Senate Bipartisan Working Group

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.