Majority sends $84.5 million in classroom funds back to House
http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/040104_senate_Rs_reject_educ_funding.pdfAdditional information: SB283 Davis Guess
JUNEAU – The State Senate Republicans today rejected an opportunity to fund Alaska classrooms with an additional $84.5 million. The House of Representatives unanimously agreed to the funding package several weeks ago. Senate Bill 283 contained several provisions added in the House. A concurrence vote would have agreed to those changes, which include the K-12 and University education funding package.
"Does this signal that the Senate Majority supports a lesser amount for education?" asked Senator Bettye Davis (D-Anchorage). "My priority is to provide adequate resources for classrooms statewide. We could have done that today with this vote, but it was not to be."
Senate Democrats said today they joined with Alaska parents, teachers, and administrators across the state who have called for the best deal possible for education. At the moment, say Senate Democrats, SB283 is that vehicle.
"After three weeks of holding the bill on his desk, the Senate President allowed Majority Leader Ben Stevens to direct his caucus to take a step backward," said Senator Gretchen Guess (D-Anchorage). "Senate Democrats continue to show that education is our priority."
The failed concurrence vote on SB283 automatically sends the bill back to the House to recede or back up its amendments. If the House fails to recede from its amendments to SB283, the bill goes to a conference committee.
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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