Senate Democrats See Positive Opportunities Senate Democratic Leader Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, outlined for the press today a list of positive opportunites for Democrats to work with Gov. Frank Murkowski and legislative Republicans this session. "The Democratic legislators have made a list of all of the positive things we can work with the governor on this session, like the gas pipeline and training for gas pipeline jobs," Senator Ellis said, speaking at a press conference in the Capitol. "Education funding, case workers for abused children, public safety issues, bringing the children home who are in psychiatric residential treatment in the lower 48 - there's just a long, long list of all the positive things that we plan to work with Governor Murkowski to accomplish this year." Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau, pointed out that the first committee action on bills in the Senate was a hearing on a pair of bills, each sponsored by a Democrat and a Republican: SB10, by Senators Gretchen Guess, D-Anchorage, and Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, dealing with repaying the costs of vandalism, and SB22, by Senator Bettye Davis, D-Anchorage, and Senator Dyson, which would make birthing centers eligible for Medicaid payments. "There's a fundamental difference this year," Senator Elton said. "There's so much more discussion about what we can do. And that's major." Asked about previous disputes between Democrats and Governor Murkowski, Senator Ellis said, "We're hoping that he's turned over a new leaf and we want to reach across the partisan divide and work with him to accomplish these goals. We're very sincere and very excited about making this happen" ### |
