chamber in the country to do so following approval in the Connecticut Senate. Washington, D.C. and San Francisco have enacted paid sick days reform into law locally. Read the rest of this entry »

This meeting agenda indicates the first substantive discussion in several years of how Title 21 changes the land use rules for neighborhoods and businesses. Please attend.

Title 21 Rewrite: Building a Better Community

Do you…think about adding a mother-in-law unit to your home or convert it to a duplex? Wonder how big a business sign can be? Own a lot and want to subdivide it? Want to know about the laws that regulate the use of your property? Are you interested in a more walkable community and protecting urban wildlife?

Come to the community meeting Thursday, June 5, 7:00 pm at The Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, 121 W. 7th Avenue and let’s talk about Title 21– the law governing land use within the Municipality of Anchorage. Title 21 guides implementation of the “Anchorage 2020″ comprehensive plan—our vision for the future. The rewrite of Title 21 has been underway for the past six years. Read the rest of this entry »

With a name like National Institute on Money in State Politics, you can imagine the possibilities, and they are realized on this site.

The National Institute on Money in State Politics is the only nonpartisan, nonprofit organization revealing the influence of campaign money on state-level elections and public policy in all 50 states. Our comprehensive and verifiable campaign-finance database and relevant issue analyses are available for free through our Web site FollowTheMoney.org. We encourage transparency and promote independent investigation of state-level campaign contributions by journalists, academic researchers, public-interest groups, government agencies, policymakers, students and the public at large.

It would be easy to spend hours on this site, exploring all the different analytic possibilities, reading the special reports, and investigating your “favorite” Alaskan legislators and politically influential industries. For example, the state overview feature allows you to view money given to candidates and committees in Alaska in a particular election. You can see state totals as well as for specific races and candidates. Money is broken down into top contributors, industries, political parties, and candidates. Here are some Alaska examples for the 2006 election cycle:

Read the rest of this entry »

Over the past five years only one penny of every new, real non-defense dollar spent by the federal government goes to children, a new publication by First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization revealed today.

The book, entitled Children’s Budget 2008, was made possible with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. It is an analysis of the over 180 federally funded programs that are aimed at enhancing the well-being of our nation’s children, and how their appropriations levels have changed over the past five years. After adjusting for inflation, Children’s Budget 2008 finds that just one percent of all new spending since fiscal year 2004 is helping American kids. Read the rest of this entry »

The following press release was circulated April 10th, 2008, by UAA’s Justice Center and by the Alaska Coalition for Prisoner Re-Entry:

WASHINGTON, April 9 (UPI) — U.S. President George W. Bush Wednesday signed the Second Chance Act, saying the legislation will help prisoners “reclaim their lives.” The act authorizes the administration’s Prison Re-entry Program, which expands job training and placement services, to help ex-prisoners find transitional housing. It also provides mentoring, including help from faith-based groups, Bush said during the signing ceremony.

“Our government has a responsibility to help prisoners to return as contributing members of their community,” Bush said. Most of the assistance provided for in the legislation happens in faith-based communities and community-based groups, he said.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday April 15, from 5:00pm-7:00pm at the UAA Campus Bookstore Andrew Yarrow presents “Forgive Us Our Debts: America’s Public Debt Crisis and How It Affects All Americans” at the UAA Campus Bookstore.

Andrew Yarrow teaches Modern US History at American University and serves as vice-president of Public Agenda, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that provides research for American leaders so they can better understand the public’s point of view and helps citizens better understand critical policy issues ranging from education to foreign policy to immigration to religion and civility in American life.

In his book, Forgive Us Our Debts: The Intergenerational Dangers of Fiscal Irresponsibility, Andrew Yarrow discusses why the federal debt is rising exponentially, why our government borrows, what effects it may have on Americans if it continues to grow at this rate, and what it will take to pay it all back. Read the rest of this entry »

Based on research by the Alaska Public Interest Research Group, only 60% percent of workers in Alaska have paid sick days, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This leaves 40% percent, or 119,280 workers, without a sickness policy allowing them to stay home with pay when they’re sick.

