The bill has passed the Senate and is poised to pass the House, but is being held on the floor of the House while talks continue between its members and the administration.

Palin wants the vetoed projects taken out of the supplemental bill and placed in the regular capital appropriations bill. Legislators want to pass the supplemental bill with the projects included so that Palin will have to exercise any vetoes within 15 days, giving the Legislature time to override her veto before lawmakers adjourn April 13.

The administration has offered a plan where the governor would guarantee no vetoes of a certain number of projects, and promise to inform and consult with legislators and affected constituents on vetoes, which she did not do last summer.

House members are considering the idea but the Senate appears dead set against it, preferring to stick with the plan for passing the supplemental and working to override Palin’s vetoes. One reason why legislators want projects in the supplemental bill is that project funds will become available in May rather than in September, when funding for the capital budget is released.

The difference in timing is crucial in allowing municipalities in outlying areas order materials in time for barge delivery this summer, said Rep. Mary Nelson, D-Bethel. If the funds did not become available until September the summer season for shipping would be lost, delaying the projects another year, Nelson said.