(JUNEAU) - With so much discussion about when the Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund (CBR) may be depleted, one Senator is taking up the crusade to return to the original intent of the fund. If this resolution is passed and approved by Alaska voters, it could save tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars a year and possibly the fund itself.

Sen. Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River) has resurrected a resolution introduced in 2001 by the Senate Finance committee and championed by then Senate Finance co-chair, Sen. Dave Donley, to return the CBR to the original intent of the fund and reduce the rate at which the fund is depleted.

"In 1990 the people of Alaska voted to establish a Budget Reserve account that could be accessed by a simple majority vote of the Legislature to cover fiscal shortfalls, provided that the budget did not exceed the previous year's spending," said Dyson. "Unfortunately four years later the Supreme Court in "Hickel vs. Cowper" issued a flawed ruling, nullifying the will of the Alaskan electorate by forcing a three-quarter vote for all access to the CBR. Alaskans told us loud and clear to reduce the cost of government - one way to do that is by returning to the original intent for the CBR draw "

Dyson also said that now, more than ever, the Legislature needs to abolish this blatantly political gamesmanship when it comes to the CBR.

The previous attempt to protect the CBR by abolishing the need for a three-fourth vote, when the budget does not exceed the previous years spending, did pass the Senate in 2001 but stalled in the House in 2002.

"The difference this year is people know Alaskans are tired of us spending more than we have, and then having to spend even more yet just to get the votes needed to pass a budget," said Dyson.

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