The Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Working Group held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday. The Alaska Legislature formed the group to develop a comprehensive fiscal plan to address Alaska’s budget issues, with eight members from the legislative majorities and minorities in the House of Representatives and Senate assigned to play a leadership role ahead of a special session scheduled for August.
The Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Working Group on the House side is made up of Co-Chair Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins and Reps. Calvin Schrage, Ben Carpenter and Kevin McCabe with Reps. Grier Hopkins and Mike Prax as alternates. The Senate side is made up of Co-Chair Sen. Lyman Hoffman and Sens. Shelley Hughes, Scott Kawasaki and Jesse Kiehl with Sens. Elvi Gray-Jackson and Mike Shower as alternates.
Co-Chair Sen. Lyman Hoffman delivered opening remarks:
“It is my understanding, Mr. President and Madam Speaker, that the work that we do here will, at some point, go through the committee process and ultimately land up on the floor. I want the people of Alaska and the members of this working group to know that that is a commitment we have from both the leaders in the House and the Senate that the work will not be hampered, deterred, or delayed or not even addressed by procedural maneuvering. That, I think, is a very key issue for the members of this working group to assure that whatever we come up with, we know that it ultimately may not be the final solution because it has to go through the committee process. It has to go through the floor amendments. It has to go to conference. This work is so important. The members, I believe, need to know that we will see some product in both in the House of Representatives and Alaska State Senate.”
That product will be presented in the next scheduled special session in August.
Senate President Peter Micciche called in through Zoom:
“We are treading water and have been for a long time. We have to move forward. My intent is to honor the work that’s happening here and to get resolutions for Alaskans. We simply can afford to do this no longer. That’s my intent Senator Hoffman and I will make that commitment to all of you on this call. Progress is imperative.”
The Associated Press reports that Alaska has been dealing with deficits for years. Lawmakers in 2018 began to access oil-wealth fund earnings – traditionally used to pay yearly dividends to residents – because of that, considerable time has been spent on the dividend amount. The long-standing formula for calculating dividends was last used in 2015.
Transcribed audio courtesy of KTOO 360TV.
