Alaska lawmakers mull budget cuts

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaskans this coming week will begin getting a sense for where the House might cut the state budget with subcommittees poised to make spending recommendations. A Senate committee plans to hear legislation that would allow women to get up to a year's worth of birth control at once under their insurance coverage. And a Senate committee reviewing options for use of Alaska Permanent Fund earnings plans to hear a proposal to constitutionally protect the annual dividend that most Alaskans receive.

Here are a few things to watch for in the state Legislature this week:

-BUDGET: House subcommittees tasked with delving into department budgets and making recommendations for cuts are hoping to wrap up their work, with a number of subcommittees planning to close out this coming week. The House Finance Committee, which will draft its own version of the state operating budget, will take into account those recommendations. House Finance Committee co-chair Steve Thompson said the committee is working hard to get the budget to the House floor by March 9.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, House Finance plans to hear an analysis of the economic impacts of the fiscal options facing the state as it grapples with a multibillion-dollar budget deficit amid chronically low oil prices.

Read more: www.newsminer.com/news/alaska_news/alaska-lawmakers-mull-budget-cuts/article_1333b73a-d803-11e5-a3fc-cfb67f2220c3.html