(JUNEAU) - House and Senate Republicans have come together to support education funding with many members wearing S.O.S. buttons.

The S.O.S. buttons stand for "Save Our Schools." The slogan is in response to the Senate Finance committee's actions this week increasing education funding by $82 million. The $82 million in new funding is contingent on using funds from the Constitutional Budget Reserve, which requires a three quarters vote.

"This funding is in direct response to school district requests for early and increased funding. If we can provide increased funding by March 15th, districts will not have to issue pink slips to individual teachers in most cases. As House members we support this move to fund education," says Rep. Carl Gatto (R-Palmer).

"This bill allows members to 'put their money where their mouth is' by doing the one thing they all claim to want to do: support education," says Rep. Gatto "I've heard some people say they need to talk to their school districts about this issue, I say they need to listen to what their school districts have already said."

The Alaska House is set to debate the education funding issue Monday.

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