A modest plan ensuring a minimum paid sick days standard in Alaska would save $9.07 per worker per week. These savings would come from reduced turnover, lower productivity losses for sick workers on the job, avoiding relatives’ short-term nursing home stays, and a healthier workforce. Costs for wages, payroll taxes, and administrative expenses would be much lower: $6.47 per worker per week. Read the rest of this entry »

Center for American Progress

“The Center for American Progress is a progressive think-tank dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through ideas and action. We are creating a long-term, progressive vision for America—a vision that policy makers, thought-leaders and activists can use to shape the national debate and pass laws that make a difference. The Center for American Progress is headed by John D. Podesta, former chief of staff to President William J. Clinton and a professor at Georgetown University Center of Law.”

The Center for American Progress covers a vast array of contemporary policy issues ranging from “Credit and Debt” and Bioethics and Science” to “Homeland Security” and even a special section of “Cartoons.” There are newsletters galore, and enough thoughtful analysis on this site to keep you busy for weeks. You really have to visit the site for yourself to appreciate what it has to offer. Read the rest of this entry »

Since 2003, the non-partisan Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (DMI) has issued annual scorecards analyzing the impact of domestic legislation on America’s current and aspiring middle class and evaluating Members of Congress based on their votes on this legislation.

But once a year just isn’t enough. We need to understand what Congress is voting on as they are voting on it if we truly want to hold them accountable. And so [DMI has] created themiddleclass.org, a dynamic site that will update throughout the year as members of Congress vote on legislation of significance to the current and aspiring middle class. Read the rest of this entry »

At a time of national debate over ways to improve the performance of America’s schools, a new report reveals a trend that undermines chances of reaching that goal: a large and growing pay penalty for those who choose to become public school teachers. Over the last decade, the teacher pay gap increased 10.8 percentage points—from a 4.3 percent shortfall for teachers in 1996 to 15.1 percent in 2006.  According to Table B-4, Public school teacher and college graduate weekly wages, by state, the teacher pay penalty in Alaska is 16%.

The Teaching Penalty: Teacher Pay Losing Ground, published today by the Economic Policy Institute, provides a detailed analysis of trends in teacher pay. In 1960 women teachers had an annual wage advantage, of 14.7 percent compared to other similarly educated women. This annual pay difference was reversed to a 13.2 percent annual wage deficit by 2000. Read the rest of this entry »

Background:

• Six seats on Anchorage’s eleven member Assembly are to be elected April 1.

• The current Assembly consistently votes against comprehensive plan goals and strategies, favoring auto driven sprawl over transit and sensible land use, air pollution over emission controls, big box malls over neighborhood shopping centers, and wide, fast streets over safe walking.

• Candidates should read Anchorage 2020, the city’s adopted comprehensive plan before running for office.

• Critically important Title 21 Chapters will be decided by the new assembly including Design Standards and perhaps Zoning Districts, Land Uses, and Dimensional Standards.

Will Assembly candidates support: Read the rest of this entry »

Anchorage’s land use laws, referred to as Title 21 after their section of the legal code, are being rewritten. This is not a small issue since all who live or work in Anchorage, or even visit here, will be affected by the results of the zoning regulations. Often this boils down to a battle of interests between developers and residents, so much of the drama has an element of “follow the money” in it. Chapters four through six cover Zoning Districts, Use Regulations (residential, commercial, accessory, etc.) and Dimensional Standards (height, lot coverage, setbacks). These chapters will be up for hearings and worksessions the Week of March 17. Read the rest of this entry »

What: Alaska Marine Science Symposium, Beluga Panel Discussion
When: Tuesday, January 22, 7:00–10:00 PM
Where: Hotel Captain Cook (Fore Deck, Lobby Level), Anchorage

This panel discussion will focus on the status of the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Conservation Plan, its research priorities, current research funded for Cook Inlet Belugas (CIB), and the top research priorities identified by stakeholders. The audience will be given an opportunity to speak and ask questions of the panel. The goal is to provide information on current CIB research and to further define the top tier of research priorities needed to aid in the recovery and conservation of the CIB population. Eight individuals representing scientific expertise and stakeholder concerns will comprise the panel. Read the rest of this entry »

