Legislature(2005 - 2006)
2006-02-01 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2006-02-01 Senate Journal Page 2040 SB 263 SENATE BILL NO. 263 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act making supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. An accompanying spreadsheet from the Office of Management and Budget was attached and is on file in the office of the Senate Secretary. Governor's transmittal letter dated January 31: Dear President Stevens: I am transmitting to you today two supplemental appropriation bills for Fiscal Year 2006. Issues requiring attention on an expedited basis are in a separate "fast track" bill. The enclosed "regular" supplemental bill, however, includes supplemental needs with less immediate timing requirements. We are submitting a combined package (both "fast track" and "regular") that totals $113.4 million in general funds. This reflects necessary program cost increases for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2006. The largest item in the "regular" supplemental bill is $78.9 million in general funds for the Medicaid program, $44 million of which is due th to the U.S. 9 District Appellate Court ruling against the state on the FairShare program. Also in this bill is $3.2 million in general funds for the Department of Corrections, due in large part to the increase in the number of prisoners. This bill totals $99.9 million in general funds. The overall total of supplemental spending is above what the administration had planned. Much of the requested funding is to cover increases due to events that were not anticipated last session-from unprecedented fuel cost increases, a record number of prisoners, to the court's disapproval of the Medicaid FairShare program that was started prior to this administration. 2006-02-01 Senate Journal Page 2041 Sincerely yours, /s/ Frank H. Murkowski Governor