1 - Continued on next page Bradners’ Alaska Legislative Digest - Special Commentary Report Publishers Tim and Mike Bradner - Tim: (907) 440-6068 or Mike: (907) 242-6572
[email protected] This quagmire, the more we look at it the worse it gets! Digest No. 43-19 July 22, 2019 - Sen. Finance Cochair Bert Stedman Senate approves the capital bill 19 to 0, then House minority kills it! On Saturday the Senate reconstituted the capital bill, passing it 19 to 0. However, on Sunday House Minority Leader Rep. Lance Pruitt and House Republicans killed it, denying the bill the three quarter vote needed for funding from the Constitutional Budget Reserve. The bad news is this? The bill will be back before the House today, Monday, July 22, under reconsideration. “The governor’s one-year plan has changed to a two-year plan, and more cuts Federal construction funds at risk are expected next year.” - Quote by OMB Director Donna Arduin - 7/12/19 If a bill doesn’t pass the state stands to lose almost $1 billion in federal construction funds for highway, aviation, and sewer and water projects. The state faces a July 31 deadline after Question to Ms. Arduin: So, tell us, what’s in the second year of this? which these funds would be dispersed to other states. The Associated General Contractors - See more page 3 (AGC) estimates a failed construction season could cost as many as 15,000 jobs. The failed bill also included a feature called the “reverse sweep,” which would salvage funding for rural energy programs, student scholarships, the WAMI medical program, maintenance of emergency medical vaccines, and a host of other programs.