Group shows appreciation to House

By JEN RANSOM-Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU -- Valley Voices for Children leader Kris Moore has given the Alaska House of Representatives an enthusiastic thumbs up for the work they did Monday night. "This is not a long-term fiscal plan, but we are making bold moves," wrote Moore in an e-mail to other VVC members. "There is always additional advocacy work to be done, but at this point I am willing to say we are on the right track."

Mat-Su Borough School District Chief School Administrator Bob Doyle is also pleased with the House's recent legislation, which allocates $84.5 million to K-12 education and raises the per-pupil allotment by $419 to $4,588 per student.

"I think it's great," said Doyle. "It's really important for everybody to work together and not focus on partisan problems."

House Bill 233, which raises the per-pupil allotment, and the committee substitute of Senate Bill 283, which allows the state to use the constitutional budget reserve to pay for the increases, both passed unanimously in the House Monday evening. The legislation must now be approved by the Senate and then by Governor Frank Murkowski before becoming law.

"I think the Senate will probably match up with the House and the governor should sign," said Doyle. "That's what I am hoping for -- I think it will happen, hopefully sooner than later."

Both Doyle and Moore were pleased with the fact that everyone in the House, regardless of party, voted in favor of the education increases.

"I think the fact that it was a unanimous vote lets everyone go back to their districts and say 'Hey, I voted "yes" for schools,'" said Doyle.

While the House has not addressed some of the long-term problems, such as inflation proofing the foundation formula, Doyle says he is very happy with the steps taken so far.

"Things like inflation proofing are going to be tied into long term solutions for the state's fiscal problems," said Doyle. "The House has put partisan stuff to the side and asked 'How can we get this done early in order to prevent people from being laid off, from receiving pink slips?'"