Tawnya Kreft, a local special education paraeducator, was a bit nervous stepping inside the Alaska State Capitol for the first time, but the opportunity to again chat with Andi Story – who she knew as a child growing up in Juneau – was cause to replace trepidation with good cheer fitting the spirit of this year’s holiday open house by Juneau’s legislative delegation.
”I actually wish I’d brought my 12-year-old son so it would be his first trip to the Capitol,” Kreft said during the midday Thursday visit.
Kreft, who left Juneau for college in Oregon before returning to work for the Juneau School District a couple of years ago, continues to share much in common with Story since the lawmaker served 15 years on the Juneau School Board and currently co-chairs the House Education Committee. While the two women exchanged festive talk about their lives and the holidays, Kreft said it was also a chance to learn more about issues she hopes will be part of the upcoming session.
“I wanted to say thank you and I also wanted to ask a little about the idea of autism training,” she said.
Story, giving mini-tours of her fourth-floor office while talking with constituents dropping by, said she is excited to spend time with her young grandchildren during the holidays before looking ahead to the legislative session. Once the latter is underway, there’s numerous issues she intends to tackle.
Story said doesn’t have any bills set for prefile yet, but did suggest a possible bill related to the state’s base student allocation — which defines the amount of money the state spends on kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Since 2017, the BSA has remained stagnant and school districts across the state, including Juneau, have repeatedly called for an increase amid high inflation and lack of revenue.
[Audit shows ‘deeply concerning’ deficit for school district]
“It’s remained the same for years, how can you purchase the same service when you can’t pay for them?” she asked.
Story also mentioned her intention to push for legislation that would switch the state’s current 401(k)-style defined contribution retirement to a hybrid defined benefit plan, which she said is both an affordable action and necessary one.
“We’re not retaining people — we can afford this, it’s affordable to return to it,” she said.
Some other priorities she outlined included increasing public safety opportunities for behavioral health and addiction, child care assistance and pupil transportation cost.
Local sweets and salmon
Each of Juneau’ three lawmakers had distinctly different spread of holiday foods and drinks. While Story was offering an assortment of meats, cheeses and other staples in a room across the hall from her office, Rep. Sara Hannan on the second floor arguably had the most impressive local sustenance with one staff (a former baker) serving up a chocolate mousse while a large smoked salmon also graced the table.
“I expected to know everybody who showed up in the doorway,” Hannan said, occupying a space only a few doors down from the House Speaker’s office. “I have been happily surprised to meet so many new friends, a lot of them who’ve said it’s their first time visiting the Capitol building.”
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire State Rep. Sara Hannan talks with constituents outside her office in the Alaska State Capitol during the Juneau legislative delegation’s holiday open house Thursday afternoon.
She focused more on Christmas chatter than legislative lingo during the day than her colleagues, but still has her wish list for the new year and beyond. Mentioned first was reviving a tax on vaping products, the only form of tobacco in Alaska not taxed, which passed the Legislature last year but was vetoed. She said she is more optimistic about it becoming law during the coming session.
“We’re going to talk more about the cost of not doing it,” she said. In addition, focus will be directed on the revenue it generates since “the governor for four years was saying we don’t need more revenue. Now the governor is saying we need more revenue.”
Aside from the buffet spread, the most imposing impression of Hannan’s office tour might have been her desk which happens to be at about chest height for the average person. Aside from it needing to be that high to get the best view out the window of downtown Juneau and the fjords beyond, she said she prefers a standing desk when possible.
“I can’t sit in a chair all day,” she said, noting it’a carryover from her days as a teacher when being in a classroom meant always being on her feet. Plus “on the House floor you have to sit. In committee meetings you have to sit.”
Among the familiar faces who greeted Hannan was Duff Mitchell, managing director of Juneau Hydropower and commander of American Legion Auke Bay Post 25, who kept his chatter to offering well wishes to her and Juneau’s two other lawmakers for their efforts in issues ranging from veterans’ affairs to fighting a capital move.
“It’s just a chance to say thanks for all you do,” he said.
Fried foods and finances
Sen. Jesse Kiehl is celebrating the holidays knowing his status and maybe, for a few days, his cholesterol level are rising.
He spent the open house with his staff greeting visitors at his fourth-floor office, which he’s about to vacate by moving up — literally and legislatively — to a fifth floor because of a new appointment to a seat on the Senate Finance Committee. While his current office has an impressive view of the Douglas landscape, the scenery from his new digs will be both more wild and more homely.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire State Sen. Jesse Kiehl chats with a student at his office in the Alaska State Capitol during the Juneau legislative delegation’s holiday open house Thursday afternoon.
“That has a gorgeous view of Mount Juneau and you can see mountain goats during the spring,” he said. “And I can see my house from there.”
Nibbles in the hallway outside the office included a variety of cookies and, the senator made a point of emphasizing, doughnut holes.
“Because it’s Hanukkah it’s appropriate to eat fried foods, so it’s culturally essential,” he said.
Once the seasonal indulgences are over and the session is underway, he’ll have more than ample opportunity to burn off any holiday excess.
“I’m on more committees than anyone ought to be,” he said.
Finance is the key focus, of course, since the budget is perpetually the single most important agenda item in all its complex ways. Kiehl said when it comes to the operating budget he doesn’t expect to reflect on any particular local aspects.
“With luck you won’t see my fingerprints on it,” he said. “You will just see good stuff for north Southeast Alaska.”
That said, Kiehl did single out some budget items including ferries, education and health care related to sexually transmitted diseases he sees as important to focus on in the coming year’s spending plan. He also noted his presence on the committee might end up noticeable to locals in terms of what gets included in the capital budget.
[School board and teachers union confront ‘disconnect’ and district financial deadlock]
He’s also already got a list of prefile bills, including previous attempts to restore a pension option for public employees, extending free trapping licenses for disabled veterans and creating a confidential address program for victims of domestic violence and stalking.
The latter is an example of legislation that’s important to Katie Botz, a local school bus driver and advocate for public safety issues related to abuse. She chatted cheerfully with the delegation about things such as the tricky traits of navigating buses on the often-treacherous winter roads of Alaska, but also welcomed the opportunity to further pursue her goal of “just wanting a safe place to live.”
“These three are amazing, they’re a welcoming and united delegation,” she said.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com. Contact reporter Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com
