Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media & KTOO - Juneau
Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
Capital budget, Power Cost Equalization, college scholarships are caught in PFD debate
If an amendment to the capital budget to pay full permanent fund dividends isn’t successful, the Republican House minority leader expects there won’t be enough votes to draw from the Constitutional Budget Reserve.
Alaska Senate sends budget to governor without PFDs
It’s not clear how deeply Gov. Mike Dunleavy will cut using the line-item veto. Medicaid, the university and school bond debt reimbursement are the areas with the biggest increases over what he proposed.
Alaska House passes compromise budget, leaving action on PFD to Senate
If the Senate passes the budget bill on Monday as expected, it would go to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s desk later this week. If he signs it, it would avoid a state government shutdown on July 1.
Budget deadlock could delay Medicaid payments to health care providers
Health care advocates said nursing homes and behavioral health providers are among those who may not have large cash reserves to cover costs during a delay.
Bill to fund full, $3,000 PFD fails narrowly in state Senate
The bill would require an additional $1.3 billion in combined cuts to state spending and savings.
Bill would provide $1,600 PFD, with aim of growing fund
Senate Bill 1002 would allow state spending on the dividend to stay within the mandates of a law passed last year that aims to allow the fund to grow by keeping draws from fund earnings at a sustainable level.
Dunleavy calls for state budget, while senators discuss separate PFD bill
Gov. Mike Dunleavy sent a message to state workers Wednesday afternoon, saying layoff notices would go out if the Legislature hasn’t passed a budget by June 14.
Senate sends criminal justice bill to Dunleavy’s desk
The Alaska Senate agreed Tuesday to changes to a major crime bill worked out by Senate and House negotiators. The House had agreed to the changes on May 20, so the Senate action sends...
Alaska Legislature prepares to sue governor over school funding
Lawmakers say they hope a lawsuit won’t be needed. But lawyers for the Legislature and the Dunleavy administration differ on whether a law passed last year can provide funding for next school year.
Dunleavy says second special session could happen on the road system, listing Mat-Su as an option
Governor Mike Dunleavy’s office is considering sites in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and elsewhere on the road system for a possible second special session.
As budget debate draws out, a deadline for state layoff notices approaches
It’s not clear that lawmakers will be able to resolve differences over PFDs by the June 3 deadline to provide layoff notices — or in time to avoid a state government shutdown on July 1.
House bill seeks full PFD this year, with lower amounts in the future
The House bill could provide the basis for breaking the current impasse over the budget and permanent fund dividends. But it’s unclear how much support there is for the bill in the Legislature.
Legal views conflict on Alaska school funding law
Lawyers for the Alaska Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration offer contrasting views on whether a law enacted last year will fund schools next year — or whether a new bill is needed.
Alaska lawmakers say compromise crime bill repeals Senate Bill 91
The compromise bill, which repeals a controversial criminal justice reform law passed in 2016, would lead to longer criminal sentences. The Alaska Legislature plans to take it up next week.
Legislature’s failure to finish work leads Dunleavy to call immediate special session
The Alaska Legislature failed to pass a budget or a crime bill Wednesday, the last day of the 121-day session. But it will pick up Thursday where it left off, after Gov. Mike Dunleavy called the Legislature into a special session.
Key House member says Dunleavy’s office didn’t act in good faith on crime bill
North Pole Republican Rep. Tammie Wilson said Dunleavy’s office agreed to provisions of House Bill 49 in private discussions that the administration has since criticized.
Senate committee goes further than House in repealing controversial crime law
The Senate Finance Committee passed House Bill 49 on Sunday after adding elements of a criminal justice package proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Permanent fund dividend amount to be a focus in session’s closing days
The size of permanent fund dividends will be at the center of talks between the House, the Senate and Governor Mike Dunleavy as the Legislature aims to end its session on Wednesday. The House Speaker said the politically diverse House majority caucus remains united behind being responsible with the budget.
Attorney general says school funding plan is unconstitutional
A disagreement between the Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy over school funding may be heading toward a constitutional showdown — one that could affect whether the state sends money to school districts.
House passes sweeping crime bill
House Bill 49 would mark the third time the Legislature changed major provisions of the controversial criminal justice law known as Senate Bill 91.