Dave Donaldson

The Governor will likely get a scholarship bill from the Senate, but not quite the one he wants. The Senate Finance Committee Friday approved a plan of…

The Governor will likely get a scholarship bill from the Senate this session. But it might not be the one he wants. The Senate Finance Committee today…

The House today set a priority for state funding – transportation. Members voted to ask Alaskans to approve a constitutional amendment that would set up a dedicated fund that could only be used to pay for transportation projects – even if state revenue falls.

The Senate hasn’t finished its final version of the budget yet, but it currently flat-funds the scholarship program that was one of the governor’s earliest legislative accomplishments.

The House overnight approved the next steps necessary that could lead to an instate gas pipeline from the North Slope to Anchorage and South Central.

Local school leaders today got their chance to tell legislators how they are dealing with expected budget deficits for the next school year. The hearings followed the Parnell administration’s presentation yesterday at the opening of the House Finance Committee’s week-long series of meetings focusing on Education.

Lawmakers were interested in how the state will pay for the requirements being put on schools next year. The administration shows increases in contributions to retirement costs and to energy expenses and offers to pay for pupil transportation. But Dillingham Democrat Bryce Edgmon said the whole issue rests on funding

The Senators working on a final version of a bill amending the tax on oil and gas today (Monday) asked the Parnell administration to get them information on what the governor says needs to be changed.

The House today passed a bill the governor requested designed to increase protection for seniors and other vulnerable adults.

The Senate today joined the voices of Alaskans complaining about those unplugged exploratory oil wells that are polluting the National Petroleum Reserve- Alaska.