TESTIMONY CONTINUES AT 5 PM, BUT COMMITTEE HIDES CALL-IN NUMBER
House Finance today heard testimony from the public on House Bill 1005, offered by Reps. Tammie Wilson and Neal Foster, which would give Alaskans a $3,000 Permanent Fund dividend this year, but after that, their dividends would be cut in half.
The public was not amused. Caller after caller blasted the committee for the legislation. Some of them expressed anger at Rep. Wilson, who is the Republican from North Pole who co-chair the committee.
Just one caller said he favored the idea, but only if the budget was cut further. The other 75 said “no” in no uncertain terms.
Wilson had planned to push the bill out of committee but instead cancelled the 1:30 pm meeting, and extended public testimony.
The hearing, which lasted for three hours, is scheduled to continue today at 5 pm.
But the committee, run by the Democrat-led Majority Caucus, did not post the phone number online for calling into the meeting this evening. It appears to be an effort to suppress testimony, said members of the House Republican Minority Caucus.
The House Republican Minority had to send out a press release with the number on it:
“Individuals in Anchorage who are interested testifying should call (907) 563-9085; those outside of Anchorage should call (844) 586-9085, or sign in at your local LIO by 6:00 p.m.”
