Alaska House Passes Budget, Dividend Drops to $1500

0:00Alaska's House just greenlit their operating budget Monday, splitting straight down caucus lines with the 21 Democrats and allies saying yes, while all 19 Republicans voted no. The big shift hit the permanent fund dividend, dropping it from a proposed $3800 tied to pulling nearly $1.5 billion, from savings to a flat $1500 after some last-minute floor drama. Earlier this week, three Republicans broke ranks on Friday night to kill that bigger payout and the savings draw, arguing the state can't swing it right now. That flipped the script from what the House Finance Committee had pushed, and even some Democrats like the one from Nome voted against the lower amount. Folks are fired up on both sides. Democrats call the $1500 sustainable and highlight boosts like $148 million more for public schools $11 million for student transport and $41 million for school bonds. They say stabilizing education fights out migration and fuels growth, plus 17 million

1:00revives heating aid for low-income families. Republicans slammed it as too bloated, making on sky-high oil at 75 bucks a barrel amid war uncertainties, leaving little for maintenance, backlogs, or capital projects. One-so-dot-na-rev warned future lawmakers will regret not tightening the belt. Now the budget rolls to the Senate for their take, setting up horse trading in May's final days to lock in the real dividend and spending plan for. Alaskans, I'm Cory with the story. That's your Anchorage News Today update, AI-powered and always on.