A new publication from the University of Alaska Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) describes an economy unlike that anyplace else in the United States: the economy of the vast remote region of northern andwestern Alaska. At 395,000 square miles, the remote rural region is large enough to hold Japan, Germany, and Great Britain. Yet only about 60,000 people live there, and most households keep themselves going with a mix of cash, subsistence, sharing, and non-cash trading. That’s a world away from the state’s urban economy, and under standard measures like income the remote rural economy lags far behind. Read the rest of this entry »

Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions is updating their public participation plan, and you are invited to take part. Christine Bernardini, a planner for the Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions, or AMATS, announced that the Municipality of Anchorage, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, is updating Anchorage on the Move, a plan describing how to seek public involvement when planning and prioritizing investments in area road and street improvements. The Municipality hired Brooks and Associates as lead consultant to assist with the update of the AMATS Public Participation Plan. Brooks & Associates will complete the project in association with USKH Inc., and Jacobs Carter Burgess. Read the rest of this entry »

In Anchorage at the November 27 Assembly meeting the assembly will vote on an ordinance introduced by Paul Bauer that would require all municipal employees to check everyone’s immigration status and report the information to the Department of Homeland Security. There was a public hearing November 14 in front of the Public Safety committee of the assembly and they voted unanaimously to oppose the ordinance. Attend November 27 and voice your opinion on this proposed policy. Meanwhile, the following is from one of my favorite state policy newsletters, the November 12 issue of Stateside Dispatch… Read the rest of this entry »

Just a quick note to call your attention to The Tesche Report if you are not already familiar with it. The subtitle is “Proceedings of the Anchorage Assembly and comments from local residents on municipal issues. The Report is edited by Assembly member Allan Tesche who represents the Downtown district.” To the best of my knowledge this is the most  comprehensive, regular analysis of the Assembly goings-ons that exists. Tesche is knowledgeable and insightful. I can’t say I always agree with him, but I usually do. Check out this blog. Your effort will be repeatedly rewarded.

ldw

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Have you visited the relatively new website, Progressive States Network? Here is how they describe their mission:

Progressive States Network aims to transform the political landscape by sparking progressive actions at the state level. Founded in 2005, the group provides coordinated research and strategic advocacy tools to state legislators and their staffs, empowering these decision-makers with everything they need to engineer forward-thinking change. Progressive States also works with non-profits and a variety of constituent groups to build a swath of support for coordinated progressive policy. The overarching goals: to get good policy passed into law and change the way issues are debated in the states.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Certificate of Need program is about to be back into the spotlight. Starting on September 18, the House and Senate Health, Education, and Social Services committees will hold joint hearings on the program.

Certificate of need is a program administered by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). It monitors the development of health care facilities and was established to prevent excessive, unnecessary, or duplicative development of such structures. It also provides for public scrutiny of projects. Generally speaking, any proposed health care facility, proposed increase to the number of beds in an existing facility, or addition to the number of health care services provided requires a certificate of need if the total expenditures will exceed $1 million. Only a few exemptions exist. Read the rest of this entry »

In 2004, Alaska’s nonprofit economy brought in about $3.5 in Revenue. The nonprofits in Alaska play a key role in public policy in the state in terms of influencing public policy, and in terms of implementing the programs created by public policy. A fascinating report detailing the nonprofit economy was commissioned by Foraker and Researched by The Institute of Social and Economic Research in Anchorage. It was released a few months ago. Part of the executive summary follows. Read the rest of this entry »

The 13^th Annual Alaska Tribal Conference on Environmental Management (ATCEM) will be held October 15-17, 2007 at the Anchorage Marriott Downtown. This year’s conference is focused on solid waste management issues within Alaska and is geared towards Tribal members working in the environmental arena. Last year over 375 participants attended the three day conference which included keynote speakers, breakout sessions, cultural performances and the annual Environmental Awards Luncheon.

The ATCEM Planning Committee is currently accepting breakout session proposals. The session form and other ATCEM details can be found at: www.anthc.org. Click on the ATCEM link.  Please note that the deadline of August 31 for session proposals is coming up fast.

