Politics

The caucus of freshman legislators may be loosely organized but its sheer size could make it significant.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has proposed extending Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 60 days to 360 days by introducing a bill that fulfills a pledge he made during last month’s State of the State address.

After voting for a resolution to condemn the “horrors of socialism” and voting against removing Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Peltola expressed frustration with the state of affairs on Capitol Hill.

Arduin was Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s first and most controversial budget director, but she was ousted in 2019. Now she is back as a legislative aide, helping to craft a fiscal plan.

In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball discusses what’s ahead for the mine and the Bristol Bay salmon fishery with ADN reporter Alex DeMarban.

Kodiak Rep. Louise Stutes had asked to join the Republican-dominated majority, but she was rebuffed.

A measure to create a new defined benefits pension plan for public safety employees cleared its first of four House committees on Thursday, in a telling step for the legislation’s fate in a divided chamber.

The proposal, with an estimated cost of more than $257 million a year, is intended to address years of stagnant education spending that advocates say has left districts struggling to keep up with rising costs.

Revak, a former Republican state legislator from Anchorage, was also a co-chair for the late Rep. Don Young’s reelection campaign.

Tamika Ledbetter unexpectedly resigned Tuesday from her position as head of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, causing Gov. Mike Dunleavy to name Deputy Commissioner Cathy Muñoz the agency’s acting boss.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to block development of the Pebble copper and gold mine drew celebration and condemnation in Alaska.

The facility will house an indoor track and AstroTurf field where soldiers can train and build community during winter months.

A deepening crisis in recruiting and keeping state workers is pushing Alaska lawmakers to consider a new pension plan for public employees. But they are still far from agreeing on the structure of the new plan, or who will benefit.

Starting April 1, state workers will need to shift from an enormous food stamp application backlog to begin processing a phased post-pandemic shift back to normal Medicaid requirements.

The Legislature is planning to hire an independent consultant to vet the Dunleavy administration’s proposals, which could take years to implement.

The bill would block the president from drawing from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the administration releases a plan to increase oil and gas production on public lands.

The money is intended to modernize and replace older vessels, upgrade docks and invest in long-term resilience.

In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball talks to ADN reporters Sean Maguire and Iris Samuels about what the Republican-led House means for this year’s legislative agenda, a surprise in the governor’s State of the State speech, and more.

Education advocates are calling for an increase of at least $860 per student to Alaska’s public school funding formula, but House Republicans have signaled they will consider a boost as small as $250.

Peltola is now likely to sit on two committees previously chaired by the late Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young.

The members of the House’s Bush Caucus explain how and why they flipped control of the chamber.

Speaking to lawmakers in the annual State of the State address, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy said, “We need more people in Alaska, not less,” but he didn’t offer policy details.

Three of the appointees would replace board members appointed by former Gov. Bill Walker.