Medicaid reform bill introduced in last week of Legislative session
The House Finance Committee has introduced legislation focused on reforming Alaska's Medicaid program. Committee co-chair Steve Thompson said members have said they want to see changes made to the Medicaid program before they feel comfortable with passing expansion. He said the new bill is intended to get that discussion started. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on Sunday.
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Legislators do away with film tax credit program
By Alexandria Gutierrez, APRN
With Alaska facing a multi-billion-dollar revenue shortfall, lawmakers are reexamining certain subsidies to see if they should remain on the books. The film tax credit program, which was vulnerable even in times of plenty, has gotten special attention. APRN’s Alexandra Gutierrez reports the state Senate voted to dismantle the program on Monday.
If the debate over repeal of the film tax credit happened on Alaska reality television, it might play out a little like this.
On one side, you have the Republican majority, who thinks killing the subsidy program is a no-brainer.
PALIN: “You ready?” “Pull!” gunshot”
And then you have the Democratic minority fighting for the credit’s survival.
WIZARD CAPTAIN: ”What the bleep, Freddie! Don’t do this to me.”
Because the debate played out on the Alaska Senate floor instead of Sarah Palin’s Alaska or Deadliest Catch, the hour spent discussing the fate of the program was not as colorful.
The program was created in 2008, and has paid out nearly $50 million to documentaries, feature films, homegrown Alaska productions, and -- yes -- reality television. Sen. Bill Stoltze, a Chugiak Republican, sponsored the bill. While Stoltze has long been an opponent of the program, he presented his bill without glee and said he felt like an “undertaker.”
"It’s really just a bland fiscal issue,” said Stoltze.
Stoltze went on to say that because Alaska lacks a sales tax or a significant corporate income tax, describing the film payout as a “tax credit” is really a misnomer.
"This is not an industry that provides anything to our general fund of any substance,” said Stoltze.
Anchorage Democrat Johnny Ellis, an architect of the film credit, rose in its defense. He dismissed the fiscal argument, pointing out that the program is already in hiatus.
"The governor has suspended this program. The bill saves no state dollars,” said Ellis. “All it does is send a very negative message that Alaska is permanently closed to business, and damages the hopes, dreams, and businesses of thousands of our fellow Alaskans. That’s an unnecessary action to take.”
Ellis said the program helped diversify Alaska’s economy and created jobs in the state. He said without it, films and TV shows that could be shot in Alaska would instead go to Vancouver, Canada or soundstages in Louisiana, where tax credits remain in place.
"It’s not a stretch to remember Washington state -- [Roslyn], Washington, -- replacing Alaska on television in Northern Exposure,” said Ellis. “ And a million dollars a week going into another economy, and Alaskans making fun over the water cooler of all the mistakes in that production.”
As Republicans fought against the film subsidy, Democrats also used the debate to make a point about tax credits they oppose.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski unsuccessfully introduced a series of amendments repealing tax credits for oil companies and one refinery.
“I heard some people bemoan the fact that I’ve done this before,” said Wielechowski. “They’re right. I have done this before. I’ve run an amendment that’s very similar to this before. I’m trying to raise attention to the fact that we’re paying out $431 million more in tax credits than we’re taking in.”
In an interview, Wielechowski also noted it’s ironic that the Senate was voting to dismantle the film credit program on the same day the Alaska House of Representatives was poised to create a tax credit that would benefit a defunct fertilizer plant in Nikiski.
“I think there’s something poetic about it,” said Wielechowski.“Everyone has their favorite tax credits I guess.”
The bill passed 14 to 6. Sen. Lyman Hoffman, a Bethel Democrat who caucuses with the majority, joined the minority in opposition. The bill will now be considered by the house.
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Legislators vote to continue paying rent for the controversial Anchorage Legislative Office
The Legislative Council, which serves as the Legislature's office manager, has decided to punt on the question of what to do with the Anchorage legislative information office. The Council voted to pay rent on it for a year.That will give them time to decide whether to break a 3.5 million annual lease and relocate to state-owned property at a lower price.
As part of a sole-source contract, the state spent nearly $8 million to renovate the Anchorage LIO last year. But the state does not own the property, and has instead signed a 10-year lease to use it at an annual rate of $3.5 million. Paying the rent for another year will give legislators time to consider breaking the lease and relocating to a state-owned building at a lower price.