State & Legislature

On day 56, the Alaska Legislature passes first resolution of session

On day 56, the Alaska Legislature passes first resolution of session

Congress accepting comments on environmental impacts on ANWR through Wednesday.

On day 56, the Alaska Legislature passes first resolution of session
The Alaska State Marine Highway Ferry Fairweather pulls up to the Auke Bay Terminal in this 2014 file photo.
The Alaska State Marine Highway Ferry Fairweather pulls up to the Auke Bay Terminal in this 2014 file photo.
Initiative would move Legislature’s meetings to Anchorage
Initiative would move Legislature’s meetings to Anchorage
Laura Stats of Juneau testifies against Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s payback dividend bills, Senate Bills 23 and 24, during a Senate State Affairs Committee meeting, Thursday night. Stats said these bills would cause “chaos” in Alaska, because of the services that must be cut to fund these Senate Bills. (Kevin Baird ι Juneau Empire).

Alaskans weigh-in on ‘super-sized’ PFD

Most would prefer to fund education, other services

Laura Stats of Juneau testifies against Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s payback dividend bills, Senate Bills 23 and 24, during a Senate State Affairs Committee meeting, Thursday night. Stats said these bills would cause “chaos” in Alaska, because of the services that must be cut to fund these Senate Bills. (Kevin Baird ι Juneau Empire).
House Majority: Tax increase off the table, Foster questions cuts
House Majority: Tax increase off the table, Foster questions cuts
Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, speaks during a rally of state union workers in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate Democrats express disapproval over Dunleavy’s budget

‘You can’t break the economy in one portion of the state and expect everybody else to be OK.’

Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, speaks during a rally of state union workers in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Empire reporters Kevin Baird, left, and Mollie Barnes interview Gov. Mike Dunleavy at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

A conversation with the governor

Gov. says businesses will come back to Alaska if budget is balanced.

Juneau Empire reporters Kevin Baird, left, and Mollie Barnes interview Gov. Mike Dunleavy at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
David Teal, Director of the Legislative Finance Division, gives his analysis of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s state budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
David Teal, Director of the Legislative Finance Division, gives his analysis of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s state budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Jeremy Woodrow, interim executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, speaks to the House Fisheries Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Jeremy Woodrow, interim executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, speaks to the House Fisheries Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (Michael Penn | 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)

Budget bill language would give unprecedented power to governor’s office

Under bill, OMB Director Arduin could override Legislature’s appropriating power.

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)
Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky, D-Bethel, speaks on the House floor. (Photo courtesy ι Brian Hild)

House creates first ever Tribal Affairs committee

Committee will focus on partnerships between tribes and state government.

Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky, D-Bethel, speaks on the House floor. (Photo courtesy ι Brian Hild)
Kevin Clarkson, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s choice for Attorney General, answers questions in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

AG designee says only 10 percent of his work related to controversial social issues

Clarkson says it’s not his job to support the law, it’s to enforce it.

Kevin Clarkson, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s choice for Attorney General, answers questions in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Robb Arnold, chief purser on the Alaska Marine Highway’s Malaspina ferry, talks about the proposed cuts to the ferry system on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Unions prep to push back against proposed ferry cuts

Hundreds of Marine Highway jobs could be cut.

Robb Arnold, chief purser on the Alaska Marine Highway’s Malaspina ferry, talks about the proposed cuts to the ferry system on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
OMB, Senate Finance discuss university funding

OMB, Senate Finance discuss university funding

Forty percent of university funding comes from the state.

OMB, Senate Finance discuss university funding
Senate Finance grills OMB, Education Commissioner over budget

Senate Finance grills OMB, Education Commissioner over budget

Hoffman calls 25 percent proposed cuts to education ‘unacceptable’

Senate Finance grills OMB, Education Commissioner over budget
‘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
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks with his cabinet members at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy releases budget

Proposed cuts could impact university system, public schools

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks with his cabinet members at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy budget proposal proposes to eliminate hundreds of jobs

Dunleavy budget proposal proposes to eliminate hundreds of jobs

Job cuts are not final

Dunleavy budget proposal proposes to eliminate hundreds of jobs
As House falters to organize, committees take new shape

As House falters to organize, committees take new shape

Committees masquerade as ‘informational meetings.’

As House falters to organize, committees take new shape
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, listens as Attorney General Kevin Clarkson describes three constitutional amendments that would be a foundation of his administration’s fiscal plan during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, listens as Attorney General Kevin Clarkson describes three constitutional amendments that would be a foundation of his administration’s fiscal plan during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)