Wilken Decries Late Release of Education Funding Plan
SB 178 introduced with four days left in session

Juneau - Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks, issued the following statement regarding the introduction today of Senate Bill 178, which makes fundamental changes to Alaska’s public K-12 education funding.

“I am appalled that a complicated adjustment to the State’s funding of public education, our single largest budget expenditure, has been rolled out on a Saturday night, with one committee of referral and four days left before the end of session. This proposal makes sweeping changes to the amount we spend per student, the amount of the local tax contribution, and the services we provide our intensive needs students.

“If the formula foundation needs to be adjusted, bring it out from behind closed doors, adjust it in public, and with respect for the process. At a time when this building should be ultra sensitive to public perception and conducting an open, public process, it is outrageous to me that Senate leadership has chosen to adjust the K-12 formula behind closed doors and without public input.

“As introduced today, this proposal either ignores or grossly under funds those intensive needs students who are most in need of state assistance, and increases property taxes between $80 million and $90 million in Alaska’s communities.”

SB 178 was introduced by the Senate Finance Committee.

Sound actualities can be downloaded from the following links:
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/wilken2007051201a.mp3
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/wilken2007051202a.mp3

Caucus Tries to Boost Pipeline Assessment Funds
Majority coalition fails to add $2.5 million

Juneau - The Senate Republican Caucus tried unsuccessfully today to add $2.5 million from a crude oil production surcharge to fully fund an independent appraisal of the state’s oil and gas infrastructure.

“Fully funding the risk assessment at $5 million is essential for establishing a credible independent appraisal of the condition of Alaska’s oil and gas infrastructure and its ability to safely operate for another generation,” said amendment sponsor Senate Minority Leader Gene Therriault, R-North Pole. “The integrity of our oil and gas systems must be sufficient to protect Alaska’s environment and ensure uninterrupted production and revenue to the state.”

The amendment to Senate Bill 53 would have added $2.5 million from the Oil and Hazardous Substance Release Response Account to fully fund a comprehensive oil and gas infrastructure risk assessment. The Governor asked the Senate Finance Committee to add the full $5 million, but the committee included only half the needed amount, $2.5 million in general funds.

“Partial funding reduces the scope and thoroughness of the project and leaves the State and industry without an adequate appraisal of the condition of Alaska’s oil and gas infrastructure,” Therriault said. “Full funding is necessary to adequately assess the systems on the scale proposed, and to be able to attract independent nationally recognized firms that have the expertise and capacity to do the work.”

The project would include a comprehensive risk assessment of Alaska’s crude oil production, storage and transportation system including the Trans Alaska Pipeline and Valdez Marine Terminal. It will also evaluate the extent, degree and adequacy of government oversight and make recommendations for continued safe and reliable operation of the system.

This would be the first system-wide risk assessment of Alaska’s complex oil production and transportation system and is anticipated to take from two to three years to complete.

“A thorough, independent appraisal of the condition of the state’s oil and gas facilities is needed to identify the greatest risks of failure; what’s in good shape; what’s not; where, and how serious the risks are,” Therriault said.

“At a time when the U.S. Congress is holding hearings on the maintenance problems and integrity of the Alaska oil and gas system, I am disappointed that members of the majority coalition were unable to vote their conscience to fund this full appropriation,” Therriault said.

The Senate failed to adopt the amendment by a vote of five to 15, along straight caucus lines. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

A sound actuality can be downloaded from the following link:
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/therriault2007051201a.mp3