Alaska Gov. Bill Walker not only called the Legislature immediately into a special session last night, he insisted that lawmakers consider an income tax, even though the Republican-led Alaska Senate is firmly opposed to one and seems unlikely to budge.

Walker specified his first seven items for special session, but when it came to the eighth — the tax — he merely stated he wants some sort of “broad-based tax” that the starkly divided Legislature must come up with itself.



Walker, as he did with HB 115, won’t offer the tax under his own name. He’s seen the polling, and it’s heavily opposed to his position and that of the Rasmuson Foundation, which is pushing for an income tax.

The governor’s Chief of Staff Scott Kendall has been visiting House Republicans to talk about what the governor wants, and he’s telling them there is no negotiating: Walker wants it all — higher oil taxes, an income tax, and Permanent Fund restructuring through SB 26.

“Expert testimony to both houses of the legislature has made clear that any complete plan to solve Alaska’s fiscal crisis must close the budget deficit this year, and include a broad-based revenue measure to connect Alaska’s economy to the services government provides,” Walker said in a statement.

What it means to “connect Alaska’s economy to the services government provides” is not clear, but it’s noteworthy that Walker mentions no trimming to those government spending programs.

GOVERNOR’S RACE NOW A FACTOR

The 2018 gubernatorial race now looms over the special session. It’s no secret that Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla is all-but-certain to run for governor. He removed himself from the caucus earlier this year so that he could continue to stand for more budget cuts.

But it’s also possible that Senate President Pete Kelly will launch a campaign for governor. He’s been encouraged by many to do so.

If Kelly has any hope of being successful in that endeavor, it means that this battle over budgets and taxes is a battle from which he cannot back down. Kelly is seen as a principled leader and he’s already said he won’t go along with an income tax. Even if he chooses not to run for governor, he’s not the kind of political warrior who will cave on taxes.

If Walker wants to be governor again, he can only hope he loses the battle for an income tax and that Kelly wins this round, because the optics, no matter how much the governor wants to keep the tax off of himself — are bad. Imagine the bill signing ceremony that would take place when Walker has to put his signature on an income tax into law.

Who besides Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott would attend such a ceremony?

It’s more likely that the governor, who is now ramping up into campaign mode, would simply allow the tax go into effect without his signature, therefore keeping the stink of an income tax as far away as possible.

HOUSE AND SENATE BUDGETS ARE A HALF BILLION APART

The Senate has already compromised with the governor by passing SB 26. They did so and insisted on cuts to the budget to go along with it.

The House Democrats have not compromised, but instead actually increased the governor’s budget by over $200 million, with no argument or signal of disapproval from Walker.

Between the Senate’s $300 million in cuts and the House’s $200 million in add-ons, the two bodies are $500 million apart on spending.

Special session starts today at 11 am. The governor will have to send pink slips to State employees on June 1, and with the governor’s game of chicken, a government shutdown might be in the works for July 1. Savvy Alaskans may want to get all their licenses renewed and paperwork filed before that date.

http://mustreadalaska.com/walker-doubles-income-tax/

These morons never stop with their asinine prog agendas, which have never worked and never will work. Look at any city in America run by Democrats/Liberals/Progressives/Markists/Socialists/Communists: Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, Baltimore, Newark, Memphis, Milwaukee, ad nