The session is being called to address SB54 as well as a proposed payroll tax increase of 1.5 percent of wages earned by Alaskans and non-resident workers.
The session is being called to address SB54 as well as a proposed payroll tax increase of 1.5 percent of wages earned by Alaskans and non-resident workers.
A $1.4 billion capital budget for fiscal year 2018 was agreed upon Thursday, ensuring Alaska construction and maintenance projects can continue as planned.
With the special session just two days from being over, the state legislature has still not come up with measures to cut deficits and generate revenue.
At a press conference in Juneau on Thursday, members of the Alaska House of Representatives Majority Coalition said the record needed to be set straight on some of the issues being discussed.
At a press conference in Juneau on Thursday, members of the Alaska House of Representatives Majority Coalition said the record needed to be set straight on some of the issues being discussed.
Governor Bill Walker signed House Bills 57 and 59 into law over the weekend, approving the 4.9 billion dollar operating budget that would include an $1,100 PFD and $145 million in cuts to state spending.
Governor Bill Walker signed House Bills 57 and 59 into law over the weekend, approving the 4.9 billion dollar operating budget passed for Fiscal Year 18 without any vetoes.
Labor Union members rallied with the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce at the state building in downtown Fairbanks on Thursday, urging Alaska Governor Bill Walker to pass a capital budget and help state contractors secure work projects.
Labor Union members rallied with the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce at the state building in downtown Fairbanks on Thursday, urging Alaska Governor Bill Walker to pass a capital budget and help state contractors secure work projects.
The operating budget calls for continued draws from the state savings account, funds oil and gas tax subsidies and funds education. It also caps the permanent fund dividend at $1,100.
Alaska Governor Bill Walker was in North Pole on Wednesday to sign into law HB23, which will create a fund for surviving dependents of fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Alaska Governor Bill Walker was in North Pole on Wednesday to sign HB23, which will create a fund for surviving dependents of fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters who have their lives in the line of duty.
On Friday afternoon, Alaska Governor Bill Walker officially called the House and Senate back for a second special legislative session in order to broker a compromise on an operating budget before the July 1st government shutdown.
Thursday evening, the Alaska House of Representatives passed an operating budget that was immediately rejected by the State Senate and Governor Bill Walker.
On Friday afternoon, Alaska Governor Bill Walker called for a second special session to come up with a compromise between the House and Senate on a state operating budget before the July 1st government shutdown.
In a surprise move on Wednesday, the Alaska House of Representatives voted to pass a measure that would restore the Permanent Fund Dividend payout to over $2,000 this year.
The Governor introduced a compromise plan for the house and senate to consider, but it hasn't gotten much attention. A conference committee is working to come up with a plan that both sides can agree on.
Government shutdown notices have been issued to almost every state agency. We have the details on the affects to education, Veterans Affairs, the PFD Division, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of Transportation and more.
It was the committees that were working Friday, trying to come up with a plan for both the house and senate to vote on. The conference committee failed to adopt either the house or senate versions of house bill 111, the oil and gas production tax.
The House Finance Committee held a hearing yesterday to get an oil and gas tax fiscal overview. In a lot of respects, the house and senate plans appear to be very similar.
This year's Legislative Special Session is estimated to cost Alaskans $600,000. We break down that number to take a look how much each legislator receives in per diem costs, travel and more.
The plan would cap oil taxes when the price of oil is low, would tax Alaska wage earners on a sliding scale from $50 to $500 annually, and would set the PFD amount at $1,000 per person.
Over halfway through their Special Session in Juneau, State Lawmakers are meeting privately to come up with a fiscal solution to the state's budget crisis.
Pointing out that the legislature is halfway through a 30 day special session, Governor Bill Walker said he called lawmakers back to broker a compromise that fixes our fiscal crisis for good, and closes this year's budget deficit.
With massive budget cuts needed and two sides disagreeing on where those cuts will happen, the Alaska Legislature is worried about a government shutdown. Alaska Governor Bill Walker may intercede in order to reach an agreement.
The State Legislature's failure to come up with a budget that would balance the enormous deficit that is estimated at close to $3 billion could prompt notices of job losses sent out to an estimated 17,000 employees.
State Representative Scott Kawasaki (D) Fairbanks held a informal coffee chat with constituents at the Alaska Coffee Roasting Company in Fairbanks on Tuesday.
The State Senate Finance committee met today to talk about Senate Bill 79, which would limit the number of opioid pills in medical prescriptions. It's part of Governor Bill Walker's efforts to put into law ways to deal with the widespread opioid abuse.
Alaska Governor Bill Walker has been clear with the State Legislature: The special session will deal with new revenue and a real fiscal plan for Alaska.
Alaska Governor Bill Walker was in Fairbanks this afternoon, signing into law HB 16, which will bring Alaska into compliance with the federal Real ID Act.
With the regularly scheduled 121-day regular session now passed, Governor Bill Walker has called the Alaska Legislature into special session for the second year in a row: The main objective will be to deal with the nearly $3 billion budget deficit.
Not all of Lisa Murkowski's constituents came for the tea at Thursday night's 'Ladies That Lunch' Committee Spring Luncheon. Emotions ran high as a handful of attendees spoke out on topics such as rollbacks of sanctions on offshore drilling and Murkowski's cancelled town hall event.