Alaska House Majority Coalition

This week the House Finance Committee heard from thousands of Alaskans from across the state and from all walks of life about the governor's vetoes, the state budget, and the PFD. Many citizens pleaded with the legislature to protect programs and services they care deeply about. Others spoke of the need for further cuts. Various testifiers recommended paying a full PFD or, alternately, reducing the PFD to pay for services. Some said it's time to talk taxes. Regardless of their perspective, it was an impressive showing of diverse Alaskans speaking out about what matters to them, their family, their business, their community, and their state.

The Second Special Session is underway with many unresolved issues. I am thankful for the brief opportunity to be home for a few days to give an update to neighbors. I want to give you an idea of what happens next.

I thank everyone once again for weighing in and continuing to keep the pressure on the Legislature to restore the funding to the operating budget that was vetoed by the Governor. The fight is not over, and we will continue to work to fix the mess we are in.

The House and Senate are working in coordination to restore funds vetoed by Governor Dunleavy. We cannot allow his sadistic vetoes to send Alaska back into recession, to take shelter away from domestic violence survivors, to defund law enforcement, or to defund early education. Please consider testifying this week as the Finance Committee takes public testimony in Anchorage, the Mat-Su, and Fairbanks.