As this fast-paced summer transitions into autumn, I wanted to keep you updated on some recent events and highlight a few important happenings this past summer.
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They say when one door closes, another door opens. Apparently the same holds true for special sessions in Alaska because as soon as the Legislature adjourned the Governor called us back to Juneau for the 5th special session of the 29th Legislature. You can read Governor Walker’s proclamation here. (Note that, one new addition to the “call”—the bills before us—is a sales tax. I’m not sure this is an especially good sign, but am willing to review the idea).
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JUNEAU — Today, members of the Alaska Senate Democrats and the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition sent a letter to Laura Eskenazi, the Vice Chairman and Executive in Charge of the Board of Veterans Appeals, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, requesting immediate in-person proceedings in Alaska by the Board of Veterans Appeals.
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A recent commentary in the Dispatch from Senate leadership omits some important facts concerning the present legislative stalemate. This omission calls for clarification.
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Today marks the 109th day of the second session of the 29th Legislature and we are still here in Juneau. There are three major issues in front of the legislature that are keeping us from adjourning. One of those issues, the Criminal Omnibus legislation, was passed from the House. It awaits a vote on “reconsideration” next week. It will likely pass on reconsideration and be returned back to the Senate where they will vote on concurrence (in other words, they will decide whether they like the House’s changes to the original bill). I will cover this topic more in a subsequent section, so be sure to read below.
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