Dunleavy, Republicans, decry lack of special session action
With the end of the fourth special session looming, Gov. Mike Dunleavy criticized the Alaska State Legislature for the lack of action during the past few weeks.
“They concluded a long time ago they weren’t going to do anything,” Dunleavy said Thursday. “I want this Legislature to take action to help Alaskans. We’ve introduced constitutional amendments that we believe are appropriate.”
At a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol, Dunleavy castigated lawmakers for not doing more to resolve the state’s fiscal problems. The governor said he announced months ago there would be a special session at the end of the summer meant specifically to address the deficit issues and had provided lawmakers with every opportunity to be productive. Dunleavy said Thursday there wouldn’t be another special session, and expressed frustration with lawmakers for holding so few meetings.
Earlier this summer, Alaska House of Representatives Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, sent a letter to the governor asking the last special session be canceled, as many lawmakers were tired from continued sessions and had personal obligations to attend to. Stutes and Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, criticized the session, the Associated Press reported, with Micciche calling the session “wasteful.”
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