(WASILLA) - Governor Frank Murkowski announced his budget vetoes in Wasilla yesterday at the Chamber of Commerce meeting. Representative Carl Gatto (R-Palmer) was present at the luncheon. "I worked hard to make sure the Mat-Su got its fair share. I was particularly pleased to see that money I had included for the Palmer Fire Department's new light duty rescue truck and the Palmer Senior Center were approved."

Rep. Gatto also mentioned he was personally familiar with the need for funding of upgrades to Trunk Road and for the sewer project at Academy Charter School in Palmer.

"Public safety and education are my top priorities as a legislator. As a former fire captain and Chairman of the House Education Committee I have seen first hand the need for adequately funding our first responders on the streets and our teachers in the classrooms."

"We all know Mat-Su is growing at an exceptional rate, this represents an increased burden on our emergency services in terms of increased call volume as well as in the classroom with increased enrollment. This budget is a response to those needs."

# # #