Mike's E-News

The paving project for Crooked Creek, Tustemena and Johnson Lake Roads is proceeding on schedule at this time.  An update from DOT/PF is provided for your information.

Tustumena Project Update 08 29 10

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                              STATEMENT

  SPEAKER COMMENTS ON DEATH OF SEN. TED STEVENS

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, Kenai, Alaska – Alaska State House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, today released the following statement regarding the death of former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens:

“Ted Stevens was a lion of a man who meant more to this state and how we got to where we are today than, I think, many of us will ever really know. I had tremendous respect for the senator, who served us passionately, and well, for four decades. On behalf of the Alaska State House of Representatives I offer our condolences and prayers to the Stevens family and for all those affected by the tragedy in Western Alaska. We are thankful to the good Samaritans, the Coast Guard, the Alaska National Guard, and the Alaska State Troopers for their efforts in assisting in the response and caring for the survivors. Senator Stevens’ devotion to our state will undoubtedly have an impact on not only our generation but for future generations of Alaskans as well. Every community, every Alaskan, is touched every day by the senator’s love and passion for a greater Alaska. He will be missed.”

Will Vandergriff

House Majority Press Secretary

Speaker_statement_on_stevens_20100810 (2) 

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                          PRESS RELEASE

 SPEAKER CHENAULT PICKS HOLM FOR REDISTRICTING BOARD

Former Fairbanks representative to join five-member panel redrawing state’s election districts following 2010 Census

Thursday, July 8, 2010, Kenai, Alaska – House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, has chosen Jim Holm to serve on the Redistricting Board. Holm will serve on the five-member panel redrawing Alaska’s House and Senate districts following the 2010 U.S. Census.

Holm served two terms in the State House, from 2003-2006, representing House District 9, and one term on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly, from 1999-2002. Holm has lived in Fairbanks for more than 60 years, graduating from Lathrop High School and also attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Holm is the owner of Holm Town Nursery and has served on a number of civic and volunteer boards, including the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, Fairbanks Rotary, Greater Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Foundation, and the Fairbanks Tanana Valley Fair Association.

“Jim brings a wealth of experience to the board, from his time serving on the local assembly to his two years serving on the House Finance Committee. He knows and understands the Interior and Northern regions of the state,” Speaker Chenault said. “I served with Jim in the 23rd and 24th Legislatures and trust that he’ll be fair in looking at re-drawing our district boundaries. Jim is a no-nonsense, ‘tell it like it is’ kind of person, and I think we need to have someone with his approach and wealth of Alaska historical sense on the Board.”

Holm joins Senate President Gary Stevens’s and Governor Sean Parnell’s appointees, former Kodiak Mayor Robert Brodie, chosen by President Stevens, and former Soldotna state senator John Torgerson and Douglas’s Albert Clough, chosen by Governor Parnell. Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Walter Carpeneti will appoint the final member to the Board.

The Board will begin meeting following the release of the 2010 Census data, with their redistricting plan in place for the 2012 general election.

To contact Speaker Chenault, please call 907-283-7223.

The Kenai Peninsula is undergoing a number of highway and street improvements this summer.  I will make every effort to provide updates whenever I receive them from DOT/PF.  One note, the Johnson Lake/Crooked Creek/Tustemena Road is scheduled to begin the end of this month and end late August.  DOT/PF has provided this update on the K-Beach/Coal Creek project.

Coal Ck Project Update 06 21 10

I am posting the House Majority Legislative Accomplishment Packet that was recently compiled by the House Majority Press.  I hope this information is useful and will give you an understanding of what we were able to accomplish in the House this session and also last year’s session.

26thLegisAdjournment

I had a chance to deliver a few words on HB 280s impacts to the Kenai Peninsula at today's signing ceremony

House Bill 280, the Cook Inlet Recover Act, is part of the solution to declining availability of Cook Inlet natural gas, and aims to to ensure that there is adequate suply to meet consumer demands in the future.

