Sen. Olson explains key moves in the legislative session

By Anna Lionas

State Sen. Donny Olson (D-Golovin) is still recovering from a health issue earlier this year that took him out of the legislative session for six weeks. Olson returned to the state Capitol to represent Senate District T on March 11.
In his first interview in mid-April since being back in office, the senator relied on staff to complete his sentences.
Following hospitalization in Anchorage early this year, Olson, 71, took a leave of absence from the Capitol. He first announced his situation in a Jan. 27 social media post, thanking those who had reached out and asking for prayers. In a February 4 post, Olson said he was at an outpatient rehabilitation program at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago and stated he was unable to speak at the time and was undergoing “constraint-induced language therapy.”
Over a month later, the senator sat down in his Juneau office with the Nugget, where he briefly discussed school funding, the Port of Nome expansion project and his ongoing speech therapy. During the interview, Olson’s staff helped formulate answers to the reporter’s questions.
A bill proposing a $700 increase to the per-student base funding formula passed the Senate Monday. Olson said it was a “compromise” between legislators and school boards. Education supporters, legislators and the governor have been tangling the past few years over a permanent increase in state aid to school districts.
Olson voted to override the governor’s veto of a bill that would have increased the base formula by $1,000. This was a change in his original vote when he voted against the increase.
In a written response provided to the Nugget, he said the vote change was because of calls and emails he received from constituents.
While working on the state budget for next year and dealing with a shortage of revenue, the Senate Finance Committee clawed back $10 million of $175 million in state grant funding for the Port of Nome expansion project. Olson voted with the Senate to pass the capital budget, including the cut.
Olson and his staff emphasized that he supports the Nome port expansion project, and that he advocated for the grant award in 2022. His office explained that co-chair of Senate Finance Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) historically hasn’t been a supporter of the Port of Nome expansion, and Stedman oversaw the capital budget where the reappropriation was made.
Rep. Neal Foster (D-Nome), a co-chair of the House Finance Committee, said he plans to amend the bill during committee and pass it out of the House with the reappropriation removed and funding for Nome fully restored.
The interview was brief and concluded with Olson and his staff stating that he attends speech therapy several times a week, with plans to continue.
In a follow up email Olson wrote: “I sincerely thank everyone who has reached out with well wishes and prayers. I remain healthy and fully engaged in my responsibilities as a Senator and co-chair of the Finance Committee. I’m continuing with speech therapy, which is going very well, and I appreciate the continued support. I look forward to returning to Golovin after the legislative session, reconnecting with friends and family, and continuing to hear from communities across the district.”