The Empty Office Podcast

For this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin and Mike Mason look back on the first three months of the legislative session in Juneau and look forward to the final month. This episode was recorded on Day 86. The legislative session is constitutionally limited to 120 days. That means the session must end by May 19. During this episode, Senator Tobin discusses several of the bills she is sponsoring this session, including Senate Bill 89 to help physician assistants across Alaska. Last month, the bill passed the Senate by a unanimous vote, and it is poised for a vote on the House floor. Other legislation discussed during this episode includes: * Senate Bill 62 - Board of Parole Membership * Senate Bill 93 - Early Education Programs * Senate Bill 210 - Indigenous Cultural Heritage Education * Senate Bill 236 - Veterans Justice Act * Senate Bill 250 - Data Centers During this episode, Senator Tobin and Mike Mason also delve into the ongoing work of the Task Force on Education Funding, which was created last year by the Alaska Legislature to analyze public education funding and the current accountability provision for Alaska’s schools. Senator Tobin is one of the Task Force co-chairs. The Task Force is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations by the first day of the 35th Alaska State Legislature on January 19, 2027. In this podcast episode, Senator Tobin and Mike Mason discuss a Task Force on Education Funding meeting held on April 15, focused on accountability. During that meeting, Task Force members heard from an education professor at Furman University about the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card. Professor Paul Thomas argues that politicians and journalists are misinterpreting NAEP results. In a commentary published in the Washington Post, Professor Thomas wrote that: “The common misreading of NAEP data has allowed the country to ignore what is urgent: addressing the opportunity gap that negatively impacts Black and Brown students, impoverished students, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.” – Paul Thomas, Professor of Education at Furman University (Excerpt from a commentary published in the Washington Post) Through her work on the Senate Education Committee and the Task Force on Education Funding, Senator Tobin has repeatedly stressed that NAEP proficiency is not a good indicator of a student’s academic success. Find out more in Senator Tobin’s newsletter from last year titled “What does 'Alaska is 51st out of 53' actually mean?” During her time in office, Senator Tobin has consistently urged her legislative colleagues not to make education funding decisions based on NAEP data. “Most importantly, NAEP proctors, those giving the tests, are very clear that student performance on NAEP assessments should never be considered representative of state education standards or used for high-stakes decision making – like whether we adequately fund our schools.” – Sen. Löki Gale Tobin At one point in this podcast episode, Senator Tobin discusses the use of chit sheets in the Alaska State Legislature to indicate support or opposition to a particular piece of legislation. Neither Senator Tobin nor Mike Mason knew where the word “chit” came from. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “chit” is a short official note signed by a person in authority, typically written or printed on a slip of paper and granting the bearer permission to do something. The earliest known evidence for the use of the word “chit” is from 1757. The music for this episode of The Empty Office Podcast is an instrumental version of the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” performed by the Danish Radio Big Band & Charlie Watts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

During this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin sits down with Thread CEO Stephanie Berglund. Thread serves as Alaska’s child care resource and referral network. This year, Thread is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The toll-free number to contact Thread is 1-800—278-3723. One of the major points of discussion on the podcast is the annual ROOTS awards, which serve as a recruitment and retention stipend for early childhood educators across Alaska. The current version of the FY 2027 operating budget under consideration in the Alaska House of Representatives includes $7.5 million for the ROOTS awards grants. During this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin and Stephanie Berglund also discuss Alaska’s ongoing child care crisis. About 20% of Alaska’s childcare programs have closed in the last 4 years, and over 19,000 Alaska families are still seeking childcare. Both Senator Tobin and Stephanie Berglund were members of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Care, which wrapped up its work in late 2024. The Task Force commissioned a study on the cost of child care in Alaska and put forward 56 recommendations, outlined in two reports. * Governor’s Task Force on Child Care - Report 1 * Governor’s Task Force on Child Care - Report 2 * Child Care in Alaska: The True Cost of Care This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

