The plan identifies four main priorities.
The top one is sustaining and support the Alaska Marine Highway. This priority is near and dear to the heart of the conference since its creation in 1958 was spurred by the need for the system.
The Southeast Conference in recent years called for a change in the management of the marine highway and suggested it be turned over to an independent authority.
Moving through the system is House Bill 63 which calls for the creation of an Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board. The Senate Transpiration Committee amended the measure Saturday and passed it out.
Robert Venables, the executive director of the Southeast Conference, was asked about the main differences between what the Governor has proposed and what lawmakers are putting forth. I think the main difference is allowing the Senate and House leadership to appoint members as well as the Governor. It s always been an executive process where the Governor appoints all the members.