If you are in Anchorage you can testify to the House Finance Committee on the state budget tomorrow 1:00-4:30pm. Yesterday the committee heard from Juneau residents, and they are working their way around the state. Tomorrow is Anchorage’s turn.
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I was disappointed that on Wednesday, my colleagues, with the exception of Rep. Andy Josephson, on the University budget subcommittee voted for devastating cuts to the University of Alaska budget. These cuts could cost hundreds of jobs and have a drastic effect on our economy. I supported an amendment from my colleague Rep. Josephson to bring funding back to the governor’s requested level and I introduced amendments to restore funding for research, the Museum of the North, and the University Fire Department. Unfortunately Rep. Josephson and I were outvoted on all these amendments. I also spoke about how in tough economic times, it’s especially important to make sure we are supporting our University.
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Closeouts?
This is the part of the budget process when the Finance subcommittees finalize their changes to the budget Governor Walker submitted. This process can get a little squirrely, and there is ample opportunity for the chair of the subcommittee to amend the governor’s budget to include pretty sweeping cuts. After the subcommittees meet, they add to and subtract from the governor’s budget, they then amend their recommendations and send them on to the full House Finance Committee. This is the Legislature’s first step in passing a budget, and I am already pretty concerned with what I see.
Yesterday I gave you a quick heads up about tomorrow’s chance to testify before your Anchorage legislators, and on next week’s public testimony on the House version of the Operating Budget. The legislature writes the budget in old style Aramaic. So I thought I’d decipher a few things you might be interested in.
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This has been a busy week full of meetings and there is much to tell you. Before I do, I want to commend the House Resource Committee Chairs on their dedication to hearing the Governor’s oil and gas credit and mining tax bills and holding sometimes two meetings a day. These are very complex issues and each hearing I feel like we learn something new about these industries and these credits. There will be an opportunity for public comment on both bills in the near future. I will be sure to keep you all informed about when that is.
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