The House-Senate budget conference committee met yesterday and proceeded to close out the Dept. of Transportation and Public Facilities operating budget. The committee resumes work today at 4 p.m. (We will provide an update).

Standard and Poor’s issued a “negative watch” on Alaska’s credit rating due to the continued budget impasse and lack oa s a state fiscal plan. Here is Gov.  Bill Walker’s statement: “Today’s (Tuesday’s) announcement from S&P is both concerning and disappointing—but not surprising,” Governor Walker said. “The agency’s analysts note that we are continuing to drain our savings at an alarming rate, and have not yet enacted a fiscal plan. It is critical that we pass an operating budget for next year, and adopt a fiscal plan that does not continue our over-reliance on savings. I remain hopeful that we will be able to pull together and pass a budget and complete fiscal plan to secure Alaska’s future, and demonstrate that we take our finances and budget issues seriously. Alaskans are depending on us.”