Floor debate on the state’s budget bill was delayed Thursday as members of the House of Representatives met in private to discuss a path forward.<\/p>\n
With the House Majority Coalition’s thin 21-member majority, some lawmakers are concerned the large budget passed by the Senate this week could pass the body. House floor sessions were canceled Wednesday evening and delayed Thursday morning as lawmakers discussed the situation. Thursday afternoon the House was still delayed to the call of the chair, meaning representatives could be called into session at any time.<\/p>\n
“The speaker is working to ensure that the budget that reaches the Governor’s desk is fiscally responsible,” said coalition spokesperson Joe Plesha. “She remains committed to the values outlined in the budget the House passed — putting money into savings to prepare for the eventual drop in oil prices and investing in Alaska’s children by forward funding education and refilling the Higher Education Investment Fund.”<\/p>\n
Wednesday, the Senate passed a large budget some have criticized as irresponsible. In floor debate Monday and Tuesday, senators added nearly $1 billion to the state’s budget, diverting the money appropriated to forward fund education to pay an additional $1,300 energy relief payment in addition to the Permanent Fund Dividend.<\/p>\n
In a close vote 10-9 vote, Senators for the first time since 2015 voted to follow the state’s statutory formula for the PFD, amounting to roughly $4,300 per Alaskan. Following the statutory formula for the dividend has been a consistent demand of several, mostly Republican members of the Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, also a Republican. Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, who submitted the amendment to follow the formula said the state is looking at record returns on oil, and this year’s budget was bolstered by federal stimulus funds.<\/p>\n