Alaska News

Legislative leaders cancel confirmation session but say it will happen

JUNEAU -- Republican leaders in the Alaska Legislature have canceled a joint House-Senate session Friday that was scheduled for confirmation votes on Gov. Bill Walker's political appointees.

The Legislature's 90-day session is set to end Sunday, though it could be extended. House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, said Friday's confirmation votes were canceled because his chamber also had a floor session scheduled that was filled with consideration of bills.

The session on confirmations has not been rescheduled.

The canceled session prompted questions about whether the Legislature would ever consider the appointments, especially with its leaders feuding with Walker on other issues. Those questions were fueled by a memo from February that surfaced Monday over whether legislators had a legal obligation to vote on confirmations.

That legal memo was requested by Senate President Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, who asked the Legislature's attorney to find out what would happen if the Legislature fails to meet for votes on Walker's appointees. Doug Gardner, director of the legal department, replied that the governor's appointments would be considered to have been declined on the day the regular legislative session ends if no vote is taken

But the governor also has the power to convene the Legislature to consider the appointments before the end of the session, Gardner's opinion said.

In an interview Monday, Meyer said he wasn't planning on skipping the confirmation votes.

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"All the names will be brought up," he said.

Chenault also said that the Legislature plans to have confirmation votes.

"It's just that Friday wasn't going to be the right day to do it," Chenault added.

A spokeswoman for Walker didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nathaniel Herz

Anchorage-based independent journalist Nathaniel Herz has been a reporter in Alaska for nearly a decade, with stints at the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media. Read his newsletter, Northern Journal, at natherz.substack.com

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