The Alaska Contractor - Summer 2008

contributions to high school and state operated vocational
education programs. A 50 percent tax credit is available
on donations up to $100,000. Donations between
$100,000 and $200,000 are given 100 percent tax credit.
The maximum credit is $150,000. The governor signed
the bill May 28.
HB 314 – general obligation bond package – The
governor’s original general obligation bond bill grew from
$220.6 million to $315.05 million after moving through
the Senate. This was one of the last pieces that passed
before adjournment. This package will be put before the
voters in the general election on Nov. 4 this year. Like
the capital budget, this represents projects throughout
the state that will address some of our many needs. The
governor signed the bill May 22.
SB 120 – unemployment insurance – AGC did not
support the original version of SB 120. AGC’s position
paper stated that we would support an increase in UI
benefits only if it could be accomplished with no increase
in cost to the employer. In the end, this was accomplished
by reducing the employer share of the UIC premium and
increasing the eligibility level. The bill will allow a poten-
tial maximum weekly benefit of $370 per week, up from
the current $248. This is the first increase in 11 years. The
governor signed the bill May 28.
SB 59 – gaming bill – AGC participated in a flurry
of activity at the end of session in 2007 to remove an
amendment to SB 59 that would have prohibited the use
of funds raised through raffles for Political Action Committees
such as AGC-PAC. We were successful in getting
the Senate not to concur with the House changes. The
conference committee met on the bill several times and
ultimately removed the offending section. The governor
signed the bill April 21.
The 2008 session was a very successful for the AGC. I
believe the success we achieved – especially in a 90-day
session, would not have happened without the enthusiasm
and decorum of the AGC members who took part
in the fly-in. For some members, it was their first fly-in,
other members had been before and for all who attended
it was an educational and informative trip. Every year the
fly-in gets a little bigger and better. I encourage all members
interested in participating to keep an eye out for the
announcement next January and join the fly-in.