Alaska Community Action on Toxics is proud to invite you to one of four local receptions and presentations with Dr. Lockwood. He will discuss the growing body of medical evidence linking coal development to risks to your health.

Several new coal mines are proposed in Alaska from the Matanuska Valley to Chuitna. A new coal terminal and stockpiles may be coming to Port MacKenzie, just a few miles from downtown Anchorage. Please join us at one of the following events to learn how our lives and health could be impacted.

Dr. Alan H. Lockwood is an Emeritus Professor of Neurology at the University at Buffalo. A graduate of Cornell University and Cornell University Medical College, Dr. Lockwood is
board certified in Neurology, a member of the American Neurological Association and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. He is the author of approximately 220 publications on diverse scientific topics ranging from hepatic encephalopathy to environmental toxicants. He has been an active member of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) for three decades,  and was President of PSR National in 1994.

Currently, Dr. Lockwood is a member of the Board and Co-Chair of the Environment and Health Committee. Dr. Lockwood is the principal author of the PSR report “Coal’s Assault on Human Health“. MIT Press will publish a book-length version of this report later this year.

For more information contact:
Heidi Zimmer at Alaska Community Action on Toxics, email: heidi@akaction.org, (907) 222-7714

Source: Redacted from Alaska Community Action on Toxics 2/8/2012

The SSA’s Office of Retirement and Disability has released the 2010 numbers for SSI Recipients by State and County.

Key Alaskan Numbers:

Total SSI Recipients: 12,269

Of this 12,269:

1,890 are aged

10,379 are blind or disabled

1,255 are under 18

7,986 are between 18 and 64

3,028 are 65 or older

4,166 are also receiving OASDI

6,166 is the amount of payments (in thousands of dollars)

For further information broken down by county as well as access to the full report, click here.

Senator Dennis Egan

SB 121 – Alaska Pensions

Sponsor Statement

SB 121 lets teachers, Troopers, firefighters and other public employees choose one of two state retirement systems: an individual defined contribution retirement account, or earning a defined benefit pension.

A defined benefit pension takes time to earn, but rewards a record of public service by paying a guaranteed monthly benefit and, for long-term employees, health insurance. An individual defined contribution account is portable from one employer to another, and flexible in how it can be used, but makes no guarantees. SB 121 will let newly hired public servants in Alaska choose the one that fits best.

SB 121 creates a new more stable, more predictable defined benefit pension tier for teachers and public employees. A few years ago, Alaska beefed up oversight of the pension system. Now we have two actuaries analyzing the health of the pension trusts, there are more frequent experience studies and the law bars the practice of sometimes paying less than the cost of benefits. SB 121 keeps these smart reforms, making Alaska pensions stronger than ever.

And the defined benefit pensions for new employees under SB 121 will cost employers less than the pension tiers that came before, saving money for schools, cities, and the State of Alaska.

Alaska teachers and public employees don’t earn Social Security, and many even lose Social Security benefits they earned in past jobs. So for most, a defined benefit pension makes sense. Other employees will choose individual defined contribution accounts because they prefer flexibility, portability, and control, or because their plans do not include long-term service in the public sector. SB 121 maintains their option to choose an individual account.

The teachers who educate our children, the police and firefighters who protect our families, and the public employees who serve our state and cities will be able to choose the benefit that best fits their service.

View Sponsor Statement for SB 121 at aksenate.org

Selected questions and answers for Assembly candidates from West Anchorage.

Question: A consultant once said Anchorage’s commercial zoning law has a “Wild West” feel because pretty much any use is OK. If you could change one aspect of the way Anchorage looks, what would it be?

Harriet Drummond: Guide good mix-use development in the way that businesses on north Spenard Road are proceeding to do.

Liz Vasquez: This is an old quotation, and Anchorage has zoning laws and the like. We need a careful audit of current zoning laws and property use regulations leading to the adoption of a rational and coherent land use plan to maximize new business investment while maintaining our unique quality of life.

Question: Rank the following from highest importance to least: A. Improving bus service; B. Upgrading and maintaining parks; C. Modernizing city zoning code; D. Adding police officers; E. Continuing senior citizen property tax exemption.

Harriet Drummond: 1) Continuing senior citizen property tax exemption. 2) Improving bus service. 3) Adding police officers. 4) Modernizing city zoning code. 5) Upgrading and maintaining parks.

Liz Vasquez: 1) Adding police officers. 2) Modernizing city zoning code. 3) Improving bus service. 4) Upgrading and maintaining parks. 5) Continuing senior citizen property tax exemption.

Question: Which mega-projects do you support, if any, and which would you rank highest? A. Highway to highway freeway project? B. Susitna dam? C. A gas pipeline to Anchorage? D. Knik Arm Crossing?

Harriet Drummond: [Only response] The lower Watana dam on the Susitna, due to energy needs of our city.

Liz Vasquez: 1) Gas pipeline, 2) Knik Arm Crossing, 3) Susitna dam, 4) Knik Arm & Susitna dam can wait. With the rising energy costs, getting gas to Anchorage to help lower energy costs is tops.

[All questions and responses can be found at adn.com.]

An Advocate’s Guide to State & City Policies to Fight Wage Theft

National Employment Law Project’s (NELP’s) new guide offers 28 innovative policy solutions to the growing problem of wage theft in our communities. On Tuesday’s webinar, NELP experts will highlight the best policy ideas from the guide and answer your questions.

Sign up for one of the free webinars:

• Tuesday, March 29th at 3:00 pm EST
• Tuesday, April 12th at 2:00 pm EST

Download a copy of NELP’s guide, Winning Wage Justice: An Advocate’s Guide to State & City Policies to Fight Wage Theft.

The ability to see how government uses the public purse is fundamental to democracy. Transparency in government spending checks corruption, bolsters public confidence, and promotes fiscal responsibility. U.S. PIRG just released, “FOLLOWING THE MONEY 2011: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” a report that examines the extent to which states allow citizens to see government spending on subsidies and contracts, and, in effect, whether the state’s checkbook is made open to public scrutiny. The leading states provide information that is highly searchable, and include detailed data about government contracts, tax subsidies and grants to businesses.

Key findings for Alaska:

1)      Received a D- in providing online access to government spending data.

2)      The cost to create a transparency website for Alaska is $15,000-$25,000 from the existing budget.

3)      Considered an “emerging” state in making progress toward transparency.

[Download the U.S. PIRG report.]