On Sunday, March 29, Senator Löki Gale Tobin and Senator Gary Stevens were invited to speak to school district superintendents, principals, and business officials from across Alaska. The educators were visiting Juneau to participate in the Alaska Council of School Administrators' annual legislative fly-in. During her speech, Senator Tobin highlighted Senator Stevens’s work on behalf of public education in Alaska and called on educators and lawmakers to support Senate Bill 23, which requires the State Board of Education to make civics education curriculum resources available to school districts. The bill also requires students in Alaska to take a comparative government and civics education course prior to graduation. During his speech, Senator Stevens reflected on his time in the Alaska State Legislature and encouraged the educators in the room to keep working and advocating for a better public education system. Senate President Gary Stevens is known as the “Statesman of the Legislature.” He has been a member of the State Senate since 2003. During that time, he has served 8 years as Senate President, a record for the longest tenure in Alaska history. Senator Stevens is retiring this year after serving 26 years in the Alaska State Legislature. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Today, Senator Tobin welcomes Diane Hirschberg back to The Empty Office Podcast. Hirschberg is the Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research, which is commonly known as ISER. Hirschberge is a Professor of Education Policy at the University of Alaska Anchorage and is well known for her work studying the boarding school experience of Alaska Native students. In 2023, Diane Hirschberg co-edited the book “Education, Equity and Inclusion: Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable North.” She co-authored the chapter, “Adaptation isn’t just for the tundra: Rethinking teaching and learning in Alaska’s Arctic.” Diane Hirshberg currently teaches in the Master of Public Policy Program at the UAA College of Business and Public Policy. She has a Ph.D. in Education from UCLA and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University. In this episode, Senator Tobin and Diane Hirschberg discuss the interplay between politics and public policy. They also delve into the history of ISER, which was created by the Alaska State Legislature in 1961 as a true research organization. During the conversation, Hirschberg noted that ISER has partnered with the Alaska Energy Authority and the Alaska Center for Energy and Power on the Alaska Energy Data Gateway, which combines community, socio-economic, and energy data into dashboards, tools, and new datasets to meet Alaska’s energy data needs. The Alaska Energy Data Gateway was discussed at length during a Lunch and Learn presentation for lawmakers and staff on Friday, March 27. ISER was also spotlighted during a Lunch and Learn on March 24, honoring the organization’s 65th anniversary this year. During Friday’s event, Senator Bill Wielechowski presented Diane Hirschberg with a citation from the Alaska Legislature for her 23 years of service at ISER and for her dedication to academic excellence and teaching. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Senator Tobin and Mike Mason have a lively conversation with a team of representatives from the Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG). The organization was formed in 1974 to protect consumers from businesses taking advantage of them in the name of profit. Today’s guests include: * Indra Arriaga (Executive Director of AKPIRG) * Claire Estelle Lubke (Economic Justice Lead at AKPIRG) * June Okada (Infrastructure Funding Analyst at AKPIRG) The music for this episode is the song “Broadway Blues” by the late Laco Pastorius. The person chosen by Indra Arriaga to sit next to Senator Tobin in the Alaska Legislature was the comedian Groucho Marx. The clip below is from “A Night at the Opera.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Today’s podcast serves as an update on the work of the Task Force on Education Funding, which was authorized by the compromise education bill (HB 57) that became law on July 1, 2025. Today’s guest is Representative Rebecca Himschoot from Sitka. She serves as a co-chair of the Task Force along with Senator Tobin. Rep. Himschoot is the co-chair of the House Education Committee. Prior to being elected to the Alaska State Legislature, Rebecca Himschoot was an elementary school teacher. She is also a former member of the State Board of Education and the Sitka Assembly. Topics discussed during the conversation include education funding, chronic absenteeism, and the importance of after-school activities and sports. The music for this episode is the song “Lady Madonna” performed by Dave Edmunds and the Refreshments. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Today, Senator Tobin welcomes Zac Clark to The Empty Office Podcast. In 2025, Clark was selected as the Director of Alumni and Community Engagement for the University of Alaska Anchorage. Prior to his new role, Zac Clark was the UAA associate director of Student Life and Leadership. He has worked for UAA for nearly 20 years. During this episode, Senator Tobin and Zac Clark discuss the UAA Legislative Internship program and the unique role that alumni play at the University of Alaska. The music for this episode is the song “Blues from Beyond” by Thurston Moore. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

