Alaska Legislature

Senators baffled at proposed reductions to public safety departments

Senators baffled at proposed reductions to public safety departments

Budget staff expected the criticisms.

Senators baffled at proposed reductions to public safety departments
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks with his cabinet members at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Capitol Live: Dunleavy vows to send Alaska troops to border if asked

Live updates from inside the Capitol.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks with his cabinet members at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Kelly Goode, right, deputy commissioner for the Department of Corrections, sits alongside DOC Administrative Services Director Sylvan Robb, center, and Office of Management and Budget Director Donna Arduin as they present to the Senate Finance Committee on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

State examining sending inmates out of state (again) to save money

The idea is in its early stages.

Kelly Goode, right, deputy commissioner for the Department of Corrections, sits alongside DOC Administrative Services Director Sylvan Robb, center, and Office of Management and Budget Director Donna Arduin as they present to the Senate Finance Committee on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Office of Management and Budget Director Donna Arduin and members of her budget team takes time to explain Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s state budget at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Proposed Medicaid, health care cuts spark outrage

One health care advocate called the budget proposal “outrageous.”

Office of Management and Budget Director Donna Arduin and members of her budget team takes time to explain Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s state budget at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Capitol Live: House GOP tags Pruitt as minority leader
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Capitol Live: House GOP tags Pruitt as minority leader

Live updates from inside the Capitol.

Capitol Live: House GOP tags Pruitt as minority leader
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Details emerge on proposed job cuts

Details emerge on proposed job cuts

How many jobs would be cut in Juneau?

Details emerge on proposed job cuts
‘To hell with politics’: House speaker elected after two Republicans cross party lines

‘To hell with politics’: House speaker elected after two Republicans cross party lines

Partisan politics be damned.

‘To hell with politics’: House speaker elected after two Republicans cross party lines
Experts: State could lose tens of thousands of jobs if budget proposal goes through
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Experts: State could lose tens of thousands of jobs if budget proposal goes through

The budget director says the PFD could help offset losses.

Experts: State could lose tens of thousands of jobs if budget proposal goes through
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Opinion: The time is now to elect a majority in the Alaska House

Opinion: The time is now to elect a majority in the Alaska House

Valuable dollars are being wasted.

Opinion: The time is now to elect a majority in the Alaska House
Opinion: Gov. Dunleavy is ‘out of step’ with Alaska families, businesses

Opinion: Gov. Dunleavy is ‘out of step’ with Alaska families, businesses

We can’t legislate away our financial obligations.

Opinion: Gov. Dunleavy is ‘out of step’ with Alaska families, businesses
Capitol Live: Dunleavy budget would require eliminating 1,300 university positions, president says
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Capitol Live: Dunleavy budget would require eliminating 1,300 university positions, president says

Live updates from inside the Capitol.

Capitol Live: Dunleavy budget would require eliminating 1,300 university positions, president says
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Opinion: With release of Dunleavy’s budget, it’s time to listen to Alaskans

Opinion: With release of Dunleavy’s budget, it’s time to listen to Alaskans

Sen. Mia Costello wants to hear from you.

Opinion: With release of Dunleavy’s budget, it’s time to listen to Alaskans
Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, speaks during a House of Representatives floor session on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Local lawmakers hoping for bipartisan, strong majority

The governor’s late budget is a factor in the standstill.

Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, speaks during a House of Representatives floor session on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, center, answers a question as Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, left, and Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, wait their turn during a standing-room only town hall meeting at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s legislators express concern about state jobs leaving town

Jobs have already been leaving in recent years.

Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, center, answers a question as Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, left, and Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, wait their turn during a standing-room only town hall meeting at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
House surprised with unexpected speaker nomination

House surprised with unexpected speaker nomination

Speaker nominations fail, again.

House surprised with unexpected speaker nomination
Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers the State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2019 in the Alaska Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislators brace for unknowns of Dunleavy’s budget

The budget comes out Wednesday.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers the State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2019 in the Alaska Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Photos: The Best Dressed at the Alaska State Capitol

Photos: The Best Dressed at the Alaska State Capitol

The budget may be boring but the outfits aren’t.

Photos: The Best Dressed at the Alaska State Capitol
Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, and Rep. Dave Talerico, R-Healy, sit next to each other after Knopp voted not to confirm Talerico as Speaker of the House on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Capitol Live: Knopp speaks about ‘shock and awe’ of floor session

Stay up to date with live updates from inside the Capitol.

Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, and Rep. Dave Talerico, R-Healy, sit next to each other after Knopp voted not to confirm Talerico as Speaker of the House on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
House Speaker Jim Duncan, D-Juneau, confers with Majority Leader Russ Meekins on Feb. 3, 1981, after the 22-day gridlock over House organization was broken late the previous afternoon following a series of parliamentary maneuvers. (Mark Kelley | Juneau Empire File)

Key legislator in 1981 House gridlock offers advice for current reps

The two are quite different sessions.

House Speaker Jim Duncan, D-Juneau, confers with Majority Leader Russ Meekins on Feb. 3, 1981, after the 22-day gridlock over House organization was broken late the previous afternoon following a series of parliamentary maneuvers. (Mark Kelley | Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

No-bid contract for psychiatric institute raises questions

A previous report advised against privatizing the institute.

The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)