Has anyone heard of the 4% rule? It says that you can safely withdraw 4% per year without depleting it. So guess what? If the legislature withdraws 5.5% and pays a $1000 dividend they will deplete the fund in less than 30 years. By 2046 the Permanent Fund will be gone! This senate proposal is a bad idea.........Here is my idea for anyone interested - Put ALL STATE REVENUE AND SAVINGS into the Permanent Fund raising the fund to around $70 Billion. Then pay the State 4% of the fund balance every year which would be $2.8 billion based on the current balance as I have laid out. In years when the fund makes more than 6%, after giving the State their 4%, then inflation proof the fund and distribute the remainder of the earnings as a dividend to the citizens. My approach will keep the fund healthy for decades to come. Of course, Alaska citizens will experience the pain of a greatly reduced dividend and the State will have less to spend but in 30 years we will still have a Permanent Fund!