Slow work on Alaska’s state budget could again cause some teachers to be temporarily laid off Published 2 hours ago
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Print article JUNEAU Some Alaska teachers could once again receive temporary layoff notices this spring due to slow action by the Alaska Legislature on the state budget. With that prospect in mind, House lawmakers are preparing to advance a speedy education budget barely longer than a single printed page. The budget makes no cuts or increases. “What we’re going to try to do is prepare a separate for pre-K through 12 so we can get the schools funded and you don’t have to worry. That would be nice,” said Speaker of the House Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak.
Eagle River lawmaker proposes that Alaska ignore some federal laws and orders Published 4 hours ago
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Print article JUNEAU A state senator, opposed to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order on aircraft and public transportation, has asked the Alaska Legislature to consider ignoring certain federal laws, regulations and executive orders. The idea is one of many similar ideas advancing in Republican-controlled statehouses across the country despite opponents who say the concept blatantly violates the U.S. Constitution. If approved by the Senate, House and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Senate Bill 118 would create a legislative “Committee on Nullification of Federal Laws.” If the committee recommends that a federal rule be ignored and both the House and Senate agree, “the state and the citizens of the state may not recognize or be obligated to abide by the federal law or executive order.”
Alaska state senator fined for violating Capitol’s mask mandate Published 3 hours ago
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Print article JUNEAU The head of the Alaska Senate’s Rules Committee has fined Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, $250 for violating the mask mandate in the Alaska State Capitol during a legislative meeting last week. Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, called Reinbold’s action an “egregious” violation of rules imposed before the Legislature convened this year. She is the first lawmaker to be fined this year. Under the Capitol’s rules, the fine will be deducted from the daily food-and-housing expense payments that Reinbold and other lawmakers receive. According to a document obtained from the Legislature’s nonpartisan administrative office, the fine was assessed last week and has already been paid.
Print article JUNEAU A small group of Alaska state legislators, staff and invited guests held an after-hours event in the Capitol complex’s gymnasium last week despite COVID precautions that have closed the complex to the general public. The event prompted Jessica Geary, head of the nonpartisan agency that runs the Capitol complex, to write an email reminding lawmakers that “legislative buildings are closed to the public and there is nobody authorized to be in legislative facilities that hasn’t gone through the legislature’s COVID-19 testing and screening protocols.” A COVID-19 outbreak among legislators and staff disrupted Capitol business earlier this year. Many legislators and staff have been vaccinated since then.
Once worried about a budget shortfall, Alaska lawmakers face unexpected excess Published 2 hours ago
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Print article JUNEAU At the start of Alaska’s current legislative session, lawmakers were worried about how to pay for the state budget and the Permanent Fund dividend. After an unexpectedly rosy revenue forecast and with more than $1 billion in federal aid on the way, they’re now concerned about how to handle the unexpected money before the legislative session expires May 19. The federal government isn’t scheduled to publish rules for how the aid can be used until early May, which leaves the situation uncertain.