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President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan will have far-reaching impacts at the state and federal level.
Legislature facing critical issues before adjournment
BY TIM BRADNER Alaska legislators are working to finish critical state business before the required May 19 adjournment, like the budget for coming Fiscal Year 2022 that begins July 1 as well as Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s nominations to state boards and commissions. The 2021 session was relatively slow through February and March, which is not unusual for the first year of a two- year Legislature when there are new lawmakers just learn- ing the ropes. Things were also delayed this year by the 30 days it took the state House to get itself organized with the agreements needed for president officers and the chairs and members of committees. The House is almost evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats who are aligned with indepen- dents and a Republican, Rep. Louise Stutes, of Kodiak, who is also House Speaker. Many new legislators, most of them Republicans, also needed time to work on their own bills and priorities. Be- cause state finances are still lean, any bill that requires a program change that costs money will face extra scrutiny in the House and Senate Finance Committees. It is help- ful, however, that those committees are made up mostly by experienced legislators who know the limits of what can really be accomplished in legislation. For the most part legislators are following the gover- nor’s recommendations on state agency spending including departments that issue permits to natural resource devel- opers and need adequate staffing, like natural resources, environmental conservation and fish and game.
MIKE DUNLEAVY
PETER MICCICHE
The University of Alaska is looking at another $20 mil- lion cut in its budget in FY 2022, the third and final year in an agreement with Gov. Mike Dunleavy to reduce university spending by $70 million a year. The university cuts have been spread across the system and have affected programs important to industry like the Mining and Petroleum Training Service, or MAPTS, which is part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. MAPTS has had tighten its belt considerably, which limits its ability to train Alaskans for industries that are doing well, like mining. Interestingly, lawmakers face an unusual dilemma this spring — as well as an opportunity — on what to
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The Alaska Miner
April 2021
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