Here is a round-up of responses by Alaska’s political, business, and other leaders to the Governor’s budget release today.
This list will be updated as more comments flow in.
Alaska Dispatch Story on the budget release: Alaska Gov. Walker proposes to fix budget deficit with income tax, PFD cut
Governor’s Statements
Governor’s Budget Press Release: Walker-Mallott Administration Rolls Out New Sustainable Alaska Plan 120915
Governor’s Budget Accompanying Document: Government Actions to Reduce State Spending
Alaska State Senate
Alaska Senate Majority: Senate Majority Responds to FY17 Proposed Fiscal Plan
Alaska Senate Minority: Senate Democrats Concerned Governor’s Fiscal Plan Targets Working Families
Alaska State House
Alaska State House Majority: Finance Co-Chairs Comment on Governor’s Fiscal Plan
Alaska House Minority: Massive Scope of Proposed Fiscal Changes Demands Thorough Review of Impacts on Alaskans of All Income Levels
Others
Alaska Chamber of Commerce: Alaska Chamber issues statement on the New Sustainable Alaska Plan
Alaskans For Sustainable Budgets/Brad Keithley:
“To be honest, I think how you react to Alaska’s fiscal situation is determined by whether your mind thinks in terms of cash or accrual accounting. If cash, then you want dollars in to equal dollars out each year. If accrual, you take a longer view and want dollars in to equal dollars out over business cycles. Alaska is in a low point in its business cycle. Those, like the Governor, running to fill the revenue trough with PFD cuts and taxes (or on the other side of things, excessive cuts) are wanting dollars in to equal dollars out this year. Frankly, they are going down the same road as those who got us into this mess in the first place, by thinking it was ok to spend a lot of the cash that came in the door (rather than saving more) when Alaska was at the top of the business cycle. Both approaches do serious damage to Alaska’s economy. Hopefully, more balanced and temperate approaches will prevail as we work through this situation.”
From Twitterville:
Rep. Charisse Millett
Alaska Support Industry Alliance
Alaska Oil and Gas Association
Anchorage Tea Party
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Matt Acuña Buxton is a long-time political reporter who has written for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and The Midnight Sun political blog. He also authors the daily politics newsletter, The Alaska Memo, and can frequently be found live-tweeting public meetings on Twitter.
