In what Republican lawmakers are calling an “affront to precedence,” Democratic state legislators in the House have unilaterally moved a massive education spending bill out of committee in order to fast-track its passage.
On Feb. 19, the House Democrat Majority discharged HB 69 from the House Education Committee on the House Floor without a formal vote from the policy committee.
The controversial bill would direct hundreds of millions of public dollars into the state education budget, without requiring any reforms to a chronically failing government-run school system. Sponsored by nearly a dozen far-left lawmakers in the State House, the bill is being pushed by the NEA-Alaska teachers’ union and educational bureaucrats who want record-amounts of money with no strings attached.
In particular, HB 69 would increase the Base Student Allocation (BSA) – per-pupil funding – from $5,960 to $8,510 over three years. That’s a $1,800 jump (or 43% increase), with the added cost to the state being nearly $1.5 billion over that time span.
“You are asking us to discharge a bill out of its own policy committee,” stated Minority Leader Mia Costello (R-Anchorage). “We have heard that policy changes and funding need to go hand in hand to address the hurdles we have when it comes to education. Good faith negotiations that initially included the House Republicans have continued without us, and now this motion to bypass the process is being made.”
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The Alaska House Republican Minority caucus represents almost half of the state if not more. In a statement on the discharge, they blasted the Democrat Majority for making it “very clear that half of all Alaskans do not have a voice in Juneau.”
While some Republicans have signaled a willingness to increase the education budget, so long as it comes with meaningful educational reforms, Democrats have been adamant, that the bill should be free of any accountability measures. At the same time, some of Alaska’s leading voices on educational choice and parental rights have written letters to Alaska lawmakers urging them to oppose House Bill 69.
“I spent the previous legislature dealing with this issue in an intense way, speaking to every stakeholder, parent, and teacher who wished to share their opinion,” shared Representative Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldotna). “We must choose to work together on this issue, and this is certainly a step in the wrong direction.”
House Republican Caucus Education Committee member, Representative Rebecca Schwanke (R-Tok/Northway), said she was disappointed that Democrats cut the process short.
“We’re asking for the opportunity to finish the process,” she said. “If we have one more opportunity to bring up all the questions and comments that came up in public testimony, debate the bill, and take a proper vote, that would have allowed the process to be completed. If we don’t get that opportunity, I’m wondering what kind of tone that sets for the 34th Legislature.”
The Alaska House Republican caucus said it will continue to “fight not only for proper, responsible education funding, but for transparency and honesty in our legislative process.”
6 Comments
This is what happens when so many of the Republicans actually caucused with the democrats and let the minority party run the show. No public money should be given out without accountability, and that certainly includes education. States with a small population like Alaska, just cannot afford to give out money like those populous states like California, which is really in trouble financially itself. In better times, the NEA would have been more interested in results, and would be questioning where the money is actually spent. What has changed with the unions? Who’s side are they really on?
Do any South Anchorage voters read these articles? How about Eagle River/Chugiak? Because it’s your representatives that caucused with the Dems and threw majority power over to the minority. Thats grounds for a recall if ever I heard it!!
Neither Representative in the House from Eagle River/Chugiak has caucused with the Democrats now I can not same the same with the Senate as Merrick is a turncoat that I did not vote for she neds to be sent packing and moved to Anchorage proper with her Union Husband. I will not be so kind if I ever see her in public with my words.
Certainly no surprise from an Alaska GOP that has been self emasculated and attacks those within their party that are true conservatives that won’t waiver from principle.
The Year ends and at the stroke of midnight all the money in the budget is removed and it is the responsibility of the Legislators to allocate the funds for the next budget. David Eastman tried to use this process but was thwarted by REPUBLICANS! Now the Republicans are in the minority. Maybe they will grow a set of gonads and take a page from DOGE. Stop the budget! Eliminate waste. Our three largest cities are dumbocrats. If you can’t show responsiveness to the voters and communicate the benefits then you will be over-run by more libtards in the next election. We have two dumbocrats in the US Senate who still haven’t figured this out.
If the bill passes, can we do what Democrats are doing to Trump’s executive orders and take it to court to stop the theft of money.