Wednesday – 6/14/17 – 12:30 p.m.
The Alaska House has approved a capital budget amendment that would pay residents a full dividend from Alaska’s oil-wealth fund this year.
Plans passed by the House and Senate for use of Alaska Permanent Fund earnings have called for initially limiting the size of dividends. But the House earlier this year conditioned its support for the use of earnings on passage of a broad-based tax and changes to oil tax and credit policy.
Taxes have been a nonstarter with the Senate, and differences remain between the House and Senate on oil taxes.
Gov. Bill Walker last year reduced the amount available for dividends, citing the lack of a plan to address Alaska’s deficit.
The House recessed around noon, with a vote on the full package still pending.
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9:45 a.m.
After months of entrenchment, Alaska legislators face growing pressure to resolve their differences, with days left in the special session and the threat of a government shutdown looming.
Friday marks the end of the special session called by Gov. Bill Walker to address the budget and a plan for Alaska’s multibillion-dollar deficit. Deep philosophical divides stalled progress during the preceding extended regular session.
With the start of the new fiscal year just over two weeks away, talks have turned to the budget and efforts to avoid a shutdown.
Senate Majority Leader Peter Micciche (mih-CHIK’-ee) says the Senate is willing to back off some of its priorities to get a budget passed.
