Governor calls lawmakers for 2nd special session after House budget gambit fails

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, addresses reporters in the Capitol in Juneau on June 16, 2017. The House had pushed an operating budget through the night before then adjourned sine die, leaving the Senate few options. Other House Majority Coalition leaders pictured: Chris Tuck, Paul Seaton, Neal Foster and Gabrielle LeDoux. (Photo by Jeremy Hsieh/KTOO)
House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, addresses reporters in the Capitol in Juneau on Friday. The House had pushed an operating budget through the night before then adjourned sine die, leaving the Senate few options. Other House Majority Coalition leaders pictured: Chris Tuck, Paul Seaton, Neal Foster and Gabrielle LeDoux. (Photo by Jeremy Hsieh/KTOO)

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has called the Alaska Legislature back for a second special session to begin at 1 p.m. today, after lawmakers failed to pass an operating budget.

Without a budget, the state government will shut down in two weeks.

The House called it quits for the first special session Thursday night after pushing through an operating budget on short notice. The Republican minority caucus strongly protested.

This morning, the more conservative Senate adjourned without acting on the House’s budget. Democratic Sen. Berta Gardner got the last word in before Republican Senate President Pete Kelly gaveled out.

“It’s unacceptable to shut down without passing a budget. And we have to keep working at it,” she said.

House leaders said negotiations with the Senate were not going well, and that legal deadlines to adopt a budget compelled their unorthodox route to passing a budget.

Jeremy Hsieh

Local News Reporter, KTOO

I dig into questions about the forces and institutions that shape Juneau, big and small, delightful and outrageous. What stirs you up about how Juneau is built and how the city works?

Sign up for The Signal

Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week

Site notifications
Update notification options
Subscribe to notifications