They even used the same language:

"Vote no and lose your dividend. It will quickly disappear and the Permanent Fund will shrivel in value. . . . We no longer have enough oil production to produce the revenues we need to keep vital state services flowing. Even if oil prices doubled, oil production is half of what it was just 10 years ago and continues to decline every day. Cuts alone will not close the budget gap and will not save your dividend. . . . Or we could raise oil taxes and make our financial situation even worse."

That's a quote from the Official Election Pamphlet by supporters of spending Permanent Fund earnings — in 1999!
https://www.adn.com/opinions/2016/09/24/raiders-of-the-dividend-look-familiar-remember-99-remember-sb21/



"Many of the amendments offered by the minority did offer legitimate reduced budgets"

I agree, And the Dem Majority (led by a Republican WTF!) didn't even consider them.  

It's not like they are too busy.  They spent weeks last year discussing DST