State deals with money woes, redistricting

It was a year when many Alaskans had money on their minds, and the state struggled with budget challenges that eventually led to the closure of nine Valley parks during the summer months. A Valley representative dealt with health issues that helped focus priorities in the Valley at least for a time, and a new primary system raised eyebrows and some ire among voters across the state.

March 1

Redistricting plan heads

to higher court

MAT-SU -- Alaska House District 12, the district pairing a portion of the Valley north of Palmer with the area just south of Fairbanks, was recently ruled unconstitutional in Alaska Superior Court, and the Mat-Su Borough last week filed a brief seeking to ensure that decision is upheld in the state's highest court.

"We're hoping the Supreme Court will uphold Judge Rindner's decision so the district 12 boundaries will be redrawn," said Borough Manager John Duffy Tuesday. Duffy referred to Alaska Superior Court Judge Mark Rindner's Feb. 1 decision that District 12 in the Alaska Redistricting Board's 2001 reapportionment plan is unconstitutional.

The borough assembly hired Anchorage attorney Thomas Klinkner to file an amicus curiae brief in the Alaska Supreme Court Friday. Although the "friend of the court" document does not make the borough a party to ongoing litigation, it does assure that borough concerns are addressed to the court.

March 22

Ogan's condition critical

but improving

Staffers report progress since last week's heart attack

ANCHORAGE -- Palmer legislator Scott Ogan remained in critical condition in the coronary care unit of Providence Alaska Medical Center as this paper went to press Thursday, March 21. The Republican representative suffered a heart attack last Saturday at his Lazy Mountain home.

Ogan's condition has improved slightly since being admitted to Providence, according to Dan Saddler, house majority press secretary.

"There has been no great change, but there has been some improvement," Saddler said Wednesday afternoon.

Physicians reportedly removed an intra-aortic balloon pump Tuesday, according to Linda Hay, Ogan's legislative chief of staff. The intra-aortic pump was installed after the heart attack to assist the heart in pumping. Hay said while doctors are using technology to help Ogan breathe, rest and heal, he is not dependent on "life support" equipment for survival.

Ogan was at home last Saturday, preparing to accept the Alaska Outdoor Council's "Legislator of the Year" award at the council's annual meeting, held in Palmer.

April 5

Ogan ready

to leave Providence

ANCHORAGE -- Palmer representative Scott Ogan said Monday he is glad to be off sedation and hopes to be out of the hospital any minute.

"I woke up here this weekend from about a two-week nap," Ogan said from his room in the critical care unit at Providence Alaska Medical Center. "And I woke up fighting."

April 19

Final redistricting

plan adopted

MAT-SU -- The Alaska Redistricting Board met last week to adopt a new redistricting plan after both the Alaska Superior and Supreme courts agreed that portions of the board's previous plan were unconstitutional.

Although the board agreed unanimously Saturday on a final plan that would divide the state into 40 House districts unanimously, minor changes were still being made to that plan at press time.

April 23

Proposed budget would mean cuts to state parks

MAT-SU -- The state operating budget is presently working its way through the Senate, but state officials are still trying to come up with a plan to deal with the cuts that would go through if the present budget goes through.

Department of Natural Parks Commissioner Pat Pourchot, between budget hearings with the Senate Finance Subcommittee, spoke about the changes to the department's budget -- as well as one of its most hot-button cuts, the threat of closures at 11 of Mat-Su's 35 state parks.

Under the state operating budget adopted by the House, Finger Lake, Kepler Bradley, King Mountain, Long Lake, Matanuska Glacier, Big Lake North, Big Lake South, Rocky Lake, Hatcher Pass, Independence Mine and Summit Lake were proposed for closure.

April 26

State budget scales

back programs

MAT-SU -- Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Shirley Holloway and Department of Corrections Commissioner Margaret Pugh, both of whom co-chair Gov. Tony Knowles' Children's Cabinet, were in Wasilla Tuesday to discuss the state budget and how cuts could affect communities across the state.

"The good news is, in fact, we've made a huge difference," Pugh said. "Alaska's children are, in fact, better off today than they were five years ago."

