Whether the Legislature will take action in the special session remains uncertain today. The House is divided over whether or not to try to overturn Governor Bill Walker’s vetoes of Permanent Fund Dividend money or other budget items. And it’s not clear whether there’s enough votes to pass any of the bills Walker called them into the session to consider.
House Speaker Nikiski Republican Mike Chenault said he and his colleagues are asking different questions about what the House can actually do.
“Is there some way – any way – that we can go forward with any of the Legislature that the governor’s proposed?” Chenault asked. “Or are we just continuing to spin our wheels and just spend more state money on a futile effort?”
Walker has proposed six bills, most related to possible new taxes. One would restructure Permanent Fund earnings to pay for state government on a more sustainable basis.
The newest addition is a bill aimed at removing potential obstacles to prosecuting sex trafficking that advocates say resulted from a new criminal justice reform law.
The House is scheduled to hold another floor session Tuesday as it seeks a way to move forward.
Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
