The beginning of a long conversation...

Increase school funding, advocating for IIJA funding for multi-modal transportation, and speaking on the importance of Black History Month.

This week, the Senate Education Committee took a bold beginning step in addressing our education funding crisis by introducing Senate Bill 52. I joined the leadership team for the Alaska Senate Majority at a press availability¹ on Wednesday to talk about why chronic underfunding of education is hurting our schools and how the $1,000 proposed increase to the base student allocation² is only the first step. Watch the full press availability.

Senator Tobin joins her caucus leadership during their press availability to introduce Senate Bill 52.

löki gale (she/her) @lgtobin

Four years ago, ⁦@ElviSenator⁩ successfully passed SB 40, an act permanently designating February Black History Month. I will never fully express how seeing this legislation become law meant to me. Hopefully my ear splitting grin says it all. #wcw

And then there were four…

Late last week, I was appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee. As a result, I now serve on four standing committees and the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics.

I am the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, which is the education policy committee for the State Senate. Senate Education is taking the lead on the Alaska Senate Majority’s top priority, increasing education funding.

I am excited to serve on the Senate Health & Social Services Committee, which has oversight authority over the state’s Department of Health and the Department of Family & Community Services.

One of my passions is transportation, so I am especially thrilled to serve on the Senate Transportation Committee. I believe it is time to embrace new ways of thinking about how we make our communities safe and walkable. I plan to use my position on the Transportation Committee to make it so.

My newest committee assignment is the Senate Judiciary Committee, which reviews all legislation impacting the Alaska Court System and Alaska’s justice system. As a long-time nonprofit professional, I know our justice system must be fair as well as restorative.

Löki explains why Black History Month means so much to many in her first Senate floor speech

Senator Tobin giving her first floor speech.

Team Tobin in the News

Anchorage Daily News: Alaska Senate bill would add $1,000 to the per-student school funding formula

Alaska Beacon: Alaska senators say $1,000 increase to per-student funding is “beginning of a conversation”

Juneau Empire: 17% boost in school funding sought by state Senate

Peninsula Clarion: State Senate bill would bump per-student funding amount by $1,000

Department of Transportation & Public Facilities discuss new state projects

Included in the Investment Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA) are several new projects focused on community driven planning, carbon reduction, safe streets, and multi-modal transportation. These topics were covered in a very informative DOT&PF presentation given to the Senate Transportation Committee - if you get a chance, watch the hearing and check out their slide deck on Basis³.

The Wednesday hearing for Senate Transportation Committee on DOT&PF federal and state funding to DOT&PF

1. Press availability is an event at which a politician is made available for questioning by the media.

2. The largest source of school funding in Alaska occurs through the state’s foundation formula. Each year, schools count all their students over a 20-day period. This number is then adjusted to compensate for the differing costs across districts and then multiplied by the base student allocation (BSA) to arrive at the “basic need” for a school district. The BSA was established through legislation in 1999. The Citizen’s Guide to K-12 Funding in Alaska is a great source of information.

3. BASIS is the state’s legislative website and allows the public to track bills, locate and contact their legislators, and access committee information.