Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during an interview with the Juneau Empire at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during an interview with the Juneau Empire at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Governor to hold pro-PFD rally

Event comes shortly after Senate nearly passes full PFD

As lawmakers are split on what to do with the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, the governor is keeping the pressure on to give Alaskans a full dividend.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration announced Wednesday that there will be a rally at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Everett’s Mat-Su Valley Resort in Wasilla to encourage legislators to decide on a $3,000 PFD. The event, called “Rally to Restore the PFD,” is free and open to the public.

“I invite Alaskans to join me at a rally in support of a full PFD under the formula we’ve followed for more than 30 years,” Dunleavy said in a statement.

One of Dunleavy’s key campaign promises was to provide a full PFD after the Legislature voted to cut the amount of the PFD the past three years to help balance the budget. He’s pledged to veto anything but a full, $3,000 dividend.

The rally comes just two days after the Alaska Senate was unable to decide on a PFD amount during a floor session. The Senate was just one vote short of passing a $3,000 PFD.

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