Governor Bill Walker explained his reply to the legislatures requests, saying that the most important topic to take care of is a funded budget.
The legislature had requested a two week recess and reconvening in Anchorage, but he stated leaving Juneau without a budget resolution could be viewed as them not being able to work out differences.
Gov. Walker: “There were three items on the call and we said two of them could be taken up in Anchorage, we’d be comfortable with that but we don’t want them to leave without a funded budget so if they could do that one that would be it.
The other topics requested to be reviewed by legislators include Medicaid reform and expansion and Erin’s law.
Walker said he would prefer the budget passed with funding for Medicaid in it but the top priority is a resolution on the budget.
Gov. Walker: “First of all there’s legislation available that we have in there for Medicaid expansion that is separate, so it doesn’t have to just be through the budget. So if they provided a budget to not include Medicaid expansion but it was fully funded, ok we’re fine with that. We can still do that with the legislation out there so I don’t think that’s holding it up.”
He said his administration is working to help in whatever ways possible and have also submitted a budget.