2018-06-27                     Senate Journal                      Page 3177
SB 142                                                                                                                        
Message dated June 13 was received stating:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Kelly:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
I have signed, with line item vetoes, the following bill passed during                                                          
the second session of the Thirtieth Alaska State Legislature and am                                                             
transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant                                                                
Governor’s Office for permanent filing:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                

2018-06-27                     Senate Journal                      Page 3178
      HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 142(FIN)                                                                              
      am H "An Act making appropriations, including capital                                                                     
      appropriations, supplemental appropriations,                                                                              
      reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending                                                                      
      appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize funds;                                                                
      and providing for an effective date."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                         Chapter No. 19, SLA 2018                                                                              
                       [Effective Date: See Chapter]                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
As passed by the Legislature, HCS CSSB 142(FIN) AM H contains a                                                                 
total of $1.6 billion, including unrestricted general fund appropriations                                                       
of $212.1 million for FY2018 and FY2019 capital projects and $104.9                                                             
million for FY2018 and FY2019 operating appropriations. The bill                                                                
prioritizes funding for projects that leverage federal and local dollars;                                                       
housing and energy; public safety; and urgent state, school district, and                                                       
university facilities maintenance. Spending must be taken in context of                                                         
the fiscal deficit and remaining savings given our difficult fiscal time.                                                       
While progress has been made in closing the fiscal gap, an ongoing                                                              
deficit persists, only enabling the state to afford this austere capital                                                        
budget. Given this constrained capital budget, I have made limited use                                                          
of my veto power.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
I have vetoed $2.5 million for the Knik Arm Crossing. This project is                                                           
in the process of being closed-down and no significant progress can be                                                          
made with the amount of funding authorized in this bill. I have also                                                            
vetoed the repeal of a project installing pedestrian lighting in an                                                             
Anchorage neighborhood. After the passage of this bill, it has been                                                             
brought to our attention that this project has not been completed and                                                           
the pedestrian lighting is needed in the community. This veto action                                                            
will ensure this project remains funded.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
While I commend you and your fellow legislators on working together                                                             
with my staff to solve 80 percent of the state deficit over the past 3                                                          
years, our work is not yet finished. I look forward to future actions                                                           
towards closing the remaining fiscal gap. Doing so will give Alaskans                                                           
and investors greater certainty and confidence in Alaska's future.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2018-06-27                     Senate Journal                      Page 3179
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor