Lawmakers gavelled out of the extended legislative session in Juneau last night, only to be called almost immediately into a special session by the Governor.
The session closed with the budget still in limbo; Democrats in the house refused to sign onto the deal to draw from the constitutional budget reserve to cover the deficit.
In the upper house, Senate President Kevin Meyer said his caucus felt their work was done…
Sen. Meyer(R-Anchorage): “We made some reductions, but these reductions were necessary. We have to get our spending under control first, before we can talk about any other revenue sources. People have to know that we have our house in order.”
House Democrats disagreed with steep cuts to education and the rejection of pay increases previously promised to unions.
The Governor’s special session will continue to address the operating budget, as well as Medicaid expansion and reform, and programs preventing childhood sexual assault.