Without a budget to vote on, many lawmakers were absent from the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, June 7, 2021, as negotiations continue in committee. But even the conference committee isn't scheduled until later in the week as deep divisions among lawmakers remain. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Divisions slow budget work as deadline looms

Officials negotiations to resume later this week

Despite the ongoing special session, lawmakers were largely absent Monday from the Capitol building in Juneau.

The legislative calendar shows only two meetings scheduled for this week. Both the committee meetings are for members of the House of Representatives and are strictly informational.

“Negotiations are not happening with the intensity that I’d like them to,” said Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau. “I’m always delighted to have my colleagues from all over the state here in Juneau, but they deserve to spend summer at home with their families.”

The bicameral conference committee negotiating the final version of the state’s budget finished its work on less divisive issues in the budget last week, committee chair Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, told the Empire last week, and talks would now turn to the more divisive issues. But the committee didn’t meet Monday and isn’t yet scheduled at all this week. The current special session ends June 19, and the state’s fiscal year ends at the end of the month.

In a phone call, Paul Labolle in Foster’s office said the committee hoped to begin negotiations on more controversial items such as the dividend in the next few days. Labolle said that Foster has remained in Juneau, and the conference committee is making progress.

“It’s the (Permanent Fund Dividend),” Kiehl said. “The controversy is really about the PFD.”

Lawmakers are deeply divided about the PFD even within their own parties. Many conservative lawmakers have backed away from demanding large dividends following an older statutory formula and have agreed to compromise on 50% of the money the state draws from the Earnings Reserve Account of the Alaska Permanent Fund each year going to dividends.

[With nothing to vote on, many lawmakers head home]

But to do that and keep the state’s budget largely flat, lawmakers would have to break their own law passed just a few years ago. Lawmakers in 2018 voted to cap the state’s annual draw from the ERA at 5%. In order to pay a dividend under the proposed 50-50 formula, the state would have to exceed that limit this year.

But overdrawing from the ERA has staunch opponents, Kiehl included, among lawmakers in both parties. Kiehl said he believed there were enough votes in the Senate for a PFD of roughly $1,000, as opposed to the $2,300 appropriated in the version of the budget which passed the Senate.

Lawmakers have said they hope to pass a budget before the end of the special session, enough time, they say, for Gov. Mike Dunleavy to sign the bill into law. Employee contracts require notices to be sent out 10 days before the actual layoff, but Dunleavy’s administration has said if the Legislature passes a budget before June 19, the bill can be signed before those notices are sent out.

A state accounting mechanism known as the sweep requires a high vote threshold to reverse, and no caucus in the Legislature can guarantee enough votes to do that. Without a reverse sweep several state accounts, including the Alaska Performance Scholarship Fund and the Power Cost Equalization Fund, will remain empty.

“Waiting for the pressure of a deadline can move people on the little stuff but not the big stuff,” Kiehl said. “It’s still happening, it’s not happening as intensely as it needs to, but it’s happening.”

• Contact reporter Peter Segall at psegall@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @SegallJnuEmpire.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, talks with supporters during a campaign meet-and-greet Oct. 12, 2024, at the Southeast Alaska Real Estate office near the Nugget Mall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
‘This is no town hall. This is propaganda’; Begich takes heat at first virtual constituent forum

Congressman set to deliver his first joint address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Local organizers and speakers at a “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest lead a drum chant and dance Monday in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
‘No Kings on Presidents Day’ protest of Trump draws more than 400 to Alaska State Capitol

Firing of federal workers, elimination of DEI and LGBTQ+ policies among objections of participants.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, Feb. 14, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser testifies in support of a Base Student Allocation increase on Jan. 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Superintendent suggests Juneau school board assume a $400 BSA increase in district’s budget

Some board members hesitant to depart from no-increase policy, express concern about Trump’s actions.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. President Trump shared a quotation on social media, making it clear it was one he wanted people to absorb: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” (Al Drago/The New York Times)
Trump: ‘He who saves his Country does not violate any Law’

Quote sometimes attributed to Napoleon posted on White House’s official X account.

Most Read