Closed process on capital budget draws criticism

House page Laib Allensworth places copies of the capital budget on lawmakers desks in the Capitol on July 27. Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, reads in the background. (Photo by Andrew Kitchenman/KTOO)When the state Legislature passed the capital budget on Thursday last week, it ended a negotiating process that largely occurred behind closed doors. That’s often the case for legislation that requires the Senate and the House to work out their differences.   
The Alaska House a