Bill may send each Alaskan a $250 check

JUNEAU, Alaska, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Alaskans may get an extra $250 from the state if a bill to give back some of the expected budget surplus passes.

State Sen. Gene Therriault will introduce a bill to issue the one-time checks as a way to help citizens meet rising energy costs, the Anchorage Daily News reports. The checks could be used on anything.

Therriault has gotten mixed feedback from colleagues in the state Legislature.

Sen. Gary Wilken called the plan "worthy of discussion." Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch said the money would be better used on projects such as solar power and heat pumps to help make Alaska independent of foreign oil.

Oil prices are the reason for the state's expected $1.2 billion surplus -- since most of the general fund is from taxes and royalties on oil.

Therriault's plan includes more than the $250 checks, including sending $6 million to the rural energy subsidy program and $10 million to the Low Income Weatherization Program.

A spokesman for Gov. Frank Murkowski said the governor hadn't formed an opinion on the plan.