Alaska Governor Palin Signs Senate and House Bills

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May 11, 2007, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today signed four pieces of legislation that authorizes a supplemental budget, extends the sunset date of the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives, transfers land owned by the Alaska Railroad Corporation, and opposes a proposed fuel tax increase.

Senate Bill 61 is the Governor’s bill and moves $1 billion of the FY 2007 surplus to the Public Education Fund. The appropriation reinforces the Governor’s budget goal to save for the future and address the issue of forward funding education. The bill also includes funds for the Advisory Vote held on April 3, 2007, Medicaid Reform, and the Department of Corrections.

House Bill 35, sponsored by Representative Scott Kawasaki and Senator Bettye Davis, extends the sunset date of the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives to June 30, 2015. The board regulates the policies and procedures for the practice of direct-entry midwifery in Alaska.

House Bill 168, sponsored by Representative Kyle Johansen, transfers 10 acres of land between the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The legislation is needed for an improvement project designated for the Parks Highway.

Finally, the Governor signed House Joint Resolution 18, sponsored by Representative Kyle Johansen. The resolution opposes a proposed federal aviation fuel tax. The proposal would increase the tax on aviation gas and fuel from roughly 20-cents a gallon to 70-cents – something that would have a huge impact on Alaska, which has more than 10,000 licensed pilots.

Source: Alaska Governor