Day 37: Updates from the Office of Senator Tobin
Don't miss our constituent coffee this Saturday at New Sagaya City Market Downtown
What’s going on with the BSA?
Earlier this month, the Senate Education Committee introduced Senate Bill 52 in response to the copious amounts of public testimony received about the funding crisis happening right now in schools across Alaska.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working with lawmakers from both the House and Senate to draft a new version of Senate Bill 52 that includes some changes endorsed by parents, teachers, and education stakeholders.
Creating good public policy takes time but it also takes political pressure. That’s where you come in. Please keep calling, emailing, and texting your input to lawmakers. We enough pressure and attention, we can get a BSA 1 increase across the finish line this year.
“It’s not a question of how much we increase the BSA (base student allocation) by, it’s asking ourselves how much we underfund education by.” - Anchorage School District high school student testifying in front of the Senate Education Committee
The Empty Office Podcast
There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to the daily operations of the Alaska State Legislature. To keep you informed my office has started a podcast hosted by former public radio journalist and current Team Tobin member Mike Mason.
Join us each week for a deep dive into state politics and interviews with guests who know what’s going on. Our podcast is recorded after hours in an empty office in the Capitol Building, which is why it’s called “The Empty Office Podcast.”
Hot Tip 🔥
Did you know you can sign up for SMS bill tracking? Just text a bill number (ex: HB1 or SB52) to 559-245-2529 and you’ll be enrolled to receive text alerts regarding the progress of that legislation.
It’s Black History Month!
At the start of Black History Month, I made a special order2 about why the state’s formal recognition of the history and story of my ancestors and family is important. Black History Month means so much to so many and I’m proud to be here in Juneau, standing on the shoulders of all the strong Black women who came before me.
Constituent Meeting
Please join me this Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm at New Sagaya City Market Downtown for a constituent meeting. Stay for the whole time or just drop in to say hello. And as always, please email or call (907-465-3704) anytime.
Anchorage Caucus Town Hall
Save the date for the Anchorage Caucus Town Hall, Sunday, March 5th from 2 to 4 pm.
Base Student Allocation or BSA describes the basic need the State of Alaska provides to local school districts in support of the operation of public schools.
The Alaska State Legislature follows Mason’s Manual and the Uniform Rules for their parliamentary procedure (as opposed to Robert Rules, which you may be more familiar with). This means that before either the Senate or the House adjourns for the day, there is an opportunity for a legislator to make a Special Order or speak on a special topic.