Alaska Legislature

Recent high school graduates from throughout Alaska are working closely with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski through the summer internship program, which lasts until August 4 and exposes the interns to the day-to-day life in a senator’s office. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office)

Young Alaskans shadow Murkowski on Capitol Hill

From the outside, Capitol Hill seems like a hectic place this summer, but a group of ten recent Alaska high school graduates are experiencing it… Continue reading

Recent high school graduates from throughout Alaska are working closely with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski through the summer internship program, which lasts until August 4 and exposes the interns to the day-to-day life in a senator’s office. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office)

Oil tax credits re-emerge as issue for Alaska lawmakers

JUNEAU (AP) — Alaska Senate Republicans put pressure on the House Thursday to end a program that financially rewards oil exploration and production, while a… Continue reading

A janitor vacuums at the Capitol just before midnight Thursday, June 23, 2017, after both the House and Senate voted to approve a budget and keep the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislature averts shutdown, but more work remains

The morning after the Alaska Legislature averted a statewide shutdown, you could find more tourists than legislators in the Capitol. Though the Legislature’s second special… Continue reading

A janitor vacuums at the Capitol just before midnight Thursday, June 23, 2017, after both the House and Senate voted to approve a budget and keep the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Senators gather in the hallway of the Capitol on Thursday, June 22, 2017, after passing a budget that will keep that the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Legislature averts shutdown with nine days to spare

With nine days to spare, the Alaska Legislature has averted a statewide government shutdown. At 1:04 p.m. Thursday afternoon, a joint House-Senate conference committee approved… Continue reading

Senators gather in the hallway of the Capitol on Thursday, June 22, 2017, after passing a budget that will keep that the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmakers reach deal to avert deficit, but final vote awaits

Alaska lawmakers have agreed upon a plan to avert a statewide government shutdown, but at press time Thursday, the Alaska Legislature’s various factions were struggling… Continue reading

On the docks, no sympathy for deadlocked lawmakers

Boats don’t have wheels. This may go without saying, but as Juneau commercial fisherman Brian Delay joked Friday at Don D. Statter Harbor, it’s worth… Continue reading

Sunlight exposes the front of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

House ends special session with failed ‘Hail Mary’ on budget

It was a mic-drop moment on a trampoline. In a surprise Thursday night move, the Alaska House of Representatives attempted to avert a statewide government… Continue reading

Sunlight exposes the front of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

State shutdown would affect every man, woman and child in Alaska — including the dead

Forget about the ferries. Reschedule your wedding. Don’t think about pull tabs. Alaska’s impending government shutdown will have a tsunami of effects across the state,… Continue reading

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Walker warned of a potential government shutdown if the state house and senate could not reach an agreement on the state budget and several tax bills by July 3. (Erin Granger | Juneau Empire)

Walker begs lawmakers to reach compromise

A day after the Alaska House Majority rejected his compromise bid to avert a statewide government shutdown, Gov. Bill Walker said he still hopes that… Continue reading

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Walker warned of a potential government shutdown if the state house and senate could not reach an agreement on the state budget and several tax bills by July 3. (Erin Granger | Juneau Empire)
Gov. Bill Walker walks into the Cabinet Room to present his compromise plan to the House Minority. (Courtesy photo/Office of the Governor)

House cool to Walker compromise

In a bid to avoid a state-spanning government shutdown, Gov. Bill Walker on Monday proposed a compromise to bring the Alaska Senate and Alaska House… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker walks into the Cabinet Room to present his compromise plan to the House Minority. (Courtesy photo/Office of the Governor)
This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. On Thursday, the Alaska Senate voted 17-1 to restrict the amount of opioid painkillers that may be prescribed with a single prescription. House Bill 159 now returns to the House for a procedural vote. (Associated Press file)

Senate approves overdose-fighting bill

The Alaska Senate voted Thursday to restrict the ability of doctors to prescribe opioid painkillers. House Bill 159, proposed by Gov. Bill Walker, is part… Continue reading

This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. On Thursday, the Alaska Senate voted 17-1 to restrict the amount of opioid painkillers that may be prescribed with a single prescription. House Bill 159 now returns to the House for a procedural vote. (Associated Press file)
State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Wasilla Republican asks Alaska Legislature to criminalize abortion

Wasilla Republican David Eastman has proposed a measure making abortion illegal in the state of Alaska. On Monday, Eastman introduced House Bill 250, which —… Continue reading

State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)
Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed its version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Alaska House approves Permanent Fund plan — with strings attached

For the first time in state history, the Alaska Legislature has chosen to spend the Alaska Permanent Fund on something other than dividends. On Wednesday,… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed its version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmaker wants primary elections to be more like California

The chairwoman of the powerful House Rules Committee believes she has a plan to drive Alaska politics toward the center. Her Republican critics say it’s… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A customer takes his drinks from a bartender Friday, March 31, 2017 at Kenai River Brewing Company in Soldotna, Alaska. Soldotna is one of several communities in the state with establishments opened under public convenience licenses, which would be transitioned to restaurant or eating place licenses under SB 76, a rewrite of Alaska’s alcohol statutes. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Alcohol rewrite bill addresses unfinished business

The second half of a sweeping update to Alaska’s alcohol laws is making its way through the Legislature and seeks to streamline the alcohol licensing… Continue reading

A customer takes his drinks from a bartender Friday, March 31, 2017 at Kenai River Brewing Company in Soldotna, Alaska. Soldotna is one of several communities in the state with establishments opened under public convenience licenses, which would be transitioned to restaurant or eating place licenses under SB 76, a rewrite of Alaska’s alcohol statutes. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Education bill to be amended following testimony

A section of Senate Bill 96 calling for the consolidation of schools at less than 80 percent capacity that are located within 25-miles of each… Continue reading

Teresa Reger (left, with sign) and Susie Stafford wave to passing cars at the annual demonstration in support of disability services by the Key Coalition advocacy group, held this year on Friday in Soldotna. Reger and Stafford are both parents of disabled adult children who receive services through the program the Key Campaign seeks to preserve. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Integration and independence’: Activists raise awareness for programs for people with disabilities

For 30 years the disability services activists of Alaska’s Key Campaign have been holding annual statewide demonstrations in towns like Soldotna — where demonstrators gathered… Continue reading

Teresa Reger (left, with sign) and Susie Stafford wave to passing cars at the annual demonstration in support of disability services by the Key Coalition advocacy group, held this year on Friday in Soldotna. Reger and Stafford are both parents of disabled adult children who receive services through the program the Key Campaign seeks to preserve. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Aimed at PACs, lawmaker’s bill may hit political rival

Anchorage Republican Sen. Kevin Meyer has a nightmare. It involves credit card machines. “What we don’t want is for people to have a Paypal or… Continue reading