"Clem Tillion"

A towering figure in the worlds of Alaska fisheries and politics, Tillion died Wednesday morning at his home in Halibut Cove.

Sen. Wielechowski said he’s disappointed PFDs will no longer follow the formula that was used through 2015.

At issue is a veto by Gov. Bill Walker last year that cost Alaskans about $1,000 each, saving the state about $666 million. It was an austerity measure in light of the state’s multi-billion dollar budget gap.

Clem Tillion was a Republican senator when the Permanent Fund was created. The 91-year-old has a message to lawmakers who want to reduce the PFD: Don’t think any changes you make are going to last.

House Majority Leader Chris Tuck said he hopes passing the constitutional amendment will help break the logjam on other legislation to use some Permanent Fund earnings to fund state government.

Sen. Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat, and two former lawmakers filed an appeal Tuesday asking the court to overrule a Superior Court judge.

Superior Court Judge William Morse said there’s no record that lawmakers wanted to eliminate governors’ power to veto parts of the budget.

The plaintiffs want to reverse Walker’s veto of roughly $670 million in dividend funds.

Alice Rogoff said she is physically fine, but her Cessna 206 float plane was damaged.