Senate Bipartisan Working Group

Citing a legal analysis by the U.S. Congressional Research Service, Senator French said, “We are concerned that, according to the way the federal legislation is written, the Governor must expressly request all the stimulus money if the state wants to have a chance to use it.”

Since her announcement last week that she would not accept more than 30% of the federal funds to which Alaska is entitled under the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act”, members of her administration have clarified that they are open to letting the Legislature decide whether or not to accept the funds.  Senator Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) has introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 4, which would state the Senate’s desire to accept the money, intended to create and retain jobs and economic opportunity in Alaska.  SCR 4 is awaiting a vote in the Senate.

“However, according to the legal analysis we have read, passing a legislative resolution might not be sufficient to ensure that Alaska can receive the remaining stimulus money,” said Wielechowski.  “We are asking the Governor to formally accept the rest of the funds, so that, if we decide during our discussions in the coming weeks that accepting them is in the best interests of the state, we are legally allowed to do so.”

The Senate Finance Committee, of which Senator Stedman is Co-Chairman, will continue discussions about the stimulus package with administration officials in the next few weeks.

A digital copy of the letter from Senators French and Wielechowski is available inside the press release PDF.

For more information, contact Senator French or Kate Herring at 907-465-3892, Senator Wielechowski or Michelle Sydeman at 907-465-2435.