The Alaska House of Representatives has passed a stopgap funding bill to keep the Alaska Marine Highway and state Medicaid program operating.<\/p>\n
In a 32-7 vote, the House approved House Bill 321<\/a>, which moves to the Senate for consideration. HB 321 includes $24 million for the Alaska Marine Highway and $45 million for Medicaid. That money (and other appropriations within HB 321) will be used to keep state programs operating until the Legislature passes the ordinary state supplemental and operating budgets.<\/p>\n Lawmakers considered five amendments before voting on the final bill, but they accepted only two. One of the rejected amendments, offered by Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, would have reversed a move made last year by the Legislature<\/a> to transfer $21.285 million from the Juneau Access road project.<\/p>\n The amendment failed 19-20, and the money stayed transferred. Gov. Bill Walker has already said he will not proceed with the project, and the amendment was opposed by Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau; and Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau.<\/p>\n The accepted amendments added the $45 million for Medicaid and cut $2.5 million requested by the Alaska Department of Corrections. Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, said both agreements had been previously coordinated with the chairs of the Senate Finance Committee, thus keeping the bill on track.<\/p>\n “I want to thank the body for keeping this bill so it can remain fast-tracked,” Seaton said.<\/p>\n Roadhouses get a break<\/p>\n The House voted 39-0 to create a grandfather clause for 34 businesses on the wrong side of a 1985 law that sets standards for so-called “tourism dispensary licenses.” Under state law, those licenses must have a number of hotel\/motel rooms determined by the area’s population. Rep. Adam Wool, R-Fairbanks, said it is unfair for longtime established businesses to meet a standard determined by the community that has grown up around the business.<\/p>\n