JUNEAU -- The Alaska Legislature on Friday marked its 60th legislative day, making it either two-thirds of the way through the maximum 90-day session put in statute by voters in 2006, or halfway through the 120-day limit called for in the Alaska Constitution.
But no one can say for sure when the Legislature will adjourn.
"I think 90 days is still a target -- everybody's still shooting for it," said Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole, the eternally optimistic majority leader in the Senate.
But even Coghill notes while it is possible to complete the Legislature's work on key issues such as the budget, clashes with Gov. Bill Walker on gas line issues and Medicaid expansion could complicated that effort.
Sen. Berta Gardner, D-Anchorage, said her goal is to get out of Juneau in 90 days, but that's not more important than seeing education, including pre-kindergarten, is adequately funded and Medicaid expanded.
While most legislators are saying they hope for a conclusion by the 90-day mark, others, including House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, are also pondering the strategy of going longer, either in an extended regular session or a called special session. And either the governor or the Legislature itself can call a special session, with each having its own merits.
Chenault said while he and Walker have clashed on natural gas pipeline issues, they are continuing to have positive discussions and animosity shows signs of diminishing.
"I don't think we're going to have an extended session over a gas pipeline," Chenault said.
Coghill, who once thought that clash might lead to an extended session, now doubts that will happen.
"Things started off a little rough, but now it's getting better," he said.
That rough start might have been due to friction between experienced legislators and a new governor, Coghill said.
"I think he's getting his feet under him," he said.
But another of the governor's priorities might keep legislators in Juneau, Chenault said.
"I think if anything holds us up it will be (Medicaid) expansion," he said.
The Legislature on its own can, and has in the past, go beyond the 90-day session established by voters. Then, it relied instead on the Constitution's 120-day session limit.
Walker has made expanding Medicaid using federal funds one of his top priorities, and during his campaign for governor used that to contrast himself with former Gov. Sean Parnell, an opponent of expansion.
"I don't know if there's support there now for what the governor has proposed, without some kind of reform," Chenault said.
But that reform, yet to be fully defined, looks to be a point of contention, Chenault said.
"If we don't get there, will the governor call us back?" he asked.
In an informal discussion with reporters Friday, Chenault discussed the merits of various extended-session methods, including letting Walker define the goals of a special session.
If the regular session simply keeps going, all the bills that have been introduced can continue to be advanced.
"If we extend it ourselves, we can work on anything that's there," he said. "If the governor calls us, we're limited to what the governor calls us on," he said.
In the past, special sessions called by governors have included only single bills in their calls, or multiple bills, including bills newly introduced for the session.
Chenault said it might be best for the governor to make the call.
"Right now, I'd rather be called in, because it limits what you have to work on. With fewer moving pieces it's easier to get consensus on one or two or three items," he said.
With multiple bills in play, bargaining for support can complicate reaching a decision, he said.
One final complication may be on whether a final vote on budgets requires a three-quarter supermajority to access the Constitutional Budget Reserve to balance the budget.
Some legislators have suggested there may be a legal way to do so, meaning that Chenault might not have to rely on votes from the Democrat-led minority to pass a budget. Chenault declined comment on that Friday.
One legislator with a strong motivation to get out of Juneau and home on time is Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, whose wife is pregnant.
"I want to get out of here in 90 days. I've got a baby on the way," he said.
But Tuck, who is also House minority leader, then added that would depend on Democratic priorities being addressed in the state budget.