The Alaska House has voted to limit the governor’s ability to accept additional federal funding for a budget item outside of the legislative session.
The bill, from Republican Rep. Mike Hawker, includes language stipulating how the governor can accept and spend money that the legislature did not appropriate during the session. It also extends the amount of time the governor must wait to use the funds. The measure passed the House on Thursday.
The move comes after Gov. Bill Walker expanded Medicaid by accepting additional federal funding post-session after lawmakers inserted language into the budget prohibiting expansion. A legal opinion from the Legislature’s top lawyer called the language unenforceable.
A spokeswoman from Hawker’s office says Walker’s action on Medicaid expansion spotlighted the issue for lawmakers.
