Author: Bert Stedman
On July 4, 2018 the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (The Elks) will be celebrating their 150th anniversary in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to the celebration the Elks honored and installed Petersburg resident Michael Luhr as the Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America. This is the highest honor you can receive as a member of the Elks and it is the first time a member of the state of Alaska has received such an honor. Alaskans have cause to celebrate a very special honor given to one of our fellow Alaskans.
As Senator of District R, I would like to congratulate Michael on being installed as the Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. We should all be very proud of Mike’s accomplishments as he has spent over 40 years as an active member of the Elks. During this time, Mike has unselfishly spent thousands of hours of his time to volunteer for the benefit of others and his community as well as performing administrative work and responsibilities. Mike has proven himself worthy of every position he has held in the Elks (President of Petersburg Elks, President of Alaska State Elks Association, etc.).
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was established in 1868. Today, they have nearly 1 million members with over 1,800 lodges throughout the country. Alaska has over 5,600 members with 15 lodges statewide. The Elks are known nationwide for their direct involvement with charity programs as well as contributing to community needs and events.
A great example of hard work and giving back to your community, state, and now nation. The Elks could not have found a better person to be their Grand Exalted Ruler. Congratulations Mike!
Michael Luhr, Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
Author: Bert Stedman
I recently accepted an appointment to the National Petroleum Council (NPC) for a term expiring on December 31, 2019. The NPC is an advisory board to the Secretary of Energy regarding oil and natural gas issues. Click here to see the press release from the Senate Majority.
You can also read about my previous years of service on the National Petroleum Council here and here.
Author: Bert Stedman
For the last three decades, I’ve been an advocate of converting the Permanent Fund to an endowment type structure. This structure will provide a predictable and permanent source of funding dividends and state services when needed.
The full balance of the Permanent Fund needs to be Constitutionally Protected. We’ve reached a point in Alaska, because of current economic conditions, that the Permanent Fund earnings are needed for essential state services.
If the Legislature goes down the road of drawing from the Permanent Fund earnings on an unstructured, ad-hoc basis, the value of the fund will rapidly deteriorate. The Earning Reserve Account (ERA), made up of portfolio gains/losses + dividends, is by its very nature volatile and subject to market and economic swings. Market conditions and annual ad-hoc draws will deplete the ERA balance. This will lead to the elimination of dividends and our inability to have a balanced budget without massive borrowing. The law needs to change to protect the Permanent Fund for the future of Alaskans. We need a structured system of spinning off earnings from the total fund, to pay dividends and provide necessary state services while limiting the draw rate from the total fund.
I have introduced Senate Joint Resolution 9, (SJR 9). It would merge the ERA into the principal of the fund and therefore constitutionally protect the entire fund from Legislative appropriations. It would limit the payout to a maximum of 4.5% of the Permanent Fund’s 5-year average balance. This would block all spending from the Permanent Fund above the 4.5%. A payout of 4.5% could have a minimum dividend component of roughly 50%. In other words, the state needs financial help from the Permanent Fund and the people deserve to keep an annual dividend.
To view my presentation of SJR 9, please see the link below:
http://www.akleg.gov/basis/get_documents.asp?session=30&docid=55631
Author: Bert Stedman
An opening ceremony was held on May 4, 2018, in Sitka to give Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS) students and the public the chance to see the nearly completed aquatic center. I also wanted the seniors at MEHS who have waited patiently for the pool to be completed to have a chance to swim in it before finishing their academic careers at MEHS.
The aquatic center will primarily serve MEHS students while also providing an opportunity for recreation, health and fitness, physical therapy, and other uses to the community at large. Teaching MEHS students to swim is particularly important as drowning is a leading cause of death in rural Alaska.
When fully completed, the facility will also be used by the Alaska State Troopers and the United States Coast Guard for training purposes.
In the 2010 general election, a majority of statewide voters said “yes’ to building the pool and other projects that were part of the statewide bond package. The bonds provided $20 million for the project. As Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, I obtained additional funding for the project in 2012.
I am very glad that years of work pushing the project forward with the help of Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Mallott is nearly complete.
Author: Bert Stedman
I supported funding education ahead of the rest of the budget for the next fiscal year, FY 2019. This is an unusual step, but the benefits of the bill, HB 287, are significant. School districts can now set their budgets for the next school year and avoid sending employees and teachers pink slips based solely on the timing of when the legislature passes the budget. HB 287 sets funding levels at $1.32 billion dollars for K-12. Education funding makes up roughly 33.7 % of the entire state general fund agency operating budget.
HB 287 also approved $1.32 billion dollars for education in the following fiscal year, FY 2020. Additionally, $30 million dollars in one-time grants to school districts in FY 2020 if the legislature agrees to pass a bill setting up a percent of market value structure (POMV). I believe a POMV structure is needed to protect the permanent fund for future generations, but have my own bill on this topic. [SJR 9]
I also supported a bill passed by the Senate, SB 102, that will bring millions of dollars to rural schools to improve internet access. Many of the school districts in Southeast have such slow internet speeds, they cannot reliably and meaningfully access courses taught over the internet. The state funds made available by SB 102 will match and leverage federal funds to increase internet access in rural Alaska.
Another positive effort by the Alaska State Legislature urges the United States Congress to make Secure Rural School Funding permanent. These funds are meant to blunt the impact of the Forest Service failing to provide enough timber supply and the cut in federal timber receipts for local communities and schools. I will continue to help whenever possible to maintain or advance good paying timber jobs and our timber industry. However, it is clear after decades of the Forest Service failing to supply enough timber that jobs and timber related economic development will not return to previous levels. Southeast Alaskans, their schools, and families have suffered long enough for the effects to be considered permanent. The federal government should make the Secure Rural Schools program permanent.