Alaska Legislature

Alaska Senate leader: Passing a Permanent Fund bill critical

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The majority leader of the Alaska Senate says he will consider this session a success if lawmakers pass the state operating… Continue reading

Senate’s budget fix highlights list of Legislature’s new bills

Lawmakers last week put what are likely the last big pieces of this year’s budget fix on their agenda. On Friday, the members of the… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, talks with Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 in the Alaska Capitol before Sullivan was presented with a legislative resolution in support of oil and gas drilling within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Legislature officially asks to drill Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The Alaska House’s representative for the North Slope welcomed U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan to the Capitol with a gift Friday: A fresh resolution proclaiming the… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, talks with Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 in the Alaska Capitol before Sullivan was presented with a legislative resolution in support of oil and gas drilling within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, is applauded after giving his annual speech to a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

In speech, Sullivan focuses on jobs but neglects Trump, immigration, health care

In 31 minutes, Sen. Dan Sullivan’s annual address to the Alaska Legislature contained no mentions of the Affordable Care Act, no references to immigration and… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, is applauded after giving his annual speech to a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate Majority unveils plan including spending cap, big cuts and Permanent Fund spending to fix the budget

The leaders of the Alaska Senate have unveiled a proposal to fill Alaska’s $2.7 billion budget gap with the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund… Continue reading

Senate passes ANWR drilling resolution, which faces final concurrence vote in the House

The Alaska Senate agrees with the House: Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is good for the state. On Wednesday, the Senate voted 18-2… Continue reading

Rep. Adam Wool, D-Fairbanks, and Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, co-chairs of the House Transportation Committee, listen to Transportation Committee staffer Laura Stidolph introduces changes to the motor fuel tax bill at the Capitol on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Fuel tax hike might be stretched to 2019

A proposed hike in the state’s gasoline taxes might not reach full potential until 2019, according to a new draft of the proposal. On Tuesday,… Continue reading

Rep. Adam Wool, D-Fairbanks, and Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, co-chairs of the House Transportation Committee, listen to Transportation Committee staffer Laura Stidolph introduces changes to the motor fuel tax bill at the Capitol on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, presents House Bill 3 on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday. (Gavel Alaska photo)

Alaska House votes on National Guard, ballot selfies

The Alaska House of Representatives has approved a bill that would allow National Guardsmen to return to their jobs after deployment, even if they’re serving… Continue reading

Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, presents House Bill 3 on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday. (Gavel Alaska photo)

Waste not: Ferries’ flushing bill wins Senate support, 16-2

The Alaska Senate voted 16-2 Friday to cut a break in the state’s environmental regulations for small cruise ships and the Alaska Marine Highway. Senate… Continue reading

Aimed at PACs, lawmaker’s bill may hit political rival

Anchorage Republican Sen. Kevin Meyer has a nightmare. It involves credit card machines. “What we don’t want is for people to have a Paypal or… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham presides over a floor session of the Alaska House of Representatives on Feb. 20, 2017. (Gavel Alaska photo)

Capitol Decode: Pace of new legislation is much faster than it was in 2015

Lawmakers are a quarter of the way through the constitutionally limited 121-day first session of the 30th Legislature, and they’re running well ahead of the… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham presides over a floor session of the Alaska House of Representatives on Feb. 20, 2017. (Gavel Alaska photo)

Cash didn’t matter: New financials show magnitude of Parish’s win over Muñoz

Juneau apparently likes a winner. According to records released Wednesday by the Alaska Public Offices commission, Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, raised $44,403.60 in his campaign… Continue reading

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, seen here in 2016.

Senator proposes fix for the budget without taxes – but with big cuts

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, believes he’s found a way Alaska can erase its multibillion-dollar deficit and guarantee big Permanent Fund dividends — without tax increases.On… Continue reading

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, seen here in 2016.

Gov. Walker plans to freeze nonunion state employees’ pay for two years

Gov. Bill Walker is preparing to propose a bill that would freeze the pay of nonunion employees at the University of Alaska, Alaska Court System,… Continue reading

Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, shown in this Jan. 26, 2016 photo, is expected to be the key figure this year as long-awaited reforms to Alaska's alcohol laws reach the Legislature.

Alcohol legislation poised for big push

Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, is expected to be the key figure this year as long-awaited reforms to Alaska’s alcohol laws reach the Legislature.Since 2012, members… Continue reading

Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, shown in this Jan. 26, 2016 photo, is expected to be the key figure this year as long-awaited reforms to Alaska's alcohol laws reach the Legislature.
In this Feb. 4, 2016 photo, Senate State Affairs Committee members listen to UAA Professor Emeritus in Economics Scott Goldsmith about possible budget solutions during a hearing at the Capitol. Several lawmakers intend to introduce legislation in 2017 that would secure Permanent Fund dividend payments to Alaskans.

Dividend, alongside budget, will be a focus for lawmakers

Sen. Bill Wielechowski knows the state needs to balance its budget. The Anchorage Democrat just wants to make sure that Alaskans’ Permanent Fund Dividend isn’t… Continue reading

In this Feb. 4, 2016 photo, Senate State Affairs Committee members listen to UAA Professor Emeritus in Economics Scott Goldsmith about possible budget solutions during a hearing at the Capitol. Several lawmakers intend to introduce legislation in 2017 that would secure Permanent Fund dividend payments to Alaskans.
A fixture is lifted into place above the entrance canopy at the Alaska State Capitol building on Thursday.

New-look capitol will greet lawmakers

There are two ways to look at the just-completed four years of renovations at the Alaska State Capitol: Inside and out.“I don’t think you’ll notice… Continue reading

A fixture is lifted into place above the entrance canopy at the Alaska State Capitol building on Thursday.

Legislature and developers will meet in court

The developers and owners of a downtown Anchorage office block have opened a legal battle with the Alaska Legislature.On Tuesday, 716 West Fourth Avenue LLC,… Continue reading

Millett, Chenault will lead minority Republicans in Alaska House

The Alaska House’s new minority caucus has some familiar faces at the top.In a message sent at the close of business Wednesday, the 18-member House… Continue reading

Justin Parish, Democratic candidate for House District 34, prepares to pose for a photo with supporters Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library.

Parish and Muñoz slog door to door toward Election Day result

For Justin Parish and Cathy Muñoz, the race for House District 34 ends today.Election Day culminates a busy campaign for the underdog Democrat and the… Continue reading

Justin Parish, Democratic candidate for House District 34, prepares to pose for a photo with supporters Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library.