Politics

Alaska Senate seeks public testimony on Permanent Fund bill

JUNEAU — A Senate committee wants Alaskans' feedback on a bill to use some of the Permanent Fund's earnings to pay for government.

The Senate State Affairs Committee will take public testimony on Senate Bill 114, sponsored by Anchorage Republican Sen. Lesil McGuire, beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The hearing comes after the committee held public testimony earlier this month on another bill to restructure management of the Permanent Fund — that one, Senate Bill 128, from Gov. Bill Walker.

Both bills aim to raise more money for government services as the state grapples with a massive budget crisis stemming from low oil prices and diminished production on the North Slope.

Residents can testify in-person at their local legislative information office, which they can locate by calling 465-4648 or visiting http://akleg.gov/lios.php.

Testimony by phone can also be arranged with the office of Sen. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, who chairs the committee, by calling 866-465-4958. But the Senate says phone lines are limited and in-person testimony is preferred.

Nathaniel Herz

Anchorage-based independent journalist Nathaniel Herz has been a reporter in Alaska for nearly a decade, with stints at the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media. Read his newsletter, Northern Journal, at natherz.substack.com

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