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 schools, then the default policy is that students may not use electronic telecommunication devices during school hours, including lunch periods.

Another provision in HB 57 authorizes the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development to gather data on the progress of each high school graduating class in a school district. DEED will work with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development to gather information on what students do once they leave high school. The genesis for this provision in the bill came from a 2023 article in the Alaska Economic Trends magazine that examined the progress after high school of the class of 2005.

Final Episode of The Empty Office Podcast for Season 3 - Season 4 begins in January.

This is the final episode of The Empty Office Podcast for season 3. The podcast is produced to coincide with the legislative session in Juneau. However, there is always the possibility of special or emergency podcasts during the interim, depending on events and circumstances. Season 4 will begin in January 2026.

A huge thank you to all the guests this season for showing up ready to talk about real issues and the important work of the Alaska State Legislature. Finally, thank you for listening and subscribing to The Empty Office Podcast. This is a labor of love, and we cannot wait for the start of season 4 in January of next year. If you have ideas for guests or topics for season 4, please email [email protected]. Until then, be safe out there.

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 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

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a speech Senator Tobin gave in late March to a large group of public-school administrators and teachers who flew to Juneau for the Alaska Council of School Administrators 2025 Legislative Fly-In. During her speech, Senator Tobin called on Alaska’s educators to go to the Capitol Building and teach lawmakers about the ongoing funding crisis that is shortchanging the future academic and economic success of Alaska’s children. Senator Tobin’s speech was delivered on March 31st at Centennial Hall in Juneau.

Two days after delivering her speech to the school administrators, the Senate Education Committee, which Senator Tobin chairs, passed out House Bill 69, sponsored by Representative Rebecca Himschoot, a former classroom teacher who also served on the state school board. The original version of Representative Himschoot’s bill contained a straightforward and bold policy that would result in the largest funding increase for public education in Alaska’s history. On April 10, House Bill 69 was passed out of the Senate Finance Committee, setting the stage for a historic vote on the floor of the Alaska State Senate on Friday, April 11.

Senator Tobin carried House Bill 69 on the Senate floor. When you hear a legislator is “carrying” a piece of legislation on the floor, it means they will introduce the bill and be the main speaker describing its content and impact. As a result, Senator Tobin was the first Alaska State Senator to speak in support of HB 69 during Friday’s floor session.

After a lot of debate and several passionate speeches, including a barnburner from Senator Bill Wielechowski, the Alaska State Senate passed House Bill 69 by a vote of 11-9. A few hours later, the Alaska House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 21-16. House Bill 69 was transmitted to Governor Dunleavy at 9:05 a.m. on Saturday, April 12. The Governor has until April 30 to sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.

The version of House Bill 69 that now sits on the Governor’s desk includes a $1,000 increase to the base amount of funding for each public school student in Alaska. The Base Student Allocation or BSA is the starting point for Alaska’s Foundation Formula, which is the mechanism used to determine the amount of funding school districts will receive from the State of Alaska. If the $1,000 BSA increase in HB 69 becomes law, it will result in a $253 million increase in public education funding in Alaska. Our state’s public schools desperately need those dollars.

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 is joined by a former member of the Alaska Legislature who is a leading national voice in the conservation movement across the country. Beth Kerttula served in the Alaska State Legislature for 15 years. She was the Minority Leader in the Alaska House of Representatives for 7 years.

Beth Kerttula stepped away from the Alaska House of Representatives in 2014 to accept a fellowship at the Center for Ocean Solutions at Stanford University. In the summer of 2014, Kerttula was appointed to be the Director of the National Oceans Council under President Obama.

Kerttula currently sits on the Board of Directors of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, which is a bipartisan informal network of environmentally focused state legislators with over 1,200 members.

Beth Kerttula’s father was State Senator Jalmer M. Kerttula, who served for 34 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’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features an interview with one of the Shadow Senators for Washington, D.C.. Paul Strauss was elected as a Shadow Senator in 1996 and is a staunch advocate for statehood for Washington, D.C.

Shadow Senators are publicly elected officials who represent U.S. districts without a congressional vote, like Washington, D.C.. Prior to statehood, Alaska was called the District of Alaska and had Shadow Senators working in the same fashion as Senator Strauss. Colombia and Puerto Rico also currently have authorized shadow delegations to Congress.

During this interview, Senator Tobin and Senator Strauss discuss a resolution sponsored by Senator Tobin to support Washington, D.C. statehood. Senate Joint Resolution 6 has been passed out of the Senate State Affairs and Judiciary Committees. The resolution is now in the Senate Rules Committee. The next step for the resolution is a vote on the floor of the State Senate.

On March 10, Senator Strauss and his colleague Senator Ankit Jain were invited to testify during a hearing for SJR 6 in the Senate Judiciary Committee. That hearing was very informative about the Washington, D.C. statehood effort and sparked a vigorous discussion between the Shadow Senators and Senators who sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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 today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin and Mike Mason look back on the first 60 days of the Legislative Session in Juneau and look forward to the next 60 days. Today’s episode was recorded on day 60 of the legislative session, which is constitutionally limited to 120 days.

Topics discussed during today’s episode include legislation to increase education funding in Alaska and the importance of public input in the legislative process. Senator Tobin also discusses the legislation she is sponsoring this session, including:

* Senate Bill 93 – Early Education Programs

* Senate Bill 60 – Establish ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day

* Senate Bill 61 – Electronic Device Recycling

* Senate Bill 62 – Board of Parole: Membership, Report

* Senate Joint Resolution 6 – Washington, D.C. Statehood

During today’s episode, Senator Tobin also discusses the renewed attention in the Alaska State Legislature on revenue-generating legislation, including a bill to modernize Alaska’s corporate income tax law to include online sales from outside corporations. Below are details of some of the revenue bills under consideration in the Alaska State Senate.

Senate Bill 113 seeks to modernize Alaska’s corporate income tax law to include online sales from outside corporations, just as if they were brick-and-mortar businesses.

* Alaska’s corporate income tax apportionment laws do not sufficiently address online sales.

* The legislation is based on the concept of market-based sourcing, which is used in 36 states.

* Market-based sourcing taxes the business at the location of the customer, not the business.

* If approved, online businesses benefiting from Alaska’s economy would pay corporate income taxes, just like brick-and-mortar companies operating in the state.

* It is estimated the bill could generate between $25 million to $65 million a year.

“This legislation will not raise taxes for Alaskans or local businesses. It simply ensures that major out-of-state corporations benefiting from our economy contribute just as local businesses do. This establishes a level playing field for all entities operating in Alaska." – Senator Bill Wielechowski

Senate Bill 112 reduces Alaska’s sliding-scale per-barrel oil production tax credits.

* These tax credits have led to billions of dollars in lost revenue for the state of Alaska.

* SB 112 would reduce the maximum tax credits paid to oil companies from $8 down to $5 per barrel.

* The bill could generate $400 million in new revenue per year.

* In 2021, the Department of Revenue testified to the Joint Fiscal Policy Working Group that cutting the oil tax credits from $8 to $5 would have minimal impact on oil company investments in Alaska.

"For years, the size of the per-barrel credit system has cost the state billions of dollars without delivering tangible benefits. This simple change ensures that tax credits are granted with accountability and a clear return for Alaskans while continuing to support investment in our oil fields." – Senator Bill Wielechowski

SB 92 Corporate Income Tax – Oil & Gas Entities

* The bill restructures the state corporate income tax so that it is applied equally to all companies in Alaska, including S corporations.

* The change could generate as much as $100-150 million in revenue per year.

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