So it’s come to this.

Trying out a new thing with the ⁦@AlaskaCurrent⁩ called leaving my basement once in a while.

Sitting in on the Assembly’s budget work session today. Set to go 4-5 hours. Going over some really basic overview stuff.

Assemblymember Rivera says he'll say something nice while he can, he appreciates the investment in services for homeless population services.

Alright! The final day of the trial in the lawsuit seeking to disqualify Rep. David Eastman for his membership in the Oath Keepers is underway.

After a week of testimony, which included OK founder Stewart Rhodes and Trump attorney John Eastman, we have closing arguments.

#akleg Watch along here: stream.akcourts.gov

What should be the final full day of the trial against Rep. David Eastman is getting underway now.

Today, we expect to hear more from Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, Trump lawyer John Eastman and Rep. David Eastman.

Closing arguments expected Wednesday.

#akleg Here's a blog post that pulls together most of the good stuff from the newsletters and the basics of the case: midnightsunak.com/2022/12/20/the…

Here's the latest newsletter I wrote about it, which covered through Monday morning: akmemo.substack.com/p/the-complica…

It's Monday, y'all! That means we're back for the 5th full day of the Rep. Eastman trial where plaintiffs hope to disqualify the Wasilla Republican from holding office because he's a member of the Oath Keepers.

O.K. founder Stewart Rhodes MAY testify today.

#akleg #akelect Finishing my summary of where we are so far, but we're getting underway with the testimony of Patrick Martin.

Martin was the recipient of a forwarded Oath Keeper email from Rep. Eastman. They went together to D.C. on Jan. 6 (and got slurpees the day before).

The second full day of the Eastman trial is now underway. Here's my write-up of the first day: akmemo.substack.com/p/if-it-quacks…

#akelect #akleg You can watch the stream here: stream.akcourts.gov

Oral arguments in the lawsuit challenging whether far-right Wasilla Rep. Eastman—a lifetime member of the Oath Keepers who just won his re-election—to serve in the #akleg under the AK Constitution's disloyalty clause will get underway soon.

I'll be livetweeting here. Still on stand by, but the link to watch it will be here: stream.akcourts.gov

It's #akleg day, baby! The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee is underway with a hearing on the results of the investigation into the abrupt firing of Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation CEO Angela Rodell last year.

📺: w3.akleg.gov/includes/_play… As @ak_ok pointed out, the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation ran its own counter investigation into the investigation that says it's all fine BUT it does note efforts by individuals in Gov. Dunleavy's office to rein in Rodell's social media use.

https://twitter.com/AK_OK/status/1575216216641503232

The House Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee is underway with its Oath Keepers Informational hearing. They're hosting the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism and George Washington University's Program on Extremism.

#akleg

w3.akleg.gov/includes/_play… Not exactly the best-attended hearing so far. None of the Republicans—who've so far voted in defense of Rep. David Eastman, a member of the Oath Keepers—are present currently.

Some after-the-credits action in the House, Rep. Hopkins moves that the Sense of the House be adopted. There's a flurry of objections from Republicans so a pretty good guess about what it's about.

#akleg

Watch: w3.akleg.gov/includes/_play… Rep. Kurka says it's "clearly engaging in personalities."

Followed by an at-ease.

The 2022 Alaska State of the Judiciary is underway. Delivering his first State of the State is Chief Justice Daniel Winfree. He notes it may be his last given the age limits for the Alaska Supreme Court.

w3.akleg.gov/includes/_play…

#akleg Winfree: I was one of the young ones 50 years ago criticizing the establishment and now I'm part of the establishment. I find myself wondering why we haven't made more progress.

The House floor is underway. Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson was in the gallery. Also Reps. Eastman and Kurka introduced a move-the-capitol-to-Willow bill that got tagged with three committees of referral.

#akleg

w3.akleg.gov/includes/_play… First on the legislation agenda is Rep. Zulkosky's HB198, establishing Sept. 10 as Alaska Community Health Aide Appreciation Day. As introduction, she's talking about the importance of health aides provide care throughout the state.

Today's the State of the Judiciary at 11 a.m.

