An Alaska lawmaker has argued that Gov. Bill Walker overstepped his authority in reducing the size of the yearly check that state residents receive from Alaska’s oil-wealth fund.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski (WILL’-uh-cow-ski) appeared before the Alaska Supreme Court Tuesday in an effort to restore the portion of the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend vetoed by Walker last year.
Wielechowski is hoping to reverse the governor’s action after losing in a lower court.
The Supreme Court did not issue an immediate ruling.
Walker last year cut the amount available for dividends after lawmakers failed to agree on a plan to address the state’s budget deficit.
Wielechowski argues that the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. was required by law to make available nearly $1.4 billion from the fund’s earnings reserve for dividends despite Walker’s veto.