House Majority Leaders oppose the idea that support has diminished behind the lawsuit challenging the governor’s authority to accept and appropriate funding without legislative approval, like he did with Medicaid last year.
The House appealed a lower court’s March decision upholding Walker’s authority, but Republican leaders like Speaker of the House Mike Chenault say some people misunderstand the challenge.
Spkr. Chenault(R-Nikiski): “This is actually a separations of power lawsuit, it has absolutely nothing to do with Medicaid expansion other than that happened to be the subject [that started it]. What I’d like people to know, and it’s hard to get that out because the press continues to sling the wrong phrase because it makes news, is the separation of powers lawsuit. It has nothing to do with Medicaid expansion, Medicaid expansion has already happened, we’re not going to take it away.”
Last week Senate Majority Leader John Coghill, who is handling the case on the Senate side, recommended the case be dropped because support had dissipated.
House Representative Craig Johnson contends that the lawsuit is not over until it reaches a final judgement, which at this point will be a decision by the Alaska Supreme Court.
Speaker Chenault says dropping the case now could set a dangerous precedent…
Spkr. Chenault(R-Nikiski): “If we were to allow the governor to do what he did and not refute it, then we would set a precedent and once you set a precedent, then this allows maybe not this governor, but the next governor or the next governor, [to do] whatever they decide to do. By allowing this to go forward unanswered and unchecked through the court system, it gives the governor more power to utilize money in whatever form or fashion he would like to.”
A legislative attorney has said while the Legislature is in session, an appeal decision requires a majority vote in the House and Senate.