(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - Today, the Alaska Senate passed House Bill 3003, which provides a $1,100 permanent fund dividend. Quoting a news release from the Alaska Senate Democrats, this fullfills the promise that the legislature would, once again, provide an affordable PFD to Alaskans.

Senator Democratic Leader Tom Begich (D-Anchorage) in a prepared statement wrote, “With today’s actions, the legislature fulfilled, again, its obligation to provide a dividend to Alaskans. It may not be the amount we all want, but it is what we can afford. I appreciate my colleagues’ willingness and desire to find solutions and come to a compromise."

Senator Begich concluded his statement writing, “As we all know, our work is not done. Progress is ongoing with the Fiscal Policy Working Group, and today’s actions are just one part of a successful effort towards a fiscal plan. Hard decisions are still before the legislature, and now that this year’s dividend is behind us, we can focus strictly on the future of our state’s financial stability.”

The bill heads to the governor's desk.

Following the Alaska Legislature’s decision today to appropriate only $1100 for the 2021 Permanent Fund Dividend, Governor Mike Dunleavy release a prepared statement. Although the governor is not in agreement with today's action on the PDF, he would not veto this bill but called another special session.

Governor Dunleavy wrote, “In a year when the Alaska Permanent Fund earned almost $20 billion, and the total value of the fund exceeds $83 billion, there are members of the legislature that would love to eliminate the PFD, and grow government, regardless of the harm it would cause Alaskans. Our state is still dealing with the economic ramifications of this virus, the distractions of employment issues, the lack of available workers and the disruptions to the supply chains. While we continue to debate the fiscal future of this state, the people of Alaska need help now."

Dunleavy concluded his statement writing, "On one hand, a veto of this half measure would seem appropriate, but at this stage of the game that would aid and abet those that don’t care about individual Alaskans, small businesses and the economy. As a result, I will not veto this partial PFD, but will call the legislature back into session October 1 to get the rest of this year’s PFD and to solve the state’s financial problems with a complete fiscal plan.”

Public FaceBook comments posted by Rep. Mike Cronk (Republican - District 6) on today's actions:

Following is an image of the comments for those who do not subscribed to FB"

On the Web:

Download a copy of the Fourth Special Session Proclamation

Source of News:

Office of Governor Michael Dunleavy
www.gov.alaska.gov

Alaska Senate Democrats
www.akleg.gov

Rep. Mike Cronk (Republican - District 6)
www.facebook.com/mike.cronk.90

Representations of fact and opinions in comments posted are solely those of the individual posters and do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.

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