jenn.gifford

Today is day 81 of the 120-day Alaska Legislative session and only 1/3 of the session remains. Boy how time flies.

The House Finance Committee has been trying to approve an operating budget, which is a difficult task, given that the state is facing financial straits and a deficit of $1.9 billion. The House Majority and Minority are deeply divided on how to deal with Alaska’s fiscal problems. There has been some contention this week, as House Finance tries to compromise on a budget to send over to the Senate. Both the House Minority and Majority held separate press conferences on the issue and painted two very different pictures for the people of Alaska.

Today is day 74 of the 120-day Alaska Legislative session. Now that it is April, we are in our penultimate month of this session, so we are really starting to focus on getting things buttoned up. My office had two bill hearings this week. One for SB129, which is discussed later in this newsletter and the other for SB110 which establishes a museum construction grant fund. Both bill hearings were successful, and I expect to have these bills heard again in committee soon. The bill hearing process may seem overly long and onerous, but it is essential to ensure that good policy is leaving the legislature, and my office is dedicated to shepherding these bills through.