The Alaska Senate has voted 16-4 to remove Alaska from daylight saving time, sending the bill to the state House for consideration.A 16-4 vote at midday Wednesday advanced Sen. Anna MacKinnon’s bill. The four no votes includes Sens. Johnny Ellis (D-Anchorage), Berta Gardner (D-Anchorage), Dennis Egan (D-Juneau) and Bert Stedman (R-Sitka).
MacKinnon had unsuccessfully proposed eliminating DST a few years ago when she was a House representative, but her bid this year has had stronger traction. She said surveys have returned overwhelming support across the state for the change, and MacKinnon also cited causes ranging from health concerns to students having a hard time concentrating in school.
Southeast Alaska lawmakers, including, had expressed opposition to eliminating DST, saying that doing so would harm Southeast Alaska’s fishing and tourism industries.If the House approves the bill and Gov. Bill Walker signs it, Walker would have three weeks to alert federal authorities the state wanted to end daylight saving time.
The ultimate decision would come from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which would also approve or deny any Southeast Alaska request to be exempted from the move or switch to Pacific Standard Time.The earliest date upon which a change could go into effect would be Jan. 1, 2017.
Via ktuu.com
image credit KTUU
