JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell's ambitious college scholarship plan is in peril, with legislators choking on the price and the details of a proposal that is hugely important to the governor.
"It's just too big a bite to take off at one time" said Anchorage Republican Rep. Mike Hawker, co-chairman of the House Finance Committee.
Hawker and Senate President Gary Stevens are talking about creating a task force to work over the summer on what the program should look like and how the state ought to pay for it. The Legislature could then take up the issue next year.
"I know (Parnell) would like us to find a solution for his scholarship program right now. But there are such big questions in the way, I would hope he'd be willing to allow us all to work together with the administration to try and find something over the (summer)," said Stevens, a Kodiak Republican.
Parnell spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said the governor isn't giving up on the Governor's Performance Scholarship Program making it through before lawmakers go home for the year on April 18. She said the governor will work with legislators.
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