Hundreds rally in support of state ferries. AKLEG Day 22 Recap
Ferries, alcohol laws and the budget.
Ferries, alcohol laws and the budget.
The Legislature is unable to put a stop to the contract because it was awarded by a state corporation that’s outside of legislative control.
A bill proposes to set up a formal process for making designations for pristine waterways, but opponents say the proposal is overly political and effectively impossible.
Violate the ethics act, you gotta pay the state back.
Opponents said the proposed trainee program would have skirted the well-regulated apprenticeship program, creating a pathway to less-prepared workers with lower earning ability.
“There’s a good likelihood we will not have service in Southeast in March,” conceded Department of Transportation Commissioner John MacKinnon on Thursday.
The administration isn’t asking for additional money for a mobile DMV program because it says there’s been little interest from rural communities. Senators weren’t buying it. “Lives may be in danger because you are waiting for them to request services that they are unaware that they need,” said Sen. Lyman Hoffman.
Legislators warned the governor against deep cuts, calling them unrealistic “flim-flam” last year. Now Dunleavy’s asking for money to cover his error.
The administration said it’d like to engage the Legislature on new revenue. “In specific, perhaps we could talk about sales taxes.”
The administration said the contract was so small it doesn’t merit additional scrutiny, but they struggled to explain exactly what the state was getting out of the contract.