Alaska Lawmakers Say They're Inching Closer to Deal on Capital Spending

But the negotiations remain slow and out of sight, with senators maintaining their effort to protect a slate of energy projects from Gov. Sean Parnell’s veto power.

Tools

By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Apr 28, 2011 at 9:25 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Apr 28, 2011 at 4:29 PM AKDT

 JUNEAU — Lawmakers said Wednesday they have inched closer to a deal about statewide construction and capital spending plans. But the negotiations remain slow and out of sight, with senators maintaining their effort to protect a slate of energy projects from Gov. Sean Parnell’s veto power.

House leaders said they made an offer to senators Tuesday of agreeing to remove major slices of that energy money — for renewable energy grants and home energy-efficiency construction subsidies — and deal with them separately.

Senate leaders said later they had agreed.

“It was their concern. We addressed it,” said Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel.

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, called it the fifth concession made as his chamber prepares to send the House the budget, which would stand just less than $2.6 billion after the change.

House Speaker Mike Chenault said he also asked senators to set aside another pot of money — for work on a proposed intrastate natural gas pipeline — for separate debate.

But House leaders maintained criticism of senators’ extended hold on the budget bill — a companion to the $9 billion operating budget, which funds the day-to-day operation of government. They favor use of the public committee process, where legislative panels from both sides get separate cracks at shaping spending plans, and House leaders pushed reporters to hold senators accountable for monopolizing control. 

“We continue to stress the process that the bills need to go through,” Chenault said. 

Senators suggested the House could schedule hearings on its version of the capital budget, House Bill 107.

Field trip

The House Finance Committee has planned a trip to Anchorage on Friday for a meeting on specific aspects of the capital spending plan. Both members from the Fairbanks area say they will skip it and participate from Juneau through distance technology.

The meeting’s morning session will focus on energy projects included in a tentative capital spending plan, Senate Bill 46. That afternoon, it will meet with the Attorney General John Burns, who on Tuesday said the Senate’s strategy is unconstitutional. That opinion followed April 22 advice from a legislative attorney to Chenault that offered a more mixed view of senators’ decisions to date, which lean on the use of protective “contingency” clauses.

Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak and a Finance Committee co-chairman, said the meeting will ensure a fresh set of ears hears the discussion happening in Juneau. The Legislature is almost two weeks into a special session.

Rep. David Guttenberg, D-Fairbanks, said the meeting feels “staged,” partly because Anchorage residents can already participate in Capitol meetings through electronic media.

“This is where the job is, this is where the people that are negotiating are. This is where the votes get taken,” he said of his decision to stay in Juneau.

Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, said logistics prevented her from traveling with the group. She said she sees value in an Anchorage meeting to help people outside Juneau understand the issues at stake.

Wilson said she suspects many, for example, don’t realize senators’ tentative energy package pulls $51 million for energy-efficiency subsidies and $60 million to reimburse TransCanada for work on a natural gas pipeline plan into one take-it-or-leave-it envelope.

Contact staff writer Christopher Eshleman at 459-7582.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

ALASKA said on Thursday, Apr 28 at 12:08 PM

EVERYBODY is outside Juneau if we are talking about numbers here. It is ridiculous and almost scandalous that it is in fact the state capital. I question the fact that our lawmakers really want our opinions because if they did they would in fact be and go where the people are. IMHO of course!

66000482
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.