Pugh said the cabinet has worked with three goals in mind -- improving child health, protecting children living in fear and breaking the cycle of child abuse and violence. The cabinet has succeeded, she said, but the budget adopted by the House could reverse that trend.

"We are concerned that the House budget takes us backward," Pugh said. "It won't just halt … us, but it will actually take us backward."

May 3

Senate passes budget, negotiations begin

JUNEAU -- The Alaska Senate passed a $2.27-billion budget this week that restores several items cut by the House during its budget process earlier in the session.

Money to open all of Mat-Su's state parks will be restored, pending approval of House Bill 262, a bill that would allow the Department of Natural Resources to use receipts from park user fees as operating revenue.

May 14

Mat-Su prison expansion may not pass

Legislature this year

MAT-SU -- Last fall, when Kenai voters turned down a private prison study proposal, John Duffy wasted no time in contacting Department of Corrections Commissioner Margaret Pugh and touting a regional prison expansion plan. But Sen. Lyda Green, R-Mat-Su, said Senate Bill 231, the bill she submitted outlining the plan, may not make it through the Senate this year.

"The story … is an ever-changing story in the capital," Green said. "Sometimes I get a sense that no prison bill is going to pass this year. Other times I think they might tie the two together."

The second bill Green spoke of is often referred to as the Whittier prison bill. The House recently passed a bill that would authorize the Department of Corrections to enter into an agreement to develop a private prison in Whittier, a bill that some borough officials say could rob Mat-Su of up to 1,100 potential jobs. And what's more, they said, the bill was backed by Mat-Su Legislator Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla and Rep. Beverly Masek, R-Willow. Still recuperating at home at the time of the passage, Rep. Scott Ogan, R-Palmer was absent for the vote.

May 21

7 Mat-Su parks back

on chopping block

JUNEAU -- In the pandemonium of a twice-extended legislative session, the funding for seven Mat-Su-area parks has been rescinded once again.

The session, which Rep. Scott Ogan, R-Palmer, said is unlike anything he's seen in his eight years in Juneau, was still underway Thursday evening, with several key issues remaining unresolved.

Sen. Lyda Green, R-Mat-Su, said despite an "awesome offer" the majority had on the table after 10 p.m. that evening, a school bonding bill was yet to be worked out. Agreement is still pending on a bill that would reinstate the authority of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, as well as legislation regarding veterans' issues and rural power provisions. Friday, Green was preparing to go into caucus after the Senate had called itself into a special session.

She said she was aware that the Department of Natural Resources had been cut, but she was still trying to pin down the details.

"The Senate had it in there. We had special legislation to do funding for it … I've got staff kind of checking it out now," Green said. "[Cutting the parks] was not the Senate's heart's desire."

May 24

Funding restored, but

9 Mat-Su parks will remain closed

JUNEAU -- At literally the 11th hour Sunday -- 11:30 p.m., to be precise, the Alaska Legislature agreed to allow the Alaska Division of Parks to use $80,000 in fee receipts to help cover the cost of opening some of the state parks that were, last week, on the chopping block.

"Eighty thousand was added back into the budget," said Division Director Jim Stratton. "We're able now to keep the parks in Sitka open."

Statewide, Stratton said, 11 parks remain closed, and three park ranger positions -- two of which are in the Mat-Su -- will be cut. Funding for four seasonal summer positions -- three in the Mat-Su -- was also cut.

May 28

Lights may go out

for power commission

MAT-SU -- Legislators stalled in Juneau over whether or not to extend the authority of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska was created July 1, 1999, after the expiration of the Alaska Public Utilities Commission. The commission regulates pipeline, telephone, electric, natural gas, water, sewer, refuse, cable television and steam services.

July 5

Legislators extend life of RCA, pending task force opinion

JUNEAU -- When the special session wrapped up last week, lawmakers agreed to allow the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to continue their normal operations for at least one more year, with the potential of a year's wind-down on the horizon.

"It extends RCA's life to June 30, 2003, which is next summer," said RCA's chief of consumer protection and public information, Agnes Pitts. "Within that time period, there will be a task force appointed to look into certain aspects of RCA's operations."

