Sitka Democratic News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

In a commentary, journalist Nathaniel Herz writes that a raise for legislators is merited, but their per diems are no longer defensible

KETCHIKAN (KDN) — Sitka Democratic Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins announced Friday that he will not be seeking reelection to a sixth term in the Alaska House of Representatives.

Posted by Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska | May 5, 2021 House Bill 63 passed the Alaska House of Representatives 37-0 on Wednesday with no objections from the floor. The governor, however, believes it violates the separation of powers clause in the Alaska Constitution. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North) House Bill 63 would create an Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board that would be tasked with crafting both short- and long-term planning for the fleet. And the state Department of Transportation would be bound to incorporate its direction into daily operations. The Alaska Marine Highway System has be...

Posted by Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska | Mar 16, 2021 A bill to hike Alaska’s gas tax to $0.16 for the first time since 1970 has advance a key committee but faces opposition. (KTOO photo) House Bill 104 — supported by Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D-Sitka) and Rep. Grier Hopkins (D-Fairbanks) — cleared the House Transportation Committee Tuesday (3-16-2021); it now heads to the finance committee. “The bill fundamentally doubles what is a very small tax set in 1970,” co-sponsor Rep. Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage) said. Sitka Democratic Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is a co-sponsor of the ...