More than $1.5 billion.

That is the figure Palin administration officials handed over to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. The amount represents how much they say all of the governor's energy special session plans will cost.

Governor Sarah Palin has proposed four bills including:

    $9 million to help equalize high rural Alaska power costs;
    $810.70 million to give every PFD-eligible Alaskan a $1200 resource rebate check,
    and $36.68 million to suspend the state fuel tax for a year.

The issue that took the most heat at the hearing was the costs for Governor Palin's AGIA Plan. The administration says they would need more than $712 million to fund costs, including workforce

Costs Associated with Governor's Bills--Fourth Special Session, July 2008
development, construction and start up. But the big chunk comes in the form of the $500 million dollars the state would pay to induce TransCanada to seek a federal pipeline building license. Some finance committee members say if AGIA passes, they do not like the idea of giving over all the money at once.

Senate Finance Committee Member Senator Charlie Huggins said, "I've always objected to the $500 million, but that potentially will be a done deal. But we don't have to do it in one lump some. And I think educationally it would be smart for both legislators and administration to do that in a phased concept, and not a one-time lump sum."

Revenue Commissioner Pat Galvin responded, "This is a project we want to see moved, again as expeditiously as possible. We don't want see it held up as an issue that gets held up as a political football every year. And is seen something that comes up for renewed targeting."

To contact Matthew, call 907-273-3186.