Legislature Passes State Operating Budget

But the special session continues because of Senate inaction on the capital, or public works, budget, which has more than $400 million for 100-plus energy projects.

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By Bill McAllister
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Story Created: May 6, 2011 at 4:02 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 9, 2011 at 1:09 PM AKDT

The legislature took a big step today, but it's not one that ends the special session, now in its 19th day.   

 Lawmakers passed the state operating budget for fiscal year 2012.
 
That's the only constitutional obligation they have.
    
Even so, the special session continues.
 
The House and Senate separately passed a conference committee report on the state operating budget, approving more than $9 billion in appropriations, up about 6 percent from the current year budget.
 
Although there was only one dissenting vote, there is concern about the level of spending, given the projections for continuing declines in oil revenue.
 
"We want to make sure that we take care of people,” said Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole, but “we have to look at the safety net as an honest-to-goodness safety net, rather than being able to be all things to all people. This budget cycle is the largest health and social services budget ever in history, and it's not going to be sustainable as we move forward."
 
Energy issues figured prominently in the budget, as the Legislature is providing an extra $40 million for schools and communities to deal with high heating and electrical costs.
 
"I appreciate the amount of concern that there is within this body, especially within the finance committee, to try and make sure that schools -- all schools, whether you're in urban Alaska or rural Alaska -- is going to address the ongoing need for energy, keeping the buildings warm and maintained" said Sen. Donny Olson, D-Golovin.
 
But the special session continues because of Senate inaction on the capital, or public works, budget, which has more than $400 million for 100-plus energy projects.
 
"We'll have other budget bills in front of the body in the next few weeks,” said Senate Finance Co-Chair Bert Stedman, R-Sitka. Stedman later clarified through a press aide that he did not mean to imply a second special session, which would be required to continue beyond May 17.
 
There was grumbling from the House majority.
 
"We'll play the cards that are dealt us and we'll do our best to succeed in getting all of our work done here, as this body has done since we arrived here, before and after the beginning of special session," said House Finance Co-Chair Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak.
 
 With frustration in the House about the long delay on the capital budget, the House Special Committee on Energy began vetting individual projects today.
 
It remains to be seen whether lawmakers continue to burn daylight ... or start burning midnight oil.
 

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Anonymous said on Saturday, May 7 at 10:54 AM

why do these parrasite lawmakers always have to have more money. shouldnt it be less?

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