Alaska Railroad, hospitality industry react to governors vetoes [Video]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Restaurant worker shortages and impacts on the Alaska Railroad’s Seward Passenger Dock & Terminal replacement project are some of the concerns now surfacing after the governor vetoed five bills on Thursday.

After consulting with Attorney General Treg Taylor, Gov. Mike Dunleavy felt the best course of action was to adhere to the constitution and veto the five bills passed by the Alaska Legislature after midnight on May 16, the constitutionally mandated deadline to adjourn the session.

One of the governor’s bills vetoed was House Bill 122, which would have enabled the Alaska Railroad Corporation to secure financing for its $137 million passenger dock and terminal facility replacement project in Seward through the legislature authorizing the issuance of $75 million in revenue bonds.

Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said this was the veto he was most concerned about Thursday, particularly how the veto might impact the project’s future.

Meghan Clemens, director of external affairs for Alaska Railroad Company (ARRC), said on Friday that …