Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media & KTOO - Juneau
Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
Former Planned Parenthood worker rejected for midwives board
Opposition to Linden’s appointment to the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives was centered on Planned Parenthood’s role in providing abortions. Listen now
Slow-paced session could end with a sprint
It’s not clear which bills lawmakers will pass in the remaining days, other than those related to the budget. Listen now
Chairman ends meeting after move to advance PFD constitutional amendment
Three pieces of legislation were scheduled to receive a hearing Saturday in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Only one received brief consideration, after which Committee Chairman Sen. John Coghill, a North Pole Republican, abruptly ended the hearing early. Listen now
Legislature picks up pace, with little time to spare
The Legislature is on track to break the record for fewest bills passed in a year, with only five so far this year compared with the current record-low of 32 last year. Listen now
Senators aim for $1,600 dividends, early school funding
The Senate Finance Committee draft budget would cut $98 million to fund the operations of state government from the House’s version of the budget. Listen now
Yes, independents can run in Democratic primary, says Alaska Supreme Court
The decision would allow Gov. Bill Walker to run in the primary if he chooses to. It may affect some Republican primaries, too, for legislators the party doesn’t want on their ticket. Listen now
Alaska corrections leaders look to Norway for inspiration
In the last two decades, Norway has made a series of changes to lower their recidivism rate — the rate people convicted of crimes re-offend. These changes include making life in prison look a lot more like normal life. Listen now
House passes state budget in close vote
Any changes the Senate makes in the budget would likely be worked out in a conference committee. Listen now
Alaska House reverses itself on full dividend
The House had been stalled for days, when the majority split over the size of the PFD. Six members of the majority reversed their position. Listen now
Divided House majority coalition stuck on state budget
Since the majority couldn’t agree on the dividend, it can’t agree on the overall size of the budget. The added dividend money would cost $892 million. Listen now
House votes to restore PFDs to full $2,700
It's not clear how the House will fund the dividends. And it's not clear what will happen to the PFD in the Senate. Listen now
State budget largely unchanged after 3 days of amendments
Minority caucus Republicans offered amendments that would cut $28 million, but none passed. Listen now
At confirmation hearing, Fisher says he supports diversifying state revenue
Sheldon Fisher didn’t champion any individual tax during his confirmatin hearing. Afterward, he said the biggest source of new revenue should be a draw on Alaska Permanent Fund earnings. Listen now
State budget advances, but how to pay for it remains unclear
The House and Senate finance committee co-chairs have reached an agreement that they’re going to talk about a long-term plan. That may be a step in the right direction. But it’s not clear how much reassurance Alaskans can take from it. Listen now
Oil revenue is up in state’s spring forecast
Lawmakers from the two majorities in the Legislature had different responses to the news. Listen now
Senators propose spending limit to curb future sprees
The amount allowed under the constitutional limit has grown so much that the state is nowhere near it. Listen now
Proposed constitutional amendment would protect dividends, sort of
Concern over the dividend’s future led House members to propose a constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 23. Listen now
House passes fast-track bill to keep ferries and Medicaid funded through spring
The bill now goes to the Senate. It includes $45 million for Medicaid, $24 million for the ferry system and $18 million for the Department of Corrections. Listen now
Zulkosky takes seat as House District 38 representative
Zulkosky is one of 19 women in the current Legislature, the highest number in the history of Alaska. Listen now
Without legislative action, state could suspend Medicaid payments to providers in April
For smaller hospitals and providers that rely significantly on Medicaid, the suspension could keep them from paying contractors or making payroll. Listen now