For this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin is joined by the newly elected Mayor of Fairbanks. Prior to being elected Fairbanks Mayor, Mindy O’Neall served six years on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and was the Executive Director of the Cold Climate Housing Center. O’Neall is originally from Iowa. She moved to Alaska in 2004. O’Neall holds a BA degree from Iowa State University and a Master’s Degree in Professional Communications from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. “It did not surprise me one bit that Mindy went into politics. What she was passionate about, she was very passionate about and always believed in what was fair and right, and that that’s the way things should be.” - Michael Peters was the band director for Creston High School, where Mindy O’Neall graduated (Quoted by the Creston News Advertiser) During this episode of the podcast, Mike Mason referenced a speech delivered by the late Jess Jackson at a rally in Philadelphia to support his run for President in 1984. The speech is often referred to as the David and Goliath speech. “Because you must never forget that about the time we began to take over the cities, Nixon shifted the power to the suburbs. Now Reagan has shifted it to the states. So you have mayors who have more and more responsibility and less and less power. We got more and more votes and fewer and fewer services. We can not stop. We got to rise on higher.” - Jesse Jackson The music used for this episode of the podcast is the song “Embers in E Minor” by The Venterues. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features an in-depth discussion of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) with Representatives Genevieve Mina and Carolyn Hall from Anchorage. Rep. Mina chairs the Alaska State House Health and Social Services Committee and is a member of the Department of Health’s Advisory Committee for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Rep. Hall is the co-chair of the Alaska State House Labor and Commerce Committee. Both committees are holding hearings to examine the RHTP and the dispersal of over $1.3 billion in federal funding over the next five years. The federal budget reconciliation bill that was passed last summer authorized the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The five-year program was funded at $50 billion. Alaska is slated to receive more than $272 million a year. The Alaska Department of Health is currently accepting Letters of Interest until March 11. The Alaska Department of Health included 6 proposed initiatives in the approved application. * Healthy Beginnings: Investing in maternal and child health to help Alaskan families start strong. * Health Care Access: Expanding and maintaining access to essential health services in rural, remote, and frontier communities. * Healthy Communities: Promoting healthy lifestyles and investing in preventive care. * Pay for Value: Fiscal Sustainability: Pursuing innovative payment models to build a stronger, more sustainable health care system. * Strengthen Workforce: Growing and supporting skilled, resilient health care teams across Alaska. * Spark Technology & Innovation: Updating technology and infrastructure to improve care and drive innovation. Near the end of this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Mike Mason noted the 10-year anniversary of the passing of Representative Max Gruenberg on February 14, 2016. On March 19, 2026, then-Rep. Chris Tuck delivered a speech written by Rep. Gruenberg that he never delivered. Rep. Gruenberg titled his speech the “Hope Speech.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

This week’s edition of The Empty Office Podcast features two physician assistants who are working with Senator Tobin on legislation to allow PAs to provide medical care to the fullest extent of their licensure in Alaska. The goal behind Senate Bill 89 is to increase the capacity of Alaska’s medical care system and reduce unnecessarily strict regulations on physician assistants. Today’s guests are Meghan Hall and Jenny Fayette. Meghan Hall is the past President of the Alaska Academy of PAs, and Jenny Fayette is a Member at Large of the Alaska Academy of PAs. “Alaska has a demonstrated need for increasing accessible medical care, reducing high medical costs, and decreasing barriers to experienced medical practitioners across Alaska. The majority of the physician assistants in Alaska practice in rural areas. Increasing the medical care available locally in rural Alaska produces better outcomes and less expensive care. This also allows patients to stay in their home communities, thereby reducing strain on hub communities.” - Senator Löki Gale Tobin The physician assistant profession was established in the 1960s to expand health care options. The first PA class graduated from the Duke University PA program on October 6, 1967. The opening music for this episode is the M*A*S*H theme song, and the closing music is the M*A*S*H Theme performed by Piano Kingdom. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Today, Senator Tobin welcomes a returning guest to the podcast. Veteran Alaska Journalist Larry Persily was a guest during season 1, and he’s back for season 4. During this episode, Larry Persily and Senator Tobin discuss the Alaska LNG project, the idea of importing LNG into Alaska, and the current state of newspapers in Alaska. Politicos in Alaska know Larry Persily’s resume. First and foremost, Larry is a newspaperman. Some would say an old-school newspaperman. He bought the Wrangell Sentinel in 1976. He subsequently sold the paper; however, he recently repurchased it. In 2019, Persily purchased the Skagway News. He subsequently sold the paper for $20. Persily has written for the: * Anchorage Times * Anchorage Daily News * Associated Press * Juneau Empire * Petroleum News Larry Persily is a very informed observer of Alaska’s oil and gas industry, with a special interest in liquefied natural gas (LNG). He writes an oil and gas newsletter. Larry Persily also has extensive experience in the Executive and Legislative Branches of government. * He was a legislative staffer for the legendary Mike Hawker, who was the co-chair of the House Finance Committee. * Persily worked for Representative John Lincoln. * Persily served as the Chief of Staff for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor. * He was the CARES grant coordinator for the city of Kenai. * He was the Federal Coordinator of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects office from 2010 to 2015. The music for this episode is Sloganize, Patronize, Realize, Revolutionize (Black Lives Matter) by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