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Today’s Anchorage Daily News erroneously reported that Kevin Morford is currently President of Alaska Center for Public Policy.  The fact is that Mr. Morford resigned from the
Board May 10 2007, and the Vice President at that time, Mia Oxley, took over the
leadership position of ACPP.  On July 18, at our most recent Board meeting, Ms. Oxley was elected President of the
Board.

Lawrence D. Weiss
Executive Director
ACPP

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While the pharmaceutical industry has long been influential in Washington, D.C., it is redirecting many of its lobbying resources toward states in order to achieve its goals more quickly, according to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal. Representatives of the drug companies’ trade group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, note that state legislatures move much faster than Congress, and are much easier to influence given that legislation may evolve from its beginning stages to a signed piece of legislation in under 90 days. Read the rest of this entry »

ISER Research Matters No. 24. How Much Might Climate Change Add to Future Costs for Public Infrastructure?
June 27, 2007

Scientists expect Alaska’s climate to get warmer over time—and the changing climate could make it roughly 10% to 20% more expensive to build and maintain public infrastructure in Alaska between now and 2030 and 10% more expensive between now and 2080. These are preliminary estimates of how much climate warming could increase the future costs for roads, harbors, schools, the power grid, sewer systems, and all the other public infrastructure that keeps Alaska functioning. Read the rest of this entry »

On June 18, 2007, the Department of Health and Social Services adopted, as emergency regulations, changes in Title 7, Chapter 47 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with senior benefit assistance payments, including the following:7 AAC 47.575 ─ 7 AAC 47.590, SENIOR BENEFIT PROGRAM, is a new article that defines the senior benefit program including purpose, eligibility, limits, drug benefits, residency, hearing, recoupment, and definitions. The emergency regulations took effect June 18, 2007 and will expire on October 15, 2007. The Department of Health and Social Services does not intend to make the emergency regulations permanent. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you concerned about health insurance for Alaska’s children? Join Anchorage Faith and Action—Congregations Working Together

What: Public Meeting on Denali KidCare and Children’s Health Insurance

When: Sunday, April 29, 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Where: Central Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova

Guest Speakers: Mary Hughes, State Director for Senator Lisa Murkowski; and Dr. Karleen Jackson, Commissioner, Alaska Dept. of Health and Social Services Read the rest of this entry »

There is a place for you at Leadership Anchorage, a program of the Alaska Humanities Forum, will host a luncheon and half-day interactive conference on developing and sustaining community leaders.  John Graham, president of The Giraffe Heroes Project, will be the keynote speaker.  There are a number of breakout sessions such as the one offered by Mia Oxley, Mediator & Organizational Consultant.  This session will be a brief exploration of the power questions can have when used with intentionality and skill. 

Another breakout session will be offered by Kevin Harun, MPA, Renewable Resources Mgr. for the Municipality of Anchorage.  This session will provide attendees with concrete methods of community organizing. Many community organizations are faced with very difficult public issues, financial challenges, as well as personal challenges which can affect how we maintain a positive focus over the long haul.

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Have you been pondering about writing that strident, but not nasty, letter to a local legislator, or a member of Congress, or maybe even a couple of newspapers in Southeast? Have you been wondering what the heck happened to your favorite bill that was introduced in the legislature a while back? Even if these things have not crossed your mind, here are some interesting resources for the public policy minded.

The tour starts at the Alaska Legislature home page. As you might expect, on this page you can find links to the members of the Senate and the House, and you can find out who is on what committee, and who inhabits which District. But, as the Ronco pitchman says, “Wait! That’s not all!” Read the rest of this entry »

As the first report of its kind, “The Foraker Group Report on the Alaska Nonprofit Economy” clearly demonstrates that the nonprofit sector has a significant impact on the Alaska economy. A sample of key findings of the report is compelling: Read the rest of this entry »

The Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence invites you to take part in a public debate and discussion, “Should the state impose limits on greenhouse gas emissions by Alaskan businesses and government agencies?” The event is Tuesday April 17, 7-9 pm, UAA/APU Consortium Library, Room 307, University of Alaska Anchorage. Admission is free.

Come hear the award-winning UAA speech and debate team lay out the issues on this important topic, followed by a panel of faculty respondents and public discussion. This event is part of a series of debates sponsored by UAA since 2003 to provide forums for Alaskans to participate in discussions of policies and issues affecting their future.

