To Think That I Saw it on Seward Street

Every day, I keep thinking about Dr. Seuss as I walk around the Capitol.  But I hadn't read this book for over 50 years. 

When I got it from the library, it was a little different from my experience.  The boy in the book doesn't see anything more exciting than a horse drawn cart. 



So in his imagination, and in his eagerness to have a great story to tell when he gets home, that cart gets embellished a bit. 

And a bit more

 But I go to the Capitol every day and I see things that need no embellishment.   I just need to describe them in words and pictures and video. 

 A few examples:

It turns out that I share my office (the staff/public lounge) with a lot of interesting people including former legendary legislator and now lobbyist Al Adams.  We first talked when he was talking at a nearby table where I was writing on my laptop.  I had to go to a hearing and so packed up and as I got up to leave, he apologized for making too much noise.  I assured him that it wasn't a problem and introduced myself, the blogger.  He looked at me funny and said something about forests and that he isn't doing anything now with logging. 

And here's another legend, Fairbanks native, Anchorage Daily News writer and former editor Michael Carey, on the Capitol steps.  He said he's been coming down during the legislative session for 40 years.  It was great to chat with him about what this all means. 

This chain saw version of former legislator Bettye Fahrenkamp showed up outside the House chambers.  There's a Capitol Mini Golf Championship scheduled in the this week.  Apparently $75,000 was raised at this event in 2002, but it's hard to find much on this event, though Rep. Paul Seaton mentions it in his newsletter in 2008.

And today there were optometrists on the 2nd floor giving eye tests to legislators and staffers.  I talked briefly to Jill Matheson, chair of the Alaska Board of Examiners in Optometry who explained what they were doing. 



You can see HB 245 here.   It looks like this bill has passed on the House Floor and so will replace the Senate version of this.   Passage of this bill is among the BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY  GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2010:

1. Continue regular review of optometry statutes and regulations. This review is necessary to be sure that the laws are adequately protecting the public and properly regulating the modern practice of optometry. Possible examples
1. Consider "standard of care" issues.
2. a. Licensure by endorsement should be restricted to those coming in at the
3. Review the approval of alternate and electronic forms of continuing education such as webinars and virtual grand rounds
4. 12 AAC 48.210(a)(1) and (a)(2) could be improved by removing "contact" and just stating 36 hours continuing education.
2. Develop a list of recommended changes to legislative statutes for the audit committee to take note of. Possible examples:
1. Licensure by endorsement should be restricted to those coming in at the highest level of license. HB245/SB193 was introduced to accomplish this
2. All new licenses should be at the highest level. HB245/SB193 was introduced to accomplish this.
3. All current Alaska licenses to be at the highest level of licensure by 2012. HB 245/SB193 was introduced to accomplish this.
4. Refusal of license: authority for the board to refuse to grant a new license for certain reasons and/or to impose certain stipulations. Include in the division's Omnibus statutes for standardizing licensing, if possible.
3. Make active Alaska licensed optometrists aware of recent amendments to regulation.
4. Continue to meet twice per year.
5. Send a board member to ARBO.
6. Keep informed of and support legislation on the state and federal level concerning patient protection and access to care.
7. Continue to support provider non-discrimination language in state and federal legislation.