Alaska Legislature

Fifty Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian groups dressed in traditional regalia take part in the Grand Entrance Processional down Willoughby Street from Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to Centennial Hall to kickoff the four days of Celebration in June 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Lawmakers ask Christopher Columbus to share calendar

Christopher Columbus didn’t meet an empty continent. The state of Alaska will now recognize that fact. On Sunday, the Alaska Senate voted 18-1 to approve… Continue reading

Fifty Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian groups dressed in traditional regalia take part in the Grand Entrance Processional down Willoughby Street from Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to Centennial Hall to kickoff the four days of Celebration in June 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

House approves income tax

It was tax day. On April 15, the Alaska House of Representatives voted 22-17 to impose Alaska’s first income tax in 37 years. Juneau’s two… Continue reading

Senators ready to negotiate fiscal fix

When it comes to fixing Alaska’s $2.8 billion deficit, nothing is written in stone. Not even a bill that both the Alaska House and Senate… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed their version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The bill would draw from the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund to address Alaska’s $2.7 billion funding gap, and cap the Permanent Fund Dividend at $1,250 for the next two years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska House votes to lower Permanent Fund Dividend

For the first time in state history, the Alaska Legislature has chosen to spend the Alaska Permanent Fund on something other than dividends. On Wednesday,… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed their version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The bill would draw from the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund to address Alaska’s $2.7 billion funding gap, and cap the Permanent Fund Dividend at $1,250 for the next two years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Luann McVey, left, and Laura Stats sit in the mostly vacant public seating area after giving their public testimony on SB 26 to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Income tax, Permanent Fund spending plan advance toward vote

The Alaska House of Representatives will soon vote on the 49th state’s first income tax since 1980 and a plan to use the earnings of… Continue reading

Luann McVey, left, and Laura Stats sit in the mostly vacant public seating area after giving their public testimony on SB 26 to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers won’t change how they disclose conflicts of interest

Downtown Juneau’s delegate to the Legislature has helped defeat a proposal for greater transparency in the Alaska Legislature. Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, joined 18… Continue reading

House votes for oil industry to help resolve deficit

House votes for oil industry to help resolve deficit

When it comes to solving Alaska’s $2.8 billion deficit, the Alaska House of Representatives is asking the oil industry to pitch in. It isn’t clear… Continue reading

House votes for oil industry to help resolve deficit

Senate votes to rollback justice reform

Many of Alaska’s first-time criminals may face tougher sentences under a bill approved Friday by the Alaska Senate. In a 19-1 vote, lawmakers approved Senate… Continue reading

Senate slashes millions from schools, university and health care

If the Alaska Senate gets its way, Alaskans can expect fewer teachers, less ferry service, fewer criminal prosecutors, fewer Alaska State Troopers and a much… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmaker wants primary elections to be more like California

The chairwoman of the powerful House Rules Committee believes she has a plan to drive Alaska politics toward the center. Her Republican critics say it’s… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
House wavers on income tax

House wavers on income tax

Does the Alaska House of Representatives have the votes to approve Alaska’s first income tax since 1980? “We’re working on it,” Speaker of the House… Continue reading

House wavers on income tax

Will Uber soon be allowed in Alaska?

A bill authorizing Uber, Lyft and similar companies to operate in Alaska is headed to a vote of the House of Representatives. The Alaska House… Continue reading

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, April 3, 2017. Sen. Dunleavy offered amendments to the operating budget bill to cut funding for public broadcasting and significantly reduced funding for the Alaska Marine Highway system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate plan slashes education, university, transportation, health services

The Alaska Senate has proposed slashing the state’s public education system, university system, department of transportation, and health care. The Senate Finance Committee on Monday… Continue reading

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, April 3, 2017. Sen. Dunleavy offered amendments to the operating budget bill to cut funding for public broadcasting and significantly reduced funding for the Alaska Marine Highway system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Lemon Creek Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. The Alaska Senate advanced a criminal justice reform rollback on Monday that could have untold costs for the prison system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Criminal justice reform rollback nears a vote in the Senate

A bill allowing judges to impose tougher sentences for many crimes is advancing toward a vote in the Alaska Senate. The Alaska Senate Finance Committee… Continue reading

Lemon Creek Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. The Alaska Senate advanced a criminal justice reform rollback on Monday that could have untold costs for the prison system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Alaska House is on pace for a record number of bills

The Alaska House of Representatives has been a factory for legislation this year. Through Thursday, the 73rd day of the legislative session, members of the… Continue reading

Senate to considers limits of criminal justice reform rollback

How much is too much of a rollback? On Monday, the Alaska Senate Finance Committee will debate a final amendment to Senate Bill 54, a… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, speaks at the Native Issues Forum in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The event is hosted by Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Cheers for first Alaska Native House Speaker, state income tax

There aren’t many crowds in Alaska that will cheer for an income tax. In a lunchtime address, the state’s first Alaska Native Speaker of the… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, speaks at the Native Issues Forum in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The event is hosted by Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

Senate Bill 91, one of the biggest changes to Alaska’s criminal justice system in decades, was touted as using an evidence-based approach to emphasize treatment… Continue reading

Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions
David Teal, director of the Legislative Finance Division, shares financial models for House Bill 115 and Senate Bill 26 with members of the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 in the Capitol. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Open ears at the Capitol

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre sat confidently in front of the House Finance Committee on Tuesday morning and presented the perfect plan to fix… Continue reading

David Teal, director of the Legislative Finance Division, shares financial models for House Bill 115 and Senate Bill 26 with members of the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 in the Capitol. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

A push to revive Alaska’s pension system

A push to revive Alaska’s public pension system is under way in the state House of Representatives, where a Juneau lawmaker has suggested a measure… Continue reading