Alaska Legislature

Fourth special session starts today, but no new hope for fiscal fix

Gov. Bill Walker called a fourth special session of the Alaska Legislature to address the state’s fiscal crisis. The crisis may be one of the… Continue reading

Lawmakers hold hearings Monday on pipeline, SB 91 rollback

In a pair of hearings Monday, the Alaska Legislature will consider the past and the future. At 10 a.m., the House Judiciary Committee will hear… Continue reading

In this July 2015 photo, Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Juneau International Airport. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Juneau’s legislators will hold a town hall before special session

If you’re concerned about crime or the state’s fiscal health, Juneau lawmakers want to hear from you. Juneau’s three delegates to the Alaska Legislature will… Continue reading

In this July 2015 photo, Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Juneau International Airport. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska mayors again plead for Legislature to fix deficit

For the past two years, mayors across Alaska have pleaded for the Alaska Legislature to do something — anything — to solve the state’s multibillion-dollar… Continue reading

Sen. Mia Costello speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in 2012. (Juneau Empire file)

Former backer of SB 91 now seeks its repeal in Legislature

Sen. Mia Costello has heard enough. Seventeen months ago, the Anchorage Republican was among the co-sponsors of Senate Bill 91, a sweeping reform of Alaska’s… Continue reading

Sen. Mia Costello speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in 2012. (Juneau Empire file)
In this Dec. 2015 photo, Gov. Bill Walker speaks in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Walker proposes payroll tax to fix (part of) the state deficit

To help solve Alaska’s multibillion-dollar annual deficit, Gov. Bill Walker is calling for a 1.5 percent payroll tax on everyone working in Alaska. The proposal,… Continue reading

In this Dec. 2015 photo, Gov. Bill Walker speaks in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Bill Walker speaks to reporters during a Friday press conference in Anchorage. At left are Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth and Col. Hans Brinke, director of the Alaska State Troopers. To the right is Col. Steve Hall, director of Wildlife Troopers. (Alaska Journal of Commerce Photo)

Walker backs rollback of criminal justice reform

Gov. Bill Walker will ask legislators to toughen the state’s penalties for some minor crimes when the Alaska Legislature convenes for a special session next… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks to reporters during a Friday press conference in Anchorage. At left are Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth and Col. Hans Brinke, director of the Alaska State Troopers. To the right is Col. Steve Hall, director of Wildlife Troopers. (Alaska Journal of Commerce Photo)

Walker to call fourth special session

The Alaska Legislature will try to find a new hope in the fourth special session of the year. On Thursday morning, lawmakers were informed by… Continue reading

Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 at the Juneau Moose Lodge. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Egan: Fourth special session possible in October

The Alaska Legislature is likely to meet for a fourth special session starting in late October. That was the word from Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau,… Continue reading

Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 at the Juneau Moose Lodge. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, right, speaks in a 2015 Senate Majority press conference. Stevens, who has served in the Legislature for 19 years, is the first person to file for the 2018 lieutenant governor’s race. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Kodiak senator is first to seek lieutenant governor’s office

A two-time Alaska Senate President with 19 years of experience in the Alaska Legislature has become the first person to seek the lieutenant governor’s office… Continue reading

Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, right, speaks in a 2015 Senate Majority press conference. Stevens, who has served in the Legislature for 19 years, is the first person to file for the 2018 lieutenant governor’s race. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a 2014 interview in the Capitol. Walker signed the state’s $1.4 billion capital construction budget on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Walker OKs capital budget

Gov. Bill Walker signed Alaska’s capital construction budget without ceremony or vetoes Monday in the Capitol, fulfilling a promise to approve it before Aug. 1.… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a 2014 interview in the Capitol. Walker signed the state’s $1.4 billion capital construction budget on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Senator diagnosed with breast cancer

Alaska’s legislators had to put their lives on hold during an extraordinary 181 days of session. Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, put her cancer diagnosis on… Continue reading

Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, left, shakes hands with Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, after an agreement is made on the capital budget in conference committee at the Capitol on Thursday, July 27, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislature passes $1.4 billion capital budget

In a one-day special session Thursday, the Alaska Legislature passed a $1.4 billion capital construction budget, then adjourned without taking action on Alaska’s larger fiscal… Continue reading

Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, left, shakes hands with Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, after an agreement is made on the capital budget in conference committee at the Capitol on Thursday, July 27, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislature starts third special session today

Gov. Bill Walker killed Juneau Access. The Alaska Legislature will bury it. The 30th Legislature starts its third special session of the year today, and… Continue reading

Lawmakers return to Juneau next week

The Alaska Legislature is coming back to Juneau. Don’t expect lawmakers to stay long. On July 27, the Legislature will convene what is expected to… Continue reading

Senate Majority Leader Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, leaves the Senate Chambers after the Alaska Senate concluded the second special session of the 30th Alaska Legislature. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

At deadline, Alaska Legislature cuts oil subsidies to help budget

After weeks of on-again, off-again negotiations, the Alaska Legislature has cut the state subsidy of oil and gas drilling. A compromise proposal approved Saturday night… Continue reading

Senate Majority Leader Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, leaves the Senate Chambers after the Alaska Senate concluded the second special session of the 30th Alaska Legislature. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a news conference July 10, 2017, in Anchorage alongside Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott.(Elwood Brehmer | Alaska Journal of Commerce)

Oil deal near

Alaska lawmakers are nearing a deal to cut the state subsidy of the oil and gas industry, the first significant step to resolve a multibillion-dollar… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a news conference July 10, 2017, in Anchorage alongside Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott.(Elwood Brehmer | Alaska Journal of Commerce)
In this May 18 photo, Gov. Bill Walker speaks to the media about calling a special session to deal with the budget. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Walker signs shutdown-averting budget

Gov. Bill Walker has signed a shutdown-averting $8.8 billion state operating budget into law. Walker signed the budget on Friday, one day before the start… Continue reading

In this May 18 photo, Gov. Bill Walker speaks to the media about calling a special session to deal with the budget. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, left, Rep. Daniel Ortiz, I-Ketchikan, right, and Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, listen to debate on the state budget Thursday, June 23, 2017. Both the House and Senate voted to approve a budget and keep the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislature averts shutdown, but more work remains

The morning after the Alaska Legislature averted a statewide shutdown, you could find more tourists than legislators in the Capitol. Though the Legislature’s second special… Continue reading

Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, left, Rep. Daniel Ortiz, I-Ketchikan, right, and Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, listen to debate on the state budget Thursday, June 23, 2017. Both the House and Senate voted to approve a budget and keep the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

What does the Juneau delegation think of the budget deal?

All three of Juneau’s delegates to the Alaska Legislature voted in favor of the deal to avert the statewide shutdown. Here’s what they had to… Continue reading