Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau News: Special Session Update
May 6, 2011
Today is day 19 of the special session. Progress was made during the past week with the passage of the operating budget. However, the capital budget, which has presented the most problems, still remains unresolved. Coastal Management also remains on the table.
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Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: A Special Session Solution
April 29, 2011
Today is the 12th day of the special session, with no discernable movement from last week’s status (see last week’s newsletter). Yesterday in a press conference, the Alaska House Democrats set out a path for a common-sense solution to end the special session. We believe this would require a little give and take from all the parties involved and would result in the Legislature being able to get the job done.
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House Democrats Propose Common-Sense Solution to Budget Impasse
April 28, 2011
All parties should stand down and work together in good faith
JUNEAU - Today, Alaska House Democrats announced a simple, common-sense solution to the budget stand-off that has the Legislature locked into a special session.
“We have a way out of this mess. It isn’t all that complicated,” said Representative Beth Kerttula, House Minority Leader. “We say this without blame and in the spirit of being helpful.”
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Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: Special Session Status Report
April 22, 2011
After it became apparent that the Legislature wasn’t going to be able to finish everything and gavel out in time for the 90-day session, the House asked the governor to adjourn the Legislature. Although the Constitution has always allowed the governor to do this if the two bodies cannot agree upon adjournment, it’s the first time it’s ever happened.
When the governor adjourned the Legislature, he also called us back into special session to address specific issues. In this newsletter, I’ll run down the issues included in the call for special session and their status. Things are moving fast right now, so by the time you read this something will probably have changed.
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Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: End of Session - Maybe; Pieces of the End Game Puzzle
April 15, 2011
The last day of session is supposed to be Sunday April 17. However, there’s been some speculation that we won’t be able to finish in time. That all depends on whether or not the House and the Senate can come to an agreement about the capital budget and some other key items. At the end of session, a few key things need to fall into place as the final pieces of the puzzle. This year, the end game is centering around the operating and capital budgets, oil and gas taxes, coastal zone management, performance scholarships and education funding.
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