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.
As Dunleavy defends budget, nonpartisan analyst questions whether it was designed ‘to create chaos’
While lawmakers have been hearing a lot of criticism of the budget, Gov. Michael Dunleavy said he heard good things in a visit to Mat-Su Borough and Anchorage last weekend.
Gov. Dunleavy opens door to megaprojects with order
Gov. Mike Dunleavy rescinded seven administrative orders last week enacted by his predecessor, Bill Walker. They include an order that halted state spending on six infrastructure projects.
Plan to eliminate Power Cost Equalization Fund meets resistance
State senators are pushing back against Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s plan to eliminate a fund that’s intended to equalize the cost of supplying power to rural Alaska. Senators spoke about it in a Finance Committee meeting Monday.
Proposed Medicaid cut raises concern for health centers, hospitals
Gov. Michael Dunleavy has proposed a $249 million cut to Alaska's Medicaid program, one of the most expensive parts of the state budget. Health care providers say cuts could mean services for Alaskans will look “dramatically different than they do today.”
Alaska chief justice calls for computer security upgrade
In his State of the Judiciary address, Chief Justice Joel Bolger said an incident in Nome shows the state needs to do more to prevent privacy breaches.
House committees organize, five weeks after session began
The powerful House Finance Committee will have eight Republicans — including four from each caucus — two Democrats and one independent.
Senators question Dunleavy’s budget proposal
Anchorage Republican Sen. Natasha von Imhof said that to maintain Dunleavy’s commitment to full permanent fund dividends — without having an income tax — would require cuts on the scale he’s proposed.
Multi-partisan House majority takes shape
The newly-formed House majority is working out who will fill its committee seats. Meanwhile, the majority coalition is still trying to add more Republican members who are currently in the minority.
Dunleavy offers Alaska National Guard support to Trump’s emergency declaration
Gov. Michael Dunleavy issued a short video statement Friday offering the state’s support to President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency.
After a month of deadlock, Bryce Edgmon selected as state House speaker
The Alaska House has a new speaker and can officially begin its work.
House Republican group pitches plan for House
Under the proposal, every bill would be considered by all members of the House, on the floor.
House deadlock persists after Knopp votes for himself for speaker
Rep. Gary Knopp said on the House floor that he committed to being the 21st vote for a Republican nominee, but he didn’t say which one. He then voted for himself to become speaker.
Update: Knopp votes against Republican Talerico for speaker as House stalemate continues
After holding out for a bipartisan majority for nearly a month, Kenai Republican Rep. Gary Knopp says he’s “not at all optimistic, but we’ve got to move forward at this point.”
Dunleavy outlines approach ahead of big budget rollout
Gov. Michael Dunleavy has not proposed a public vote on spending cuts, and he says there isn’t time to do that with this budget.
Education commissioner says it’s time to review school funding formula
State Education Commissioner Michael Johnson also told lawmakers Wednesday that he didn’t consult with school districts before the Dunleavy administration proposed a $20 million cut to education funding.
House members talk about sharing power as speaker nomination fails
While no action occurred in the House, the Senate Finance subcommittees began meeting in preparation for the budget.
Dunleavy proposes constitutional amendments to enshrine PFDs, require public support for taxes, cap spending
The proposed amendments may face a difficult reception in the Alaska Legislature. One Republican senator described Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposals as “a horrible idea.”
Schools push back on proposed midyear budget cut
While school districts may have already spent money they counted on the state sending them later, the state’s new budget director says they shouldn’t have.
Updated budget requests would fund earthquake relief, cut school funds
One request includes cutting $20 million for public schools that lawmakers agreed to as part of the budget deal last spring.
Budget cuts loom as governor, lawmakers eye full PFDs
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has said Alaskans should receive permanent fund dividends of roughly $3,000 this year. But it won’t be easy for state lawmakers to agree on the dividend’s size.