FAIRBANKS -- Two Democratic state senators from Fairbanks held a press conference Monday to tell Alaskans what will not be attached to their Alaska Permanent Fund checks this year -- a voucher worth 250 gallons of heating fuel.

Sens. Joe Paskvan and Joe Thomas tell the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner that the state Senate, with a bipartisan coalition in charge, passed legislation this year that approved vouchers to lower the cost of winter heating. The measure failed to pass the Republican-controlled state House.

Paskvan says the vouchers were the only legislative solution for high energy costs this winter. Paskvan and Thomas pledged to reintroduce the legislation if they're re-elected.

Paskvan faces a challenge in November from Republican Pete Kelly, a former state senator. Thomas faces Sen. John Coghill, a North Pole Republican.