Lawmakers say they’re committed to both completing the state’s budget and finding resolution on the state’s long-term fiscal problems, even if they can’t say when that might happen.<\/p>\n
With appropriations bills in hand, the Alaska State Legislature has less than 30 days to try and complete the state’s budget and come to an agreement on comprehensive solutions to the state’s fiscal problems.<\/p>\n
Deep divisions in the Legislature have left the state’s budget only partially funded, and last week Gov. Mike Dunleavy added an appropriations bill to the call of the special session allowing lawmakers to address that issue, including an amount for the Permanent Fund Dividend. But the governor and several legislative Republicans were hoping the current special session would be devoted to resolving the state’s ongoing fiscal deficit. It remains unclear if lawmakers will be able to achieve both those goals during this special session, but legislative leaders said they were ready to work.<\/p>\n
“We’re going to get done what we can right now,” said Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna. “We’re all hear and who isn’t here is available. (The appropriations bill) helps us to finish the work of the last session and puts us in the place for people to continue to have conversations and work towards a fiscal resolution.”<\/p>\n
In an interview with the Empire, Micciche said he couldn’t say if the Legislature would be able to complete both goals, but he hoped the special session would be productive enough lawmakers would be willing to call themselves into special session. Micciche said it is critical that lawmakers feel heard and involved in the process if any progress was going to be made.<\/p>\n
A brief Senate floor session was held Monday, and a House Finance Committee meeting was delayed, then canceled as the leadership of the House Majority Caucus remained in deliberations.<\/p>\n
Legislative Finance Director Alexei Painter gave presentations<\/a> to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee with a summary of state accounts following the governor’s vetoes. That presentation also included a comparison of two appropriations bills, one from the governor and the other from the House Ways and Means Committee.<\/p>\n