Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivered his second State of the State address at 7 p.m. Monday.
Each year, the Alaska Legislature invites the governor into its chambers to deliver the speech. It’s a platform for the governor to tell lawmakers, and Alaska as a whole, where the state’s headed and what his policy goals are.
Last year, he prioritized reducing crime and protecting permanent fund dividends. The Legislature did pass a major crime bill last year that lawmakers said repealed a 2016 law criminal justice reform law that had grown unpopular.
But Dunleavy, a Republican, couldn’t deliver on his PFD promises. Public outcry against spending cuts he proposed, as well as lawmakers’ concerns about the future of the Alaska Permanent Fund, led to lower dividends than what Dunleavy wanted under a 1982 law. The Legislature passed PFDs of $1,600, just over half of what the amount would have been.
Dunleavy also pitched three amendments to the state constitution last year to limit state government spending, require a vote of the people to change permanent fund dividends, and require a vote of the people to changes taxes. None of his constitutional amendment legislation has cleared either chamber.
Dunleavy’s cabinet — and his political approach — have changed significantly since last year. His first chief of staff, former Republican Party chairman Tuckerman Babcock, resigned. Former state Sen. Ben Stevens replaced Babcock. And legislative leaders have complimented Stevens on his approach.
Dunleavy’s controversial budget chief Donna Arduin has also left the administration. The governor named Neil Steininger the new director of the Office of Management and Budget last week.
