A final budget deal appeared unlikely before the end of the legislative session as Alaska House and Senate leadership met behind closed doors in an attempt to break the logjam today.
Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, walks into the House speaker's office with Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage following behind in Juneau on May 13, 2023
The House and Senate typically pass different versions of the operating budget, and then appoint a joint conference committee to reconcile those differences, so a single budget bill can pass through both legislative chambers. The House last approved the Senate’s budget without a conference committee — which is known as concurrence — in 1982.
With less than a week left until the end of the regular session, the bipartisan Senate majority said there was simply not enough time for a conference committee to meet. Instead, closed-door negotiations have been held between House and Senate leadership with the intention of crafting a budget deal the House can approve.Members of Senate and House leadership met in the speaker’s chambers for an hour Saturday afternoon.
Members of the bipartisan Senate majority have not budged on their top priority of avoiding a draw from state savings, which have been depleted after years of deficit spending. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said that he has asked for a compromise dividend figure from the House, which would require a smaller draw from savings, but one has not been forthcoming.
Increasing public school funding has been a top priority for the Senate majority after years of flat funding. The Senate has wanted to— the per-pupil funding formula — by $680 at a cost of $175 million per year. The House has supported the same school funding increase, but only for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alaska Senate moves forward on spending plan with time running out to avoid a special sessionThe bipartisan Alaska Senate majority introduced a new spending plan today that combined both the operating budget and the capital budget, in a last-minute effort to pass a measure the House can approve before the legislative session ends.
Read more »
Alaska Senate prepares ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ budget in attempt to finish session on timeIn what is likely the Legislature’s final attempt to pass a state budget on time, Senate Finance Committee members crafted a budget “turducken” and called on the state House to prepare for a straight up-or-down vote on the proposal. (via AlaskaBeacon)
Read more »
Alaska House passes bill to increase jail time for fentanyl and other drug crimesThe Alaska House passed a bill yesterday that would increase penalties for people who distribute fentanyl, other opioids and methamphetamine.
Read more »
Alaska senators approve permanent increase to public school funding, with House support in questionAlaska’s public schools will receive their largest-ever funding increase if the Alaska House and Gov. Mike Dunleavy agree with a bill passed Thursday by the state Senate. (via AlaskaBeacon)
Read more »
Last-ditch effort to advance LGBTQ protection bill fails in Alaska House“I’m heartbroken,” said the bill’s lead sponsor, Rep. Jennifer Armstrong, D-Anchorage. “But I also feel hopeful that between now and next year, that we will make progress.”
Read more »
Alaska House bill to ban Israel boycotts sparks floor fightsIn a rarely seen turn of events, the Alaska House failed to pass a bill sponsored by a majority member — laying bare the disagreements within the Republican-dominated House majority caucus in the final days of the legislative session.
Read more »