Alaska House, without budget deal, breaks for Memorial Day

FAIRBANKS — Less than a week after Gov. Bill Walker called legislators back to work for a special session, the Alaska House announced it would take a break through Memorial Day.

In an announcement, the Democrat-led House majority coalition said the House had done all it could and was waiting on the Senate to make a move on the state budget plan.

The House majority has pushed for a broad plan to address the state’s nearly $3 billion budget deficit, including a progressive income tax in addition to a reduction of dividends. The Senate has opposed taxes in any form, saying a dividend reduction is sufficient.

Walker asked the chambers to consider a tax as part of the fiscal plan during the special session, but he didn’t introduce his own measure. The House had proposed an income tax during the regular session, which the Senate voted down.

Read more: http://www.newsminer.com/news/alaska_news/alaska-house-without-budget-deal-breaks-for-memorial-day/article_7cf7d8e4-4054-11e7-b1e2-bf00ce3293d2.html