Excerpt: [T]he Alaska Senate closed the first 2005 special session by passing two landmark reform bills, a historic capital budget, operating budget and several other bills that will move Alaska forward into the 21st century. 'We decided to remain in Juneau for an additional two weeks because the legislation before us was so important to our state. Reforming the public employees pension and workers' compensation systems will be remembered as the historic achievements of this session,'[.]  MORE >>