Senate passes its version of state budget after charged debate - Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO and Alaska Public Media

The Alaska Senate voted to pass its version of the state operating budget. The budget is the first in the state’s history that would draw from Alaska Permanent Fund earnings to pay for government services. Another budget amendment would have added $10 million to the University of Alaska budget. The amendment would have restored most of the money the Senate Finance Committee cut from the House version of the budget. Anchorage Republican Sen. Natasha von Imhof spoke against it. “While cuts and restructuring have been painful for students, for faculty and staff as well as communities, the university system is just one of 17 statewide departments that we the Legislature are responsible for funding,” she said. https://www.ktoo.org/2018/04/12/senate-passes-its-version-of-state-budget-after-charged-debate/