Andrew Kitchenman

According to the Legislative Affairs Agency, Reinbold told staff she had not been aware she had received the money, and that she would repay it.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Permanent Fund Corporation Chief Executive Officer Angela Rodell, Wielechowski cites a state law that says the corporation shall transfer an amount set by a formula for dividends.

The races to replace Anchorage Republican Lesil McGuire and Democrat Johnny Ellis in the Senate have drawn the most spending this year.

Public workers earned 8 percent less than those in the private sector. But total compensation was about the same, since public employees have better benefits.

Primary challengers say it’s important for majority-caucus Republicans to maintain party discipline, but some lawmakers say focusing on constituents’ needs can conflict with the party line.

There’s a long history of rural legislators joining majority caucuses, regardless of the party.

The amount of proposed state spending directly controlled by the legislature was projected to be nearly 25 percent more per person than any other state in the current fiscal year.

The gas line bill would have added three legislators as non-voting Alaska Gasline Development Corporation board members.

MacKinnon said she’d like to see members of all legislative caucuses work on solutions on a limited number of issues.