Legislators returned to Juneau today for the fifth special session since last summer. And lawmakers were greeted by a group of 20 protesters who want them to close the state’s budget shortfall.
“Act now! Pass a fiscal plan! Act now! Pass a fiscal plan,” the crowd chanted.
But it’s not clear if there are enough votes in the House to pass a bill that restructures Permanent Fund earnings to pay for state government. And several proposals to raise taxes on industries or introduce a new state income or sales tax may have even less support.
The Legislature also may not be able to muster the three-quarter majority needed to overturn Governor Bill Walker’s veto of half of this year’s Permanent Fund dividend money. The veto essentially cuts PFDs in half.
Walker said the House should follow in the steps of the Senate and pass the Permanent Fund legislation. He notes that he’s taken the unpopular steps of cutting PFDs and delaying oil and gas tax credits.
“As a result of that, I expect them to come back and finish up the – what I would call the lighter lifting associated with fixing Alaska’s fiscal situation.”
The House took a long break Monday afternoon, as members of the Republican-led majority met to decide their next step. The Senate will meet again on Friday.
Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