CIRA provides a regulatory framework for gas storage, protects proprietary storage and greater access to tax incentives – encouraging natural gas exploration – and gives the RCA guidance for approval of long-term gas supply contracts for public utilities.

The bill protects consumers by reducing the amount ultimately paid for gas that is stored for seasonal use.

I am thankful to my co-sponsor, House Finace Committee Co-Chair Mike Hawker, and to the governor for signing this bill into law. We’re acting now to avoid a crisis in Southcentral in the future by providing new avenues to industry.

What a long, arduous final week it has been.  But somehow we managed to wrap up another session.  I am not happy about the size of the capital budget but I have to admit I also put district priorities into it as well.  Some of the district projects that were funded were for the Homer Electric wind project, senior citizen centers for Ninilchik and Nikiski, road money for the borough and other road projects, the Sterling community center, the Nikiski fire Department building, dune protection on the Kasilof River and the Kenai Peninsula State Fair projects.  The bond package will include the Kenai Peninsula College technical center and student housing which were high on my list of what I would like to see accomplished.

The other major accomplishments were legislation that passed this session.  My focus at the end was to get the In-state Gasline Project Plan, House Bill 369, through the Senate.  I am very proud of all those who contributed to make this bill a reality and now the work will begin for the development team.  Also passed were two pieces of legislation to incentivize exploration for Cook Inlet gas, House Bill 280 and Senate Bill 309. 

I was very pleased that we were able to accomplish so much this session, but I now look forward to returning home.  I get on the ferry this morning and hopefully will arrive back home in a couple of days.

It was an honor to be able to serve the residents of District 34 and I look forward to seeing many of you this summer.  Please call me at my Kenai office if you have questions, comments or concerns about our district and this past legislative session.  My office number is 283-7223 or email me at representative_mike_chenault@legis.state.ak.us.

Have a great summer.

I just received this statement from Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Dave Carey.  I truly appreciate his kind words and his efforts in moving the borough forward. 

Speaker Chenault and Mayor Carey

Saturday, April 17, 2010 3:11 PM 

Statement regarding the 2010 State Capital Budget 

Dave Carey, Borough Mayor 

          The State of Alaska’s 2010 Capital Budget, which is moving through the Legislature and headed to Governor Parnell’s desk, is a most significant “light at the end of the tunnel” for Kenai Peninsula residents. Senate President Gary Stevens and House Speaker Mike Chenault have lead a most important effort to see that local residents and taxpayers have relief during this economic slowdown while looking toward the important needs of developing the local workforce for tomorrow’s economic and social realities. Representatives Kurt Olson and Paul Seaton have also been constant champions for the Borough and the State as wise and seasoned leaders. 

Time is running out on the 26th Alaska State Legislature, but spirits are still high and we’re all still getting along. And the photo is proof. The House half of the Joint Legislative Bush Caucus presented me with this hand-carved ivory bolo tie. It’s right up my alley and greatly appreciated. But the appreciation also comes from the camaraderie and friendships we’ve been able to strengthen over the last two years. Reggie Joule, Bryce Edgmon and Bob Herron have brought a valuable perspective to the Majority this legislature, and we’re a better caucus for it. The boys went above and beyond on this – and it was a most welcome surprise.

hand-carved ivory bolo tie

As of this morning, I have been involved in the many discussions that have to take place to put the House and Senate in a position to adjourn tomorrow night.  Education, the in-state gasline, cruise ship taxes, the Governor’s scholarship program, oil and gas taxation policies, the capital budget and energy are all issues that we are talking about as we get closer to the hour of sine die adjournment for the 26^th Alaska State Legislature.  Before we hit the floor at approximately 12 noon, I will have had three different hour long meetings to discuss what we call the “final package” in order to wrap up the people’s business.   On top of all this, the conference committee on the operating budget will complete their work today and we will be voting on the final operating budget sometime tomorrow.