By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka’s Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is expecting some of the same battles over the budget in the legislative session that opens today - but with the advantage of a majority already formed.
“It’ll be all the same stuff that paralyzes us every year, which is not a good thing - it’s a bad thing,” he said. “I’m excited this year that - unlike last year - we’re starting session with a majority, not a gridlock.”
Today is the opening day of the 121-day regular session.
Kreiss-Tomkins, a Democrat who is a member of the bipartisan majority in the state House, was referring to the monthlong deadlock before a majority caucus was formed in the House the second week of February last year. (Two Republicans joined 15 Democrats and four independents from Ketchikan, Dillingham, Anchorage and Utqiagvik to form the narrow majority.)
“I’m looking forward to the session,” he said. “I’m glad to be in Juneau and I’m glad it’s not going to be as chaotic as the last session.”
Kreiss-Tomkins hopes to move forward with a few bills he is passionate about. His top concern is a constitutional amendment to protect the $21.2 billion earnings reserve of the Permanent Fund. Kreiss-Tomkins said the bill has majority support but needs a super-majority for a constitutional amendment. The $60.7 billion principal of the fund is already protected.
“It’s not going to pass unless there are bigger compromises,” he said. “The earnings reserve should be protected.”
Another bill Kreiss-Tomkins hopes to move forward would create a special type of teacher certification for Native and world languages. It passed the House unanimously but COVID that year cut the session short.
“I’m cautiously optimistic it can pass the Senate,” Kreiss-Tomkins said. “It’s important for Native languages in Alaska - and world languages - and it means a lot to me.”
He said Anchorage has a large world language program. Currently various public schools have Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, French, German and Yup’ik immersion programs offered at different grade levels.
Kreiss-Tomkins is in his 10th year in the House and represents Sitka, Hoonah, Kake, Klawock, Craig, Angoon, and Petersburg, and other smaller Southeast communities. He is chair of the House State Affairs committee, and serves on community and regional affairs, fisheries and judiciary committees.