But first, the House Education Committee is holding a hearing with the free/reduced tuition for essential workers bill. It's set to gavel out for the House floor session at 10 and resume at 330.

w3.akleg.gov/includes/_play…

#akleg SB10 by Sen. Tom Begich passed out of the Senate last year on a 12-7 vote. He starts off by noting that the bill needs to be updated since it was written for last year.

He says providing these opportunities could be "potentially life-changing" for frontline workers.

Over in the Senate floor, they're working through amendments on Senate Bill 9. It's Senate President Peter Micciche's long-delayed alcohol law rewrite.

👀: w3.akleg.gov/includes/_play…

📄: akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Det…

#akleg Amendment 1 was by Sen. Kiehl. It would've loosened the strict population limits the bill would place on tasting rooms (effectively closing many markets to any new entrants) but he says in the interest of trying to get this bill—which was first introduced in 2015—he withdraws it.

The trial over the Higher Education Investment Fund is underway. The case was brought by several University of Alaska students challenging Gov. Dunleavy's sweep of the fund set up by the #akleg to fund scholarships (and later WWAMI).

The main argument here, as I understand, is the original appropriation setting up the fund is still valid and therefore it's out of reach out of the constitutional budget reserve sweep.

Dunleavy argues it should be funded ad hoc each year, competing with other spending.

Day three of the Alaska Redistricting Board trial is underway. Today, they're getting into the Valdez witnesses today. If they get through Valdez, they'll start with intervenor (Doyon, Limited group) witnesses.

#akleg #akredistrict

Here's Day 1 (East Anchorage): akmemo.substack.com/p/redistrictin…

Here's Day 2 (Mat-Su): akmemo.substack.com/p/redistrictin…

I'm tracking redistricting, but a really interesting presentation over in House Finance right now. Currently meeting with the Alaska Permanent Fund consultants, Callan and Associates, talking about risk modeling and ad hoc draws on the fund.

#akleg

w3.akleg.gov/includes/_play… It's important because there's concern that following the firing of Executive Director Angela Rodell, the fund's Board of Trustees may opt for a riskier investment strategy and break with rules-based approach for payouts to government.

It's trial day for the Mat-Su Borough/MSB Manager Brown's challenge to the Alaska Redistricting Board. They've got two main points:

We don't like Valdez; they don't like us.
You crammed too many voters into Mat-Su districts.

Watch:

#akleg #akredistrict They'll also get an out-of-order witness from the Valdez case, Valdez Mayor Sharon Scheidt.

The Redistricting Board had objected to several Mat-Su witnesses (their testimony is pre-filed) and Judge Matthews has overruled them, but notes that he'll still weigh the concerns.

On the board testimony issues, Judge Matthews: "Both parties make arguments that are well-grounded." He says Singer already had the chance to file testimony and supplemental affidavits for his witnesses. Singer doesn't get to call additional re-directs (additional questioning) but can file supplemental affidavits for consideration.

Plaintiffs would get opportunity for cross.

The first day of the trial challenging the Alaska Redistricting Board's work is underway. Today, they'll be kicking it off with the East Anchorage plaintiffs, who are challenging the Senate pairings with the conservative Eagle River.

#akleg #akredistrict

It's going to be an unusual trial because the direct testimony has already been filed. The opening arguments, too. They'll be starting out with cross examination and then direct testimony.

The House Finance Committee is underway with an overview hearing on Gov. Dunleavy's budget proposal.

#akleg

Watch: akleg.gov/includes/_play…
Presentation: akleg.gov/basis/get_docu… Steininger explaining how the state's budget has been reduced by ~5% since Dunleavy took office with most of the cuts coming to the University of Alaska and a few other areas. Notes quite a bit of it, though, has been eaten up by more spending on public safety, corrections.

S. Finance is underway. They're taking a look at the revenue forecast with DoR's Chief Economist Dan Stickel. Stedman prefaces by saying investments have surpassed oil, but "that might be switching around."

#akleg

Watch: w3.akleg.gov/includes/_play…
Docs: akleg.gov/basis/Meeting/… Stedman says they all need to start settling into a base number for oil price. The state has started to update it more regularly, which Stedman suggests is not particularly helpful because it can make for big swings in the budget outlook.