Alaska Senate votes down full oil-wealth fund payout
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Senate on Tuesday narrowly voted down a full dividend payout from the state's oil-wealth fund this year, with a prominent supporter of the proposal absent.
The 10-8 vote came after the Senate, by the same tally, adopted an amendment calling for a full payout with checks to qualified residents estimated to be around $3,000. The initial bill proposed $1,600 checks.
At least 11 votes were needed for the bill to pass.
Sen. Mike Shower, a Wasilla Republican who has supported a full payout, posted on Facebook Saturday that he would not be in Juneau because of his work. Shower, a pilot, said he had used up vacation and leave time as this year's sessions have dragged on. The Senate majority's communications director said Shower has an excusal for the rest of the special session.
Read more: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Alaska-Senate-poised-to-debate-dividend-bill-13935477.php
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Alaska, the last frontier, home of libertarians who want the gubmint to keep its nasty tentacles out of citizen's lives, and of course home of the Wasilla hillbillies the Palins, is literally the only state where the government sends checks directly to its citizens.
Don't get me wrong - Alaska is without a doubt the most beautiful place I have ever visited, but their libertarian/conservative veneer is all fake. Alaska is also home to many national parks and military installations, and there are lots of government employees in that state. They should be the poster child for government! 
