Senate Bipartisan Working Group
Alaska's State Senate Majority Caucus
Today is Jul. 3rd :: -74 First Session Days Left
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Senator Gary Stevens, Senate President |
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Senator Johnny Ellis, Majority Leader |
Tue. Jun. 16, 2009
Senate Resources-Energy set Tuesday review of ExxonMobil-TransCanada pact
Fri. Jun. 5, 2009
Senate Leadership Announces New Committee Assignments
Egan to Replace Elton on Finance Committee; Meyer, Thomas to Co-Chair Education Committee
Thu. May. 28, 2009
Senators Visit Fairbanks, Interior Villages on Energy Planning
Six State Leaders Visit Flood-Damaged Tanana and Other Communities
Wed. May. 20, 2009
Senate Energy Leaders to Talk Energy Solutions in Fairbanks, Tanana, Ruby
Senate Leaders Will Visit Interior Communities, Explore Energy Alternatives
Tue. May. 19, 2009
Bill to Support School Choice, Bolster Charter Schools Becomes Law
Senate Bill 57, Sponsored by Fairbanks Senator Joe Thomas, Makes Funding More Equitable
Sun. Apr. 19, 2009
Alaska Legislature Passes Senator Joe Thomas’ Bill to Support Public School Choice
Unanimous Vote in Both Houses Boosts Funding for Alaska Charter Schools
Sun. Apr. 19, 2009
Legislature Passes Bill to Raise Minimum Wage
Sun. Apr. 19, 2009
Senate Majority Hails Successful Legislative Session
Senate Bipartisan Working Group News
Senate Majority Hails Successful Legislative Session
(JUNEAU) – The Alaska State Senate today adjourned the first session of the 26th Alaska Legislature.
After several years in a row of surplus budgets, when the legislature set aside billions of dollars in various state savings accounts, this year the state faced a large deficit, because of huge declines in oil prices and a global economic decline.
“The hard work of our Finance Committee Chairmen and members, in co-operation with their counterparts in the House of Representatives, produced an operating budget that holds the line; and a bare bones capital budget, providing needed services to Alaskans without drawing down our reserves more than is absolutely necessary,” said Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak).
Senate Finance Committee Co-Chairman Senator Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) said the state was fortunate to be the recipient of more than $800 million in federal economic stimulus funds, which helped soften the blow delivered by the strained economic times.
“In the nine years I have served in the legislature in Juneau, I have never seen a more productive relationship between the House and the Senate,” said Senator Stevens. “Our interactions have been honest, straightforward and functional throughout this first session.”
Because this was the first session of the 26th Legislature, numerous bills that did not pass this year will get more hearings and become law next year.