This week’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a great conversation between two advocates for public education in Alaska. Senator Löki Gale Tobin and Aleutian Region School District Superintendent Michael Hanley discuss the importance of place-based education and the challenges of educating children and young adults in the nation's westernmost school district. Mike Hanley served as the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development from 2011 to 2016. He was a teacher in the Anchorage School District from 1991 to 2005, and then served as a principal there from 2005 to 2011. Mike Hanley holds degrees in business administration and K-8 education. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Alaska Anchorage. The REAA school district that Mike Hanley leads, the Aleutian Region School District, serves the communities of Nikolaki, Atka, and Adak. During the conversation, Superintendent Hanley discusses the fate of two small children’s desks that his parents preserved from a segregated school that was closed in Alabama in the 1960’s. One of the desks sits in Senator Tobin’s office in Anchorage, and the other is in Superintendent Hanley’s home. “Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and it is our job in education to pry open every possible door of opportunity for every one of them. This desk has been a reminder to me of that responsibility and the ongoing efforts we need to pursue to ensure that we have learned from our past and have a better vision and hope for our future and the future of our children.” - Michael Hanley In response to Mike Mason’s question about who to add to the Alaska State Senate to sit next to Senator Tobin, Superintendent Hanley chose noted radio broadcaster and author Garrison Keillor, who created A Prairie Home Companion, which aired on public radio stations across the country from 1974 to 2016. The music for this episode is the song “Throwing Beers at Rick Parfitt” by the band The Jesus Years. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

This episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a great conversation with a well-known economics researcher and professor in Alaska. Gunnar Knapp is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER). He worked at ISER from 1981 to 2016. Knapp received a PhD from Yale University in 1981. He is well known in commercial fishery circles for his research into the Alaska salmon industry and world salmon markets. For many years, he taught UAA courses on the Economy of Alaska and the Economics of Fish. You can learn more about Gunar Knapp and his work online at GunnarKnapp.com. The conversation during this episode touches on several subjects, including fish politics, the University of Alaska, and the importance of pubic radio to the Alaska way of life. At one point in the conversation, the phrase “it’s the economy, stupid” was brought up. The phrase was on a sign that Democratic political strategist James Carville hung at Bill Clinton's campaign headquarters in 1992. While the phrase “it’s the economy, stupid” is often repeated, two other phrases were written on the sign. “Change vs. more of the same” and “Don’t forget health care.” At the end of this episode, in response to Mike Mason’s “pick a lawmaker” question, Gunner Knapp chose former State Representative Terry Gardiner to sit next to Senator Tobin. Gardiner was born and raised in Ketchikan. He was a commercial fisherman who served in the Alaska House of Representatives in the 1970s. In 1978, at age 28, Gardiner was elected Speaker of the House. He was the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Silver Lining Seafoods and NorQuest Seafoods. Gardiner currently serves as the CEO of Essential Inventions, which works to expand access to healthcare for all people. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Much like we have done in the past, the new season of The Empty Office Podcast features a discussion with a prominent religious leader in Anchorage. This episode features Rabbi Abram Goodstein from Congregation Beth Shalom in Anchorage, which is the largest Jewish organization in Alaska. Rabbi Goodstein grew up in Anchorage and is a graduate of Service High School. He holds a degree in Religious Studies from the University of Oregon. In response to the request to choose someone to join the Alaska State Legislature to offer help and guidance, Rabbi Goodstein chose the biblical figure of Rebecca. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

