Murkowski urges Legislature to address declining population
BY IRIS SAMUELS, ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS
Her top priority, she said, was en- suring that the Legislature includes in its budget funds needed to secure federal dollars for the Alaska Ma-
sources and you step away. I want to make sure that these dollars that are on the table in a five-year infra - structure bill, are going to be there to help support the Marine Highway System. This is our opportunity, this is our shot. Let’s not screw it up.” In her address to lawmakers, Murkowski, who grew up in South- east Alaska and once served in the state Legislature, took on a tone that was at times pleading, and at other moments admonishing. “We have an unprecedented op - portunity to refloat our ferry sys - tem. This is our shot. This is your lifeline. Please grab it,” she said to lawmakers. “This is where I may be stepping over because I almost never call on the Legislature to do anything specific here, but I am asking you — approve the matching funds for our ferry system. This is the Alaska Ma-
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski urged Alaska lawmakers to stem the tide
rine Highway System. Murkowski was in- strumental in bringing nearly $300 million from the U.S. Depart- ment of Transporta- tion to the Alaska fer- ry system through the federal infrastructure bill. But to qualify, the state must promise to provide millions of dollars in its own bud- get. “I’m doing some - thing that I don’t typ- ically do,” Murkow-
of outmigration by in- vesting in transporta- tion, resource devel- opment and childcare, among other areas, in a fiery speech to the Legislature on Feb. 22. “I maybe didn’t stay in my lane,” the 20-year Republi-
can senator said after spending much of her hourlong address in- structing lawmakers on state policy pro- posals, in what she called “the tough love part” of her comments.
MURKOWSKI
ski told reporters after her speech. “Usually, you send the federal re -
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The Alaska Miner
Spring 2023
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