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News from the Alaska State Legislature, the Office of Senator Kaufman
For Immediate Release: April 11, 2025

Senate Republicans Request Education Compromise

Senator James Kaufman   Web Site    Send Email

JUNEAU – The Senate Republican Caucus understands a funding increase is necessary to sustain our schools. However, the legislation put forth by the Majority this morning including a $1000 BSA is not affordable or sustainable in our currently constrained revenue climate, nor does it contain the policy necessary to support our student’s academic growth, health, or success.

The proposed increase will cost our state $253,000,000 when we are already facing a nearly two billion-dollar deficit in the Governor’s fiscal year 2026 budget – a point presented to the body by the Finance Co-Chairs, who also voted against the bill.

In an effort to reach a reasonable compromise, Senator James Kaufman (R – Anchorage) put forth an amendment – with the support of Governor Mike Dunleavy – that maintained a significant amount of the Majority’s language from the Senate Education Committee Substitute.

“We have a responsibility to our school districts, teachers, parents, and students to pass a bill that will become law,” Senator Kaufman said. The Finance Committee member continued, “In the time we have left in session, our caucus will continue to work on passing an education bill that will deliver the funding and policy our schools need.” Throughout the duration of the floor session, multiple caucus members suggested measures to decrease school expenditures, including ideas to lower health insurance prices and ways to restructure their annual budgets. None were considered by the opposing party.

“According to Senator Mike Shower (R – Wasilla), “One of the reasons Alaskans are so disappointed and frustrated by their legislature is we talk, we debate, and then we do not act.”

The Senate Minority Leader continued, “The READS Act is an example of when our legislature is effective. We talked, researched, proposed legislation, passed legislation, enacted it, and now we are seeing terrific results for our students.” The governor released a statement Thursday declaring he will veto HB 69. The Senate Republican Caucus’s goal is to work with the executive branch, the House, and the Senate Majority to draft bipartisan legislation – free of ill-intended political motivations.

“It is time the people of Alaska take back our education system from special interest groups,” said Senator Mike Cronk (R – Tok / Northway). “The BSA number in this bill is not the real number for our school districts and was a political cover vote. It’s imperative that we are honest with all Alaskans and pass legislation that centers on our students.”

It is not our schools that are starving for funding and resources. It is our children.

It is not our children that are failing. It is our political system that values short-lived political gains more than student’s dreams and futures.

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