After lawmakers adjourned the Governor’s special session and called one of their own in Anchorage, the House Finance Committee took their first visible steps forward on a new operating budget bill.
HB 2001 includes the items Governor Bill Walker vetoed when he signed the previous budget, HB 72, on May 18. The budget bill and “supplemental” budget bill essentially leave the budget as it was when the legislature adjourned for the first time.
The bill funds $2.1 billion in state operations and $1 billion for retirements, debt service, and fund capitalization.
Majority members explained some of the funding could be delayed until next year, enabling the House to fund a budget without needing the minority’s support to access the Constitutional Budget Reserve this year.
The Committee will meet again at 10am this morning and take public testimony from 11am to 2pm.