Unalaska, AK – Thursday the House of Representatives passed their budget without including funding for six Marine Advisory Program rural agents, including the one in Unalaska. The governor did not include the $614,000 in his original budget. Nome Democratic Representative Neal Foster tried to amend the budget to include the necessary $614,000 when it was still under review by the Finance Committee on Monday, but they voted against the amendment 7 to 3. The failed amendment does not put the entire program into jeopardy, however it does mean that the offices in Unalaska, Dillingham, Kodiak, Nome, Petersberg, and Cordova will have to continue seeking grants to fund their agents.

Committee co-chair Mike Hawker told the Juneau Empire that the University of Alaska could fund the positions with money from other parts of their own budget, since they have about 120 vacant but funded positions in the University system. District 37 Representative Bryce Edgmon is asking the University to funnel money from the unfilled positions to the MAP positions instead.

The Senate could choose to tack it on when they review the budget this upcoming week. Then both houses would negotiate whether or not to keep it when they discuss the final budget.