The president of the Alaska Senate sees Gov. Bill Walker’s attempts to jumpstart budget talks as a positive.
Senate President Pete Kelly says his Republican-led caucus does not agree with everything that Walker offered as a compromise. But he says Walker established goal posts for negotiations.
Walker’s proposal called for accepting the version of the state operating budget that passed the House. Kelly says the budget will continue to be hashed out between House and Senate negotiators as part of a conference committee.
Walker also suggested lawmakers consider a tax on wages and earnings. Kelly says the Senate is evaluating that but says anything that looks like an income tax will be a hard sell in the Senate.
Kelly says getting a budget passed must be the priority.
