JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate will debate the latest turn in the issue of this year’s Permanent Fund dividend Monday as it considers legislation that would pay a $3,000 PFD.
As currently written, House Bill 2001 calls for a dividend paid using the traditional formula in state law — albeit with money from a state savings account as well as the Alaska Permanent Fund. That’s not the final word, however, as Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, said on Sunday that he will introduce an amendment changing the dividend payout to $1,600. That amount would be in line with what passed muster with the Alaska House of Representatives last week.
The vote in the Senate will be close: In June, legislation paying a $3,000 dividend twice failed to pass the Senate. It now appears that senators favoring the smaller amount have an 11-9 majority. Stedman said Sunday that as long as senators “vote with their conscience,” the $1,600 figure will pass.
House Bill 2001 would also reverse approximately 80% of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s operating budget vetoes if signed into law.
The Senate is scheduled to begin its meeting at 11 a.m. in Juneau. Proceedings will be broadcast online at 360north.org and via TV on Gavel Alaska.
The Alaska House of Representatives also faces a significant vote as it seeks final agreement on Senate Bill 2002, which would fund the state’s capital budget and enact the “reverse sweep” vote. The lack of the reverse sweep vote has defunded accounts used to pay for college scholarships, rural electrical subsidies, vaccines and dozens of other state programs.
Thirty votes are needed to approve SB 2002 in the House, but that group of legislators has already failed to reach that tally twice. Monday’s vote is the final chance for lawmakers to re-vote on the proposal, and the decision of Rep. Dave Talerico, R-Healy, is expected to be significant. Last week, the House mustered 29 votes in favor of the bill, but Talerico was absent.
If SB 2002 passes the House, it would advance to the governor’s desk for approval or veto.