Budgets, confirmation hearings and energy projects on tap

We're waiting for the operating budget -- approved by the House Finance Committee -- to hit the House floor this week.

Meanwhile, legislators have a few interesting items on the agenda:

-- The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Hollis French, D-Anchorage, will hold a confirmation hearing at 1:30 p.m. today for former Gov. Sarah Palin's attorney general appointment, Dan Sullivan.

-- At 1 p.m. today, the House Resources Committee takes up two bills that would change the oil tax, ACES. The first, HB 308, was filed by Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage. The second was brought by Gov. Sean Parnell (HB 337). Also on the schedule is a hearing for HB 369. That's House Speaker Mike Chenault's plan to shift instate natural gas pipeline planning to the Alaska Railroad's jurisdiction.

-- On Thursday, the House Energy Committee will get a run-through of a half dozen energy projects proposed for the Railbelt. Officials from several projects will testify on the merits of large-scale hydro, both Susitna and Chakachamna; in-state natural gas, headed by Bob Swenson; CIRI's Cook Inlet coal gasification project; and the Mount Spurr geothermal plans developed by Ormat. Committee heads Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, and Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, said they want to hear about permitting issues, state financial support, and end-power costs for consumers, among other things.

-- Also on Thursday afternoon, Rep. Alan Austerman, R-Kodiak, will convene a new House Fiscal Policy Committee to hear from Scott Goldsmith with the Institute for Social and Economic Research. His presentation on Alaska's economy and its impact on the state's fiscal future kicks off in-depth studies of the way the state manages its spending and economic development.

-- And speaking of money: The operating budget earned approval from the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, and could hit the House floor on Thursday. Representatives will likely move it on to the Senate this week.