Alaska: Governor Walker Calls Special Session for Budget and Two Bills - Governor Bill Walker Monday evening issued a proclamation to convene the Alaska State House of Representatives and Senate in a special session to pass a fully funded state budget and consider pending legislation for Erin’s Law and Medicaid reform and expansion.

“Local governments in Alaska are not allowed to pass a budget that is not funded, and nor should we,” Governor Walker said. “While there can certainly be disagreement on the amount, whatever state budget is approved must be fully funded. My administration is focused on healthy Alaskans and a healthy economy. A partially funded budget that runs out of money mid-year does not provide for the health of Alaskans, and creates uncertainty for businesses, school districts and families.”

Governor Walker took the first step toward addressing the state’s $3 billion deficit by reducing state spending with his budget proposal - $250 million in operating reductions and $440 million in capital spending.

“While the debate may continue on the amount of the cuts, it is not possible to balance the budget with cuts alone,” Governor Walker said. “It is critical the legislature pass a budget that is fully funded. The legislature just passed a budget that has a funding shortfall of $3 billion." - More...
Monday PM - April 27, 2015

Alaska: Legislature Adjourns 29th Session - The Alaska State Senate has adjourned from the first session of the 29th Legislature after striking a critical budget compromise with the House. The compromise preserves all of the priorities of the Senate Majority including restoring order and sustainability in Alaska’s fiscal house, creating affordable energy for all Alaskans, investing in the State’s next generation, fighting federal overreach, and taking leadership on Arctic issues.

"I am proud of this Senate and what we accomplished especially considering the seriousness of the fiscal situation we are in. We did our jobs, finished our work, the work of the people, on time, given the adversity our leadership faced with our fiscal crisis,” said Senate President Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage. “We approved a balanced budget that draws on reserves to fund priorities of Alaskans-Education, Public Safety, Infrastructure, and health and welfare of Alaskans.”

Due to State’s $8 billion shortfall over the next two years after a catastrophic fall in oil prices, the Legislature was able to reduce overall spending by $809 million from the Operating and Capital Budgets. Senators looked under every stone to find reductions while funding critical government services. While agency reductions ranged up to 33-percent, the Senate Majority preserved its priority to education by only reducing a scheduled increase to the BSA by 1.4% or $16 per student per year. Overall, the Operating Budget totaled $8.1 billion, with unrestricted general spending at $4.05 billion.

Meanwhile, the Legislature also passed the smallest Capital Budget since 2001. The Capital Budget included $108 million in Unrestricted General Funds (UGF). That’s $40 million less than the Governor’s proposed budget and $481 million less than last year in UGF spending and $2 billion less than UGF capital spending in 2012. The total budget is $1.5 billion. The budget also includes $43 million to renovate the school in Kivalina in order meet the State’s commitment to settle the Kasayulie case.

“The Senate took measures to protect Alaskans, and insulate our economy as best as we can due to the massive revenue shortfall we currently have,” said Senate Finance Co-Chair Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River. “Alaskans are smart, resilient people, and I know we will come together as Alaskans first, to provide for each other and work to plan and prepare for the tough times ahead.” - More...
Monday PM - April 27, 2015

Alaska: Alaska Legislature Passes Irresponsible Budget & Failure for Alaska - Monday, the Alaska Legislature passed the most irresponsible budget in the history of Alaska according to the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition and Senate Democrats. The FY 2016 budget results in major public education cuts, eliminates nearly all early learning opportunities, jeopardizes the future of a natural gas pipeline, and makes it more difficult for thousands of Alaskans to get affordable healthcare.

Alaska Senate Democrats were disappointed and outraged with a budget that neglected Alaska's children and future by short-changing education; a budget that left working families without access to affordable and accessible health care, by not expanding Medicaid; a budget that hurt communities reliant on the ferry system, fixed-income seniors, and those with mental illnesses or substance abuse addictions.

"This budget fails Alaska. It's a shameful policy decision that protects oil company credits over our children. Senate Democrats aren't buying it and judging from the response of Alaskans, neither is anyone else," said Senator Berta Gardner (D-Anchorage).

"This Republican-authored and approved fake budget is a house of cards that relies on smoke and mirrors. It’s fiction and without Medicaid expansion people will suffer. The public is not fooled for one minute," stated Senator Johnny Ellis (D-Anchorage).

“The people of Alaska and our Coalition have been very clear all session about the importance of a lasting commitment to public education,” said Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition Leader Representative Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage). “It’s unacceptable to use a fiscal crisis as an excuse to jeopardize academic opportunities for our children through this fake budget.” - More...
Monday PM - April 27, 2015

Fish Factor: 63 million hatchery produced salmon projected to return to Alaska By LAINE WELCH - Each year more than one third of all the salmon caught in Alaska begin their lives in a hatchery.

There are 31 hatchery facilities in Alaska: 15 privately owned, 11 state owned, two federal research facilities, one tribal hatchery at Metlakatla, and 2 state owned sport fish hatcheries.

Alaska’s hatchery program is very different from fish farming, where salmon are crammed tightly into net pens until they’re ready for market. All salmon born in Alaska’s hatcheries come from wild brood stock, and are released as fingerlings to the sea. When those fish return home, they make a huge contribution to the catch.

According to the annual Salmon Enhancement Report by the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, 58 million hatchery salmon were caught in the common property salmon fishery last year. That equated to 34 percent of Alaska’s 157 million fish harvest, with a dockside value of $113 million.

The breakdown by species: 56 percent chums, 47 percent pinks, 23 percent coho, 12 percent Chinook and 5 percent of the sockeye were hatchery starts.

Prince William Sound fishermen have the highest hatchery fish catches. Last year, 45 million salmon returned to the five hatcheries there, accounting for 87 percent of the total harvest. Ninety three percent of the fish were pinks and 68 percent were chums. In all, the Sound’s hatchery catch added up to 62 percent of the total with a dockside value of $64 million.

It’s a different story at Southeast Alaska where 95 percent of the pinks are from wild production, and 85 percent of the chums are hatchery starts. - More...
Monday PM - April 27, 2015