Let’s focus on what was kept in budget

Now that the dust has settled from this year’s legislative session, I’ve been looking at projects in the capital budget that were not vetoed.

It’s easy for the successful appropriations to be overshadowed by vetoes that make the evening news, but there are projects still funded that put a smile on my face as I know Alaskans will benefit greatly from them.

First and foremost for me is the Palmer Senior Center, which received $6 million from the state. I pushed for this appropriation for two years and was delighted to see it included in the budget. After many talks with the governor during his veto process, I became convinced he liked the project and sure enough, with a twinkle in his eye as if to say, “You have that one Linda,” I was pleased to see it retain full funding. With the exciting leadership of the talented Rachel Greenburg and Richard Tubbs, the new soon-to-be-built facility will serve the ever-growing senior population exquisitely.

Another awesome and much-needed project is a new crime lab in Anchorage, which retained its total of more than $75 million. I’m delighted to see this appropriation stay in the budget because I truly believe governments should be doing everything in their power to solve cases and prosecute those responsible.

I’ve been told numerous times the current crime lab is overburdened and in desperate need of expansion. The money appropriated by the Legislature this year will do that and could lead to alleged criminals being caught and sent to trial quicker.

One project I’ve also been touting since I became a senator is the rail spur from Port MacKenzie to the mainline. This was my husband’s dream for 10 years, and as borough spokeswoman Patty Sullivan said when she recently e-mailed me, “Curt loved the rail.” From everything I’ve seen relating to the spur, this project will be an economic boom to the Railbelt communities in Alaska, including the Mat-Su Borough and Fairbanks.

Yes, I know the governor reduced the appropriation from $57 million to $35 million. While I would have liked to see full funding retained, I am more than pleased the money the governor left for the project will still allow it to advance. I would be remiss not to compliment Rep. Bill Stoltze for inserting the appropriation in the House Finance Committee.

Other projects, among many, that were priorities of mine and avoided the veto pen are the Palmer Lift Station and Sewer Rehabilitation ($750,000), Lake Lucille improvements (125,000), funds for Community Sports Inc.($100,000), and money for playground equipment at Iditarod Elementary School (30,000).

I am disappointed, however, that the governor decided to significantly reduce funds for the World Trade Center Alaska and veto the trade center’s money appropriated to participate in the World Expo in Shanghai, which runs from May 1 to Oct. 31 with 190 countries represented. I so looked forward to a wonderful presence by Alaska in the Unites States’ $61 million pavilion. Those of you who know me, I’m staying true to my form; as I pen this Spectrum article I am multi-tasking and trying to contact different avenues for funding.

The World Trade Center Alaska has for years received at least $150,000 from the state, which helps significantly with its operation. This year, however, Gov. Parnell reduced funding to $65,000, severely impairing an organization that is priceless to many private-sector businesses in the state.

Make no mistake; in the realm of international trade the World Trade Center Alaska is beneficial to many Alaska businesses, to the tune of almost $800 million last year in exports.

I am a true believer that there is a bit of good in everything. That’s why I chose to mainly focus on what did not get totally vetoed from the capital budget, and to properly say thank you to Gov. Sean Parnell.

Senator Linda Menard is the senator from District G in the Mat-Su Valley.