Politics

Alaska House speaker dismisses call to move special session to Anchorage

Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, says his chamber will still hold the upcoming legislative session in Juneau, in spite of a request by the Republican minority to move proceedings to Anchorage.

"The special session is taking place in Juneau and that's where it's going to be held, at least from the House perspective," Edgmon said in a phone interview Monday.

Anchorage Republican Rep. Chris Birch sent Edgmon a letter Saturday asking him to poll House members about whether to call the special session in Anchorage instead of Juneau. It was signed by 14 other Republicans, all of whom belong to the minority in the 40-member chamber.

The special session, called by Gov. Bill Walker to address crime and Alaska's deficit, is set to start Monday in Juneau.

Edgmon said a poll wasn't necessary.

The Senate, meanwhile, plans to hold its own budget and tax hearings in Anchorage following the start of the special session in Juneau, according to the Associated Press.

Senate President Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, told the AP that his members will return to Juneau when there's something to act on.

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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