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.
State eyes Alaska Permanent Fund earnings draw without plan
Lawmakers have proposed drawing money from the Alaska Permanent Fund earnings to pay for state government for the first time. But as the Legislature focuses on preventing a government shutdown, it’s increasingly likely the draw won’t be based on any one plan. And that’s raising concerns with lawmakers, the fund’s leader and a bond-rating firm. Listen now
Sharp comments reflect ill will as Legislature starts 2nd special session
House majority’s handling of budget debate was compared to Pearl Harbor attack, tyranny and Jim Crow laws. Listen now
Walker narrows Legislature’s focus to the budget
A breakdown in negotiations between House and Senate legislators Thursday resulted in lawmakers not passing a state operating budget in the first special session that ended Friday. So Gov. Bill Walker immediately called for a second special session, but is limiting the agenda to only the operating budget. Listen now
House pushes budget through and quits, leaving Senate few options and Republicans seething
The Alaska House passed a new budget Thursday night. It combined the operating and capital budgets.
With one day left in special session, little public progress on budget
Senate President Pete Kelly said leaders should focus on the budget. Listen now
State House votes to restore full dividend check
The Alaska House voted to restore Permanent Fund dividends to the full projected amount of roughly $2,200 dollars this fall.
Former lawmakers join Senator Wielechowski to challenge Governor Walker’s PFD cuts
Clem Tillion has a message to lawmakers who want to reduce the PFD: Don’t think any changes you make are going to last.
Tax would require low- to middle-income residents to pay higher share
Today, House Finance aides referred to it as a payroll tax. That’s because it would only tax the money people are paid for their employment, either on their employer’s payroll or through self-employment. But other forms of income – like the money people make on investments – wouldn’t be taxed.
With time ticking, little public progress on state budget
Despite a looming deadline, lawmakers made no public progress this week on reaching agreement on a state budget and a plan to balance the budget in future years.
Alaska shutdown could have far-reaching effects
There’s a long list of state government services that would grind to a halt on July 1st if lawmakers can’t agree to a budget.
Alaska budget uncertainty affecting Permanent Fund Corp investment
“We just want to know how much… how much to write the check for to send over to the state treasury, and we are trying to balance that out," she said. "And having a difference of $1.6 billion is a big difference. And we’re hopeful they can get that reconciled sooner rather than later.”
Governor Walker says he is waiting for lawmakers to compromise on budget
“It may not be a perfect compromise," Gov. Walker said. "It’s the only compromise that’s on the table. I would welcome other compromises coming forth. I submitted a compromise because I didn’t see one.”
Governor floats idea of head tax to end legislative stalemate
After an entire regular session and more than half a special session gone with no deal on a state budget, Governor Bill Walker met with legislative leaders today (Mon., June 5) to roll out a compromise package.
Per diems driving special session costs
The cost to taxpayers of going past the 90-day legislative session set by state law is roughly $1 million – and rising. Listen now
House and Senate disagree on much, but agree on using computer model
Many things divide the Alaska Senate and the House about the future of the state’s budget. One thing that can unite them is the numbers they use to determine how big of a hole in the budget they have to fill. Listen now
No legislative action on special session’s seventh day
There were no committee meetings and only technical floor sessions in the Capitol on Wednesday, the seventh day of the Alaska Legislature’s 30-day special session. Listen now
House passes bill intended to curb opioid overdose deaths
The House passed a bill Monday intended to reduce the number of deaths from overdoses of prescription opioids. Listen now
State House, Senate call for each other to give ground, Walker hopes for compromise
Talk on the first day of the legislative special session focused on whether the House and Senate can compromise on a plan to balance the state’s budget in the future. Listen now
Special session to begin Thursday after lawmakers fail to compromise
Gov. Bill Walker called the Alaska Legislature into a special session starting Thursday.
Retired Alaska Supreme Court justice to receive Sandra Day O’Connor Award
Former Alaska Supreme Court Justice Dana Fabe will receive the 2017 Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education. The award is from the National Center for State Courts.