http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/042803_senate_budget_vision.pdf

Additional information: Alaska Dept. of Education, Alaska Science & Technology Foundation, Alaska Permanent Fund

JUNEAU - Senate Democratic legislators today offered critical floor amendments to the FY04 operating budget, amendments that provide clear, bright line distinctions between Republican and Democratic leaders in Alaska. If adopted, the amendments would fix substantial gaps left by the governor and House and Senate majorities. Democrats voted to reverse Republican cuts to education funding, moved to save the Alaska Science & Technology Foundation, and worked to protect the Permanent Fund Dividend. The amendments, all rejected by Senate Republicans along party lines, highlighted Democratic priorities of “Putting Alaskans First and Moving Alaska Forward.” Democrats in both houses opposed Governor Murkowski’s proposal to liquidate the $87 million ASTF endowment into the General Fund for government spending this year. Senate Democrats proposed an amendment to save the 15-year-old fund, arguing it is critical to diversification of Alaska’s economy. Liquidating ASTF is akin to burning the furniture for heat, said Democrats, who noted there was no plan to replace those dollars next year. The amendment failed, with the Senate’s 12 Republican members voting to cannibalize the fund. With ASTF endowment dollars up for grabs in the FY04 budget, Democrats suggested using some of those funds to close the damaging gaps GOP budget writers left in education. EDUCATION Amendment number two, an “omnibus” education amendment, proposed redirecting a third of the ASTF money toward Democrats’ top priority - education. Using the ASTF funds means the amendments would not have increased the state’s total budget. The omnibus education amendment had several components: $500,000 put back into community schools, restoration of $4.2 million in pupil transportation; half a million dollars to fully fund the University of Alaska; $167,100 back into adult basic education; and, most significantly, directing $22.4 million toward the foundation formula. Senate Republicans rejected the Democrats’ priority on education. The 12 majority members also rejected a second attempt to update the formula when Democrats tried to amend the budget again, using ASTF funds, with a stand-alone foundation formula increase. PERMANENT FUND The third major amendment was to protect the Permanent Fund Dividend. The dividend program is in jeopardy this year, and Senate Democrats proposed a one-time stopgap to protect Alaskans from the threat of no dividend at all. The amendment would guarantee a dividend by allowing a limited tapping of the Constitutional Budget Reserve, an account already used by the Legislature to fill budget holes. Senate Republicans voted for Murkowski-Leman budget cuts over Alaska families, small business owners, and the health of our economy. Voting against economic growth, education, and the Permanent Fund Dividend were Senators Gene Therriault (R-North Pole), Con Bunde (R-Anchorage), John Cowdery (R-Anchorage), Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River), Lyda Green (R-Wasilla), Scott Ogan (R-Palmer), Ralph Seekins (R-Fairbanks), Ben Stevens (R-Anchorage), Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak), Robin Taylor (R-Wrangell), Tom Wagoner (R-Kenai), and Gary Wilken (R-Fairbanks). The Senate convenes again tonight at 6 p.m. to consider additional Democratic amendments.

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Putting Alaskans First · Moving Alaska Forward 2004
Sen. Bettye Davis, Sen. Johnny Ellis, Sen. Kim Elton, Sen. Lyman Hoffman, Sen. Hollis French, Sen. Gretchen Guess, Sen. Georgianna Lincoln, Sen. Donny Olson, Rep. Ethan Berkowitz, Rep. Sharon Cissna, Rep. Harry Crawford, Rep. Eric Croft, Rep. Les Gara, Rep. Max Gruenberg, Rep. David Guttenberg, Rep. Reggie Joule, Rep. Mary Kapsner, Rep. Beth Kerttula, Rep. Albert Kookesh, Rep. Carl Moses