For information: aner@uaa.alaska.edu or 786-4605

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These are the concluding paragraphs of “The Right to Organize: Freedom and the Middle Class Squeeze,” testimony before the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, U.S. Senate March 27, 2007. Presented by Larry Mishel, President, Economic Policy Institute, Washington, DC.

I have shown that the decline in union representation has been a major cause of two disturbing trends in our economy: the rise in inequality and the failure of average working Americans to share in the benefits of rising productivity. By reducing the opportunity for employers to intimidate and discourage workers from unionizing after they have reached a collective decision to do so, the Employee Free Choice Act [HR 800] can help restore and spread the benefits that unions bring to workers and the economy. Read the rest of this entry »

Stateline.org is an excellent resource on an extremely wide range of state policy issues. Take a look at the well-organized website. Issues range from health care to homeland security, and taxes and budget to transportation. And don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter, which can be customized to send you information only about issues of interest to you.

Funded entirely by The Pew Charitable Trusts as a public service, Stateline.org has published online every weekday except holidays since Jan. 25, 1999.

This Web site, staffed entirely by professional journalists, was originally envisioned primarily as a resource for newsmen and newswomen who cover state government. Using computer technology as a delivery vehicle, we proposed to arm these news-gatherers with timely tips and research material on state policy innovations and trends, enabling them to make their reporting more informative and useful to consumers. This, we believed, would help nourish public debate of important state-level issues such as healthcare, tax and budget policy, the environment, welfare reform and other issues that in recent years have not gotten the media attention they deserve. Read the rest of this entry »

We are currently testing an all-Alaska public policy search engine with a greatly expanded search capability exclusively within Alaska resources.

Click on the link below to reach a test version of the all-Alaska public policy search engine

Click me

For a list of most of the web sites used in this search engine click here

Please give the search engine a test drive with your policy questions. Your comments and recommendations invited!

Here is a copy of the just released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Statement for Policy Makers. It is 21 pages long, and definitely worth reading. Representing the work of over 1,200 scientists, and adopted by over 130 countries, the IPCC report concludes that:

• “warming of the climate system is unequivocal”
• most of the warming that our climate system has experienced in the last 50
  years is “very likely” (meaning over 90% likely) due to human caused greenhouse
  gas emissions.
• it is “very likely” (meaning over 90% likely) that hot extremes, heat waves,
  and heavy precipitation will become more frequent. Read the rest of this entry »

The following is a commentary by Eric Larson, a thoughtful and philosophical local economist in Anchorage…   ldw

Anchorage residents have an economic claim against the three institutions that paid for the new Anchorage brand — the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), and the Municipality of Anchorage.  These three institutions have “branded” the lifestyles of individuals living in this city.  The advertising on their branding web site depicts local residents engaged in hiking, bicycling, snowboarding, ice climbing, and flying. Based on their descriptions of the brand, these three institutions intend the brand to extend to all “Big” and “Wild” lifestyles in Anchorage.  Their web site encourages city residents to share stories of their “Big” and “Wild” lifestyles to enhance the value of brand. Read the rest of this entry »

A new reference book is now available from the Center for Policy Alternatives for progressive legislators and advocates in the states. Progressive Policy Models for the States 2006 is a compilation of 123 model bills on 100 different topics. Some are updates of older progressive policy models advocated by the Center for Policy Alternatives—like Family Leave Benefits, Hate Crimes, School Testing, Bottle Bill, Medical Marijuana, and Individual Development Accounts. Others have never been released before—like International Trade Agreements, Offshoring State Jobs, Dating Violence Prevention, Mental Health Parity, Fair Prescription Drug Benefits Management, and I-SaveRx Drug Importation. Read the rest of this entry »

At the top of the left hand side of the ACPP home page is our brand new custom built public policy search engine. Here is how it is different than using the standard Google search or some other general search engine… We have selected about 100 websites that we use on a regular basis to do public policy searches, or searches for data to inform us about policy decisions. Some of these sites are specifically Alaskan sites, and most are national. However, often the national sites also have Alaska-specific information. Read the rest of this entry »