For the final episode of season 3, Senator Tobin sits down with Representative Rebecca Himschoot from Sitka for an in-depth conversation about education funding and the successful effort to override Governor Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 57. Rep. Himschoot is the co-chair of the House Education Committee and a retired elementary school teacher. She is a former member of the State Board of Education and the Sitka Assembly. Rep. Himschoot has been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. She has also been recognized as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator and earned a fellowship from the National Science Foundation. Rebecca Himschoot is in her second term in the Alaska House of Representatives, representing District 2. Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast was recorded on Wednesday, May 21, which would have been day 121 of the legislative session. However, the members of the House and Senate got their work done a day early, on Tuesday, May 20, which, in the opinion of many political observers, is a remarkable achievement. The main topic of discussion during the podcast is the effort to increase education funding in Alaska, which has been ongoing for over a decade. Failed efforts to raise education funding include: * In 2018, Rep. Les Gara proposed a $100 increase to the BSA. HB 339 passed the House but was ignored by the Republican controlled Senate. (1 hearing) * In 2020, Rep. Andi Story proposed a $225 BSA increase. HB 236 stalled in the House Finance Committee. * In 2022, Rep. Andi Story proposed a $278 BSA increase over 2 years. HB 272 made it as far as House Rules but never advanced to a floor vote in the House. * In 2023, the Senate Education Committee proposed a $680 BSA increase. SB 52 passed the Senate but only received one hearing in the House Finance Committee. * In 2023, Rep. Dan Ortiz proposed an $800 BSA increase spread out over 2 years. HB 65 never advanced out of the House Finance Committee. * In 2024, a compromise education package passed the Alaska State Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support. SB 140 included a $680 BSA increase. Governor Dunleavy vetoed the bill, and the effort to override the veto failed by 1 vote. * This year, Rep. Himschoot sponsored House Bill 69, which included a $1,000 BSA increase. The bill passed the Legislature but was vetoed by Governor Dunleavy. The effort to override failed. House Bill 57 - The Compromise Education Bill On May 20, the Alaska State Legislature successfully overrode Governor Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 57. The vote was 46-14. HB 57 began as a bill sponsored by Rep. Zack Fields to ban cellphones in schools. However, after the failed effort to override the gubernatorial veto of House Bill 69, Senator Tobin and Representative Himschoot worked with their colleagues in the House and Senate to turn HB 57 into plan B to increase education funding. HB 57 includes: * $700 BSA increase = $177.2 million * Note: A $700 BSA increase will result in an additional $14.3 million for correspondence programs in FY 2026. * Pupil transportation increase = $6.8 million (10% increase) * HB 57 increases the secondary school vocational and technical instruction funding factor from 1.015 to 1.023. (Estimated cost of $10 million) During today’s conversation, Senator Tobin and Representative Himschoot discuss several of the provisions in HB 57, including the policy requiring each school district in Alaska to adopt a policy to regulate the use of cellphones during school hours. The policy must allow exceptions for students to use a wireless device for medical or translation purposes. The policy must also include an exception for use in the event of an emergency. The bill language specifically prohibits a person from monitoring, collecting, or accessing information related to a student’s use of a wireless telecommunications device. If a school district fails to adopt a policy governing the use of cellphones in...

For this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin is joined by Juneau Economic Development Council Executive Director Brian Holst. He’s a graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School and Notre Dame University. Brian Holst has a wealth of experience in community and economic development, both in Alaska and internationally. Topics addressed during this episode include the Peace Corps, housing, and efforts by Juneau to support the work of the Alaska State Legislature. Senator Tobin and Brian Holst also delve into the role of government in supporting economic development efforts. FYI, the person that Brian Holst chose to sit next to Senator Tobin in the Alaska State Senate was Elizabeth Peratrovich, who led the charge to end discrimination against Alaska Natives. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a wide-ranging conversation between Senator Tobin and Representative Genevieve Mina from Anchorage about several topics, including healthcare policy, the University of Alaska, and the effort to reinstate a defined benefits pension system for State of Alaska employees. One of the main topics of conversation is legislation sponsored by Senator Tobin and Representative Mina to create the Welcoming Alaska Office to support the integration of immigrants, refugees, migrants, and temporary workers arriving and resettling in Alaska. House Bill 188 and Senate Bill 169 would replace the existing office of Citizenship Assistance with the Welcoming Alaska Office. This episode of The Empty Office Podcast was recorded on day 110 of the legislative session in Juneau, which is constitutionally limited to 121 days. The music for this episode of The Empty Office Podcast is the song Fairies Wear Boots by the band Brown Sabbath. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a great conversation with two-term State Representative Ashley Carrick from Fairbanks. Before being elected to the State House, Ashley Carrick was a longtime legislative staffer. She is a proud graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. In 2020, Rep. Carrick received a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Alaska Anchorage. The first part of today’s podcast episode includes a discussion about the compromise education package that passed the Alaska State Legislature on April 30 with broad bipartisan support. House Bill 57 passed the Senate by a vote of 17-3. The House concurred with the changes made to the bill by a vote of 31-8. The bill was sent to Governor Dunleavy on May 1. The bill is due back from the Governor by May 19. From the time he receives the bill, the Governor will have 15 days, excluding Sundays, to act on it, or it becomes law without his signature. HB 57 includes a $700 increase to Alaska’s Base Student Allocation, which will result in an additional $14.3 million for Alaska’s growing correspondence programs in FY 2026. The bill also includes a 10% increase in funding for pupil transportation and requires each school district to adopt a policy regulating the use of cellphones during school hours. Other provisions in the bill include class size targets, Reading Proficiency Incentive Grants, and an innovative method for reporting student success. House Bill 57 includes several provisions to build on the success of Alaska’s charter school system. The provisions seek to reduce the administrative burden on Alaska’s charter schools and improve the application process. The bill also authorizes the creation of the Task Force on Education Funding. Another topic of conversation during today’s podcast episode was Governor Dunleavy’s veto in 2024 of legislation sponsored by Representative Carrick and strongly supported by Senator Tobin. House Bill 17 sought to require insurance companies to cover 12 months of contraceptive services in Alaska. During the conversation, both Senator Tobin and Representative Carrick note that access to a year's supply of birth control is essential in a state with limited access to pharmacies and health clinics. “There is simply no justifiable reason to veto a bill that would ensure every person in Alaska, no matter where they live, has access to essential medication, like birth control. This veto is among a number of clear examples of how Governor Dunleavy continues to prioritize politics and power over the well-being of our communities, denying Alaskans the right to make the best medical decisions for themselves in consultation with their doctor." - Rep. Ashley Carrick, quoted by KTUU The music for this episode of The Empty Office Podcast is the song “Link Track” from the band Fugazi. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a conversation between Senator Tobin and two-term State Representative Justin Ruffridge from Soldotna. In addition to his duties as a State Representative, Justin Ruffridge is a pharmacist by trade. He owns pharmacies in Soldotna, Juneau, and Girdwood. During today’s podcast, Senator Tobin and Rep. Ruffridge discuss the importance of developing relationships among their legislative colleagues. During the conversation, Senator Tobin and Representative Ruffridge delve into the role of government in the healthcare of Alaskans, and how best to effect change in politics and public policy. “Effective change is best accomplished over time, resulting from constructive dialogue with all parties involved in the decision-making process. This is fundamentally hard work, but it is worth the effort. Creating lasting and meaningful change requires a desire to be humble, an ability to bring people together, and a willingness to learn.” – Rep. Justin Ruffridge The music for this episode of The Empty Office Podcast is the song “Trem Two” by the band Mission of Burma. The song referenced by Rep. Ruffridge during the podcast is the song “Intertia” by the band AJR. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com

In March, to commemorate Women’s History Month, Senator Tobin joined Senator Cathy Giessel and Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson in highlighting notable Alaskan women with speeches on the floor of the Alaska State Senate. This episode of The Empty Office Podcast features the speeches delivered by Senator Tobin during Women’s History Month. On March 6, Senator Tobin stood up to highlight the life of Etheldra Davis. On March 10, Senator Tobin eagerly took to the floor of the State Senate to talk about one of her heroes, Fran Ulmer. The next woman of distinction highlighted by Senator Tobin was Eleanor Andrews. This speech was delivered on March 17. On March 24, the subject of Senator Tobin’s speech to highlight Women’s History Month was notable Alaskan educator Bernice Joseph, who died in 2014 at the age of 49. The final woman of distinction highlighted by Senator Tobin during Women’s History Month was one of the most famous women in Alaskan history, 4-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher. Senator Tobin’s speech was made on the floor of the Alaska State Senate on March 31. Senator Tobin’s speeches highlighting Alaskan women of distinction came as the Alaska State Legislature was considering Senate Bill 43 to establish the month of March as Women’s History Month in Alaska. SB 43 unanimously passed the Alaska State Senate on March 3. The bill passed the Alaska House of Representatives on March 28 by a vote of 33-2. Governor Dunleavy signed the bill into law on April 4. From now on, March will be celebrated as Women’s History Month across Alaska. The music for this episode is a folk song from El Salvador called “The Ballad of the Fallen” performed by Charlie Haden and Carla Bley. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lgtobin.substack.com