Alaska House’s draft plan for federal aid calls for millions to help nonprofits, local governments and tourism Published 2 hours ago
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Print article JUNEAU Lawmakers in the Alaska House of Representatives unveiled a draft proposal Friday that calls for spending about $700 million of $1 billion in federal economic aid sent to the state of Alaska under the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress last month. The remainder would be saved for spending next year. The proposal, authored by the House’s coalition majority, would send millions to nonprofits, local governments and tourism-related organizations. By substituting federal money for tax dollars in various places within the state budget, the plan frees about $230 million for infrastructure spending and $175 million for possible use in a Permanent Fund dividend.
From USA TODAY Network and wire reports
Alabama
Montgomery: State lawmakers have inched closer to approving a ban on so-called vaccine passports that would require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to access services from a business or state agency. The House Health Committee voted Wednesday to send the bill to House of Representatives for a vote. It has already cleared the Senate. The bill contains a number of exceptions. Surgeons, dentists, medical institutions, hospitals and other health care providers are exempted. Universities could still require students to receive a vaccine; however, there would be exceptions for vaccines approved for “emergency use” by the FDA, as is the case with all three COVID-19 vaccines given in the United States thus far. The idea of vaccine passports is to have a document that shows a person has been inoculated against COVID-19. Federal officials say there are no plans to make them broadly mandatory, but some Republican governors have issued orders b
Alaska lawmakers want a say in use of federal aid money msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Alaska lawmakers want a say in use of federal aid money
by The Associated Press
Last Updated Apr 21, 2021 at 1:58 pm EDT
JUNEAU, Alaska Alaska lawmakers want a say in how the state spends more than $1 billion from a new federal aid package, a year after largely ceding decision-making on a prior pandemic-related relief package to Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Several lawmakers expect debate over how to spend the money to take centre stage in the final weeks of the Legislature’s regular session, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
Issues many lawmakers saw heading into session as critical to address or settle, such as Alaska’s long-running deficit and the future of the yearly oil check paid to residents from the state’s oil-wealth fund, have been overshadowed. Some lawmakers previously said the influx of new federal money should not be seen as an excuse to delay tough fiscal decisions.
Alaska lawmakers want a say in use of federal aid money theridgefieldpress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theridgefieldpress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.