June 18

Republican lawmakers rally to oppose park closures

BIG LAKE -- A group of Republican state lawmakers went to the closed-down Big Lake South State Park Friday to say something to the administration of Gov. Tony Knowles.

"We hope to give our message. Open these parks!" Wasilla senator Lyda Green told the crowd assembled for the morning press conference called by the Republican legislators.

The Valley's legislative delegation called the press conference and came armed with handouts and bulletin boards presenting their reading of the budget numbers. Also on hand were lieutenant governor hopeful Sen. Robin Taylor, R-Wrangell, and Sen. Loren Leman, R-Anchorage. They say it's clear the Mat-Su parks were political targets rather than required cutbacks.

Aug. 2

New primary requires party-line voting

MAT-SU -- Alaska's first closed primary election will be held Aug. 27, bringing several changes to the manner in which Alaskan candidates are selected in the primary election. The biggest change is that voters not affiliated with a political party will be asked to choose one of six ballots, and will be required to vote a straight party ticket.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in California Democratic Party v. Jones, ruled in 2000 that a state may not require a political party to allow non-party members to select party candidates in a primary election, as was the case in Alaska's blanket primary elections in the past.

Sept. 6

Governor candidates

rally in Valley

MAT-SU -- The Valley was the springboard into the heart of the election season last week, as gubernatorial candidates hit the streets in the Valley -- and the midway at the Alaska State Fair -- in hopes of winning support from voters.

Both Fran Ulmer and Frank Murkowski were on hand during the fair to meet potential voters and learn more about the issues facing individual Alaskan communities.

While the approach to meeting voters is not vastly different between the two camps, their stance on issues they feel are critical to the state's future is.

Oct. 18

Willow upset over

DOT cuts

WILLOW -- More than 200 people turned out on a Monday evening at the Willow Area Community Center to voice their opinions and hear what Alaska Department of Transportation officials and local legislators had to say about how funding cuts enacted through the last legislative session would affect roads in the Willow area.

In what residents say has become a game of political football, the Willow DOT maintenance station staff was cut in half after the Legislature passed their final budget earlier this year. Of the four positions at the Willow station during the last fiscal year, two remain to provide road maintenance this winter, with a workload of approximately 120 road miles for each operator.

Nov. 5

7.9 earthquake

rocks Alaska

MAT-SU -- Southcentral Alaskans experienced a jolt Sunday afternoon when what has been dubbed "the Big One," a quake some seismologists are saying ranks among the 10 largest quakes recorded in the state, rocked Alaskans from Fairbanks to Juneau.

The 7.9 shaker was described as a long, rolling movement, lasting several minutes.

Nov. 12

Valley delegation

heads to Juneau with muscles to flex

MAT-SU -- The Valley delegation is sitting strong going into the 23rd session of the Alaska Legislature, with several members in positions of power and the potential of more to come.

Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, was selected as the Senate president. Sen. Lyda Green, R-Mat-Su, won the bid for co-chair of the Senate Finance committee, and will be responsible for overseeing the state's operating budget as it passes through the Senate. Former representative and new senator, Scott Ogan, R-Lazy Mountain, will serve as chair of the Senate Resources committee.

Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, one of 11 new representatives who will gavel in this January, secured the chairmanship of the House's special committee on education and was tapped as vice-chair of the House Health, Education and Social Services committee. He'll also serve as a member of the Labor and Commerce committee and the Resources committee. Rep. Beverly Masek, R-Willow, was selected to serve as vice-chair of the House Resources committee, vice-chair of the Legislative Council committee and vice-chair of the special committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. She will also serve as a member of the House Transportation committee.

Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla, holds the Valley's second seat on the House Transportation committee, a seat on the joint Legislative Budget and Audit committee,

as well as a membership on the Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade and Tourism. But he's most looking forward to the chairmanship of the House's Special Committee on Oil and Gas. Holding the Valley's remaining House seat is newcomer Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak. Stoltze will serve as a member

of the House Finance committee.