It is estimated that there is $100 billion of private sector funds looking for investment opportunities in the Arctic. Alaska needs to be smart about positioning itself for future investments in Arctic Infrastructure whether it be ports or high bandwidth internet connections.

The Alaska Senate Majority is in alignment with the final AAPC report, "Our vision for the Arctic is based on economic and resource development, a healthy environment, secure and safe communities, and transparent decision making."

By December, oil prices had dropped 40% taking with them nearly 50% of all anticipated state income. Suddenly, savings which could last a decade, would now be exhausted in just 3 years.

Commited to taking Alaska's fiscal crisis seriously, the Alaska Senate cracked down hard on both operating and capital spending. Working across party lines, General Fund spending in both the operating and capital budgets was reduced by $861 million dollars in a single fiscal year including:

Hundreds of responsible reductions to the operating budget which save the State at least $470 million in unrestricted general funds. Targeted reductions were taken in all branches of government and all departments averaging an across-the-board 11% decrease. The Base Student Allocation (BSA) was among the least of all areas affected, receiving a 1.4% trim, still above fiscal year 2014.

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The Alaska Senate Majority believes that a short-term financial focus will eventually leave the State of Alaska with increasingly grim budgeting options. Sustainability should be our long-term goal, not just getting by from year to year.

Fortunately, Alaska's past leaders foresaw a day when oil production would wane and provided legal frameworks for saving a portion of Alaska's oil wealth. Our Constitutional Budget Reserve contains nearly $10 billion in savings. This allows Alaskan's the time to engage in a conversation on budget priorities and our ability to fund those priorities. Many of our members are actively surveying their districts to learn what Alaskan's expect from their government and what revenue options they prefer.

As the Senate Majority we focus on accountability and standards, making sure that Alaska's educational dollars are being used to the greatest effect in the classroom.

We promote opportunity and choice for Alaska's parents and students -- empowering students to pursue learning in different ways, whether in traditional classroom settings or in a charter school environment.

In 2015, the State of Alaska is facing a devastating drop in revenue. While cutting some departments by more than 30%, the Senate Majority asked for a reduction in the Base Student Allocation (BSA) of 1.4%. In an environment of scarce resources, the Senate Majority's focus has been finding revenue neutral ways to encourage excellence in education. These include:

Post-Secondary Student Loans, SJR 2 >

Many of our communities remain reliant on fuel oil for heating. The price of oil fluctuates wildly, it is hazardous to transport and burns far less clean than natural gas. For some families the heating budget competes with the food budget. When it's -60 degrees outside, no Alaskan should have to decide between being fed and being warm.

The Alaska Senate Majority has acted decisively to provide Fairbanks and surrounding communities with more affordable energy. Two projects are concurrently underway to get natural gas to Alaska's largest concentration of fuel oil dependent households. These initiatives include:

AKLNG Phase 1 Authorized SB 138 >

Pro-Business

I couldn't believe my ears when I heard an American president tell business people: "If you've got a business - you didn't build that! Somebody else made that happen".

Pro Family

Our culture is coming apart at the seams. Our schools sponsor gay and lesbian pride day then restrict kids from saying the pledge of allegiance. Teenage girls are restricted from wearing apparel that reflects their faith, but are allowed to wear tank tops that say "Porn Star". In my tenure as a legislator I was honored to have the opportunity to stand in the gap for Alaskan families. Among other pieces of pro-family legislation I sponsored the House version of the Constitutional Amendment to define marriage and passed the bill to reverse a judge's decision to mandate that the state pay for health benefits to the boyfriends and girlfriends of state employees.

"…the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." This is not a complicated concept to me.

Pro Development

My view of environmental groups could not get any lower. Like the Lilliputians from Gulliver's Travels these groups have tied down the giant of our economy. Companies that come to Alaska can expect to be stuck for years waiting for approval of permits that take about a month in Louisiana. How absurd that Shell was forced to wait 5 years after spending $5 billion. Companies are becoming less and less willing to risk doing business here. Instead, they are moving to North Dakota where they can avoid the swarm of silk suited lawyers who are committed to shut Alaska down and make a huge profit in the process