The Alaska House adjourned Friday, signaling an end to the special session without a plan sought by Governor Bill Walker to address the state’s multibillion-dollar deficit.
Advertisement
Having never held a hearing during the first five days of the latest special session, the House has called it quits. The others failed to gain traction.
Senate President Kevin Meyer said there wasn’t enough support to reach the 45 votes needed to override the vetoes.
Some lawmakers had expressed skepticism about what might be accomplished during the session, called on the heels of another special session and weeks before the primary election.
Lawmakers could act on a plan during the next regular session, but it would have to be more aggressive than what Walker proposed, Walker’s budget director Pat Pitney said.
Much of the attention this week focused on whether lawmakers would try to override any of Walker’s budget vetoes, with a Friday deadline to act looming. “We have discussed that ad naseum, all the different proposals, and I can not see any significant changes within the time allotted for this special session”.
“When we looked at all of the variables, all of the pros and cons, we just felt it was best to not accept the invitation to meet for the goal of overriding the vetoes”, he said.
Anchorage Republican Rep. Craig Johnson called Walker’s action on the dividend risky and tantamount to stealing money from Alaskans. The House speaker handed over the gavel to House Majority Leader Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, so he could explain why there was consensus among lawmakers that continuing the special session to the 30-day limit was a waste of time.
After eight years leading the Alaska House of Representatives, Chenault said he is stepping aside so that another Alaskan can step up. He said Walker’s proposals have been discussed “ad nauseam” and widespread agreement on a path forward has yet to emerge.
Unless that happens – and unless there are dramatically different results on Walker’s proposed revenue measures – the state government must pay its bills using cash from state savings accounts and without significant, long-term changes to how government is financed. The state has already seen its credit rating downgraded.
Advertisement
Juneau Republican Rep. Cathy Munoz said Walker did the right thing by issuing the vetoes, even if she didn’t agree with all of them. He says lawmakers hold Alaska’s future in their hands.
