As the State of Alaska prepares for possible government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Peter Micciche is proud of the work done by the Senate on the budget during the regular session.
Sen. Micciche: “We had our work done in time other than working it out with the house who passed two big pieces of legislation on the last day of session and that was their oil tax bill, and that was their income tax so we had to scramble for the extended session and we asked the governor for the special session to limit it to just the key items that would deliver a fiscal plan for the state and he did that. Well here we are, we got roughly a week left we’ve only had two conference committee meetings. Remember the senate doesn’t control those, the house controls the budget conference committee. The only thing we’re required to do by our job description is passing and funding a budget for the year. The senate is focused on that this year, a sustainable plan that funds and passes the budget with adequate funding for the services that are required of our constitution.”
Sen. Micciche outlined key items completed by the senate during the regular session.
Sen. Micciche: “Let’s talk about when it was completed by the senate in the regular session we passed the spending cap, we’ve reduced state spending by about $200 million , we approved a sustainable plan that uses part of our earnings , and part of our earnings means that we’re not burning through savings. It’s a portion of our earnings, we kill income tax and it’s offering cashable credit to oil and gas companies past a reasonable capital budget. Passed a correction to senate bill 91 that was really concerned with the crime bill, provided health benefits for fallen peace officers of concern carried over from last year, passed legislation addressing the opioid epidemic.”
Sen. Micciche disagrees with the current tax plan proposed by the State House and the Governor.
Sen. Micciche: “Two years ago we had a four billion dollar budget deficit, and I think the house and the governor locked on to that number, although today we’ve a 2.2 billion dollar budget deficit which is little more than half. Our plan is designed to meet that budget debt, we don’t believe government is in the business of stockpiling tax dollars so that they can increase spending again. We’ve done a good job reducing spending. We’ve cut 44.6 percent from the operating budget and capital budget over the last three years so we’re not about to climb back up. Our plan funds that budget.”
Without a comprise between the House and Senate by July 1st, the State may face a potential government shutdown.