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October 4, 2021

Friends and Neighbors,

Next week, the Redistricting Board is holding public testimony in our current District. This is your time to speak up if you have any concerns, praises, or suggestions for the Board's work in redistricting. Check out the proposed maps at their website here: https://www.akredistrict.org/. They are working off Versions 3 and 4, and we are District 1.

Ketchikan Public Testimony, Redistricting Board

Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Time:4:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Ted Ferry Civic Center, 888 Venetia Way

Online Public Notice Link: http://notice.alaska.gov/203923

Wrangell Public Testimony, Redistricting Board
Date: Thursday, October 7, 2021
Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm
Location: The Nolan Center, 296 Campbell Drive
Online Public Notice Link: http://notice.alaska.gov/203925

If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, you can also email public testimony to testimony@akredistrict.org.

Take the Survey!

Another great way to make your voice heard is to take my Legislative Survey! It primarily focuses on your preferences for a long-term fiscal plan. You can find it here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/aklegss2021

Special Sessions Update

Last month, the Alaska Legislature gaveled out of their third special session. During the special session, we discussed the recommendations of the Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Working Group, weighed the merits of a COVID-19 bill, and passed a $1,100 dividend.

We considered Senate Bill 3006, a healthcare bill aimed at providing temporary telehealth and flexible background checks for our hospitals. However, after additional amendments drew concerns from health care providers, the bill did not pass. As our communities fight against this current surge of cases, please make decisions that will benefit your health and the health of your neighbors.

Rep. Ortiz with Metlakatla Mayor Atkinson during the Region V DDF Meet

The Legislature’s primary ‘win’ of this session was the passage of a $1,100 dividend. This is the second time this year that we have passed a dividend of that amount. When we passed it in July, Governor Dunleavy vetoed it. He did not veto this September dividend amount, and dividends should be distributed mid-October as early as October 11^th.

Governor Dunleavy has called us into a fourth special session to begin early October. His goal is for the Legislature to agree to overdrawing the Permanent Fund in order to pay out an additional (on top of the $1,100) $1,250 in PFD payments.

While everyone in the Legislature fully understands that there are many Alaskans who are economically struggling right now, there are long term negative impacts of drawing an additional $850 million from the Permanent Fund. It would cost the Permanent Fund at least $60 million per year every year into the future in lost earnings if we were to overdraw the additional dividend amount now. Spending the additional money now would also create a greater likelihood that the Legislature would have to adopt either a statewide sales tax and/or income tax.

As always, please feel free to email me at Rep.Dan.Ortiz@akleg.gov or call at (907) 247-4672 any time.

Respectfully,

Representative Dan Ortiz

My Interim Office:
1900 First Ave, Ste. 310
Ketchikan, AK 99901

Rep.Dan.Ortiz@akleg.gov
(907) 247-4672

Contact the Governor
Email: click here
(907) 465-3500

Contact our DC Delegation
Senator Dan Sullivan (202) 224-3004
Senator Lisa Murkowski (202) 224-6665
Congressman Don Young (202) 225-5765

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Alaska Legislature · 120 4th Street · Juneau, Ak 99801 · USA

October 4, 2021

Respectfully, Representative Dan Ortiz

Respectfully,

Representative Dan Ortiz