The members of the House and Senate returned to Juneau this week to wrap up a legislative session unlike any other in Alaska’s history. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a lengthy legislative recess in late March, which left much of the Alaska Legislature’s work undone.

The deadline to apply for your 2020 Permanent Fund Dividend is today. Normally the deadline is at the end of March, but the deadline was extended to the end of April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first four months of 2020, a global pandemic, unlike anything we have ever seen, has threatened the safety of every one of us who calls Alaska home. I am thankful that reasonable actions were taken quickly to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Alaska, and those actions have mostly been successful.

The Alaska Legislature wrapped up its work last Sunday, and most lawmakers quickly flew home. I’m anxious to get home myself, but I needed to stay in Juneau and help wrap up a challenging legislative session cut short by the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Alaska.

On Monday, the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, which I chair, met to review the annual audit of the state government in Alaska. At the conclusion of the meeting, we released the audit and its findings to the public. (Click the image below to read and download the FY 19 audit)

I imagine that many of you are feeling a lot of fear and angst. I understand. These are troubling times, and the answers and solutions haven’t been easy.