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Before Gov. Mike Dunleavy takes his pitch for an austerity budget to Alaskans next week, the state House majority is doing so with public hearings this weekend.
Members of the House Finance Committee will hold meetings Saturday in Bethel, Ketchikan, Soldotna and Wasilla. On Sunday they will meet in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Sitka.
House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, said he believes Alaskans should be able to see the tradeoffs in deep cuts to education,the University of Alaska and Medicaid versus receiving full Permanent Fund dividend checks under a formula in state statute.