{"id":2337,"date":"2012-04-16T13:44:43","date_gmt":"2012-04-16T21:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bertstedman.com\/new\/?p=2337"},"modified":"2012-04-19T10:10:10","modified_gmt":"2012-04-19T18:10:10","slug":"successful-legislative-session-adjourns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bertstedman.com\/new\/?p=2337","title":{"rendered":"Successful Legislative Session Adjourns"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Alaska State Legislature adjourned early this morning, marking an end to a productive legislative session.\u00a0 I applaud\u00a0my colleagues and the accomplishments made this session.\u00a0 I am proud of the progress made this year toward addressing a range of energy, education, public health and safety, and transportation needs in Southeast Alaska as well as the rest of the state.<\/p>\n

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This year the Senate continued its goal of ensuring state government saves before it spends.\u00a0 The Senate took the lead by setting aside $3.1 billion in savings in the Operating Budget, including $50 million for the Alaska Marine Highway System Vessel Replacement Fund, helping advance modernization of Alaska\u2019s ferry system.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Today the Senate concurred on the House\u2019s changes to the fiscal year 2013 Capital Budget<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0In my role\u00a0as Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, I\u00a0was responsible for starting this year\u2019s Capital Budget process and leading the Senate\u2019s thorough and public review of that budget.\u00a0 For every dollar spent in the Capital Budget, four dollars were added to savings through the Operating Budget.\u00a0 The FY2013 Capital Budget appropriates $2.9 billion, including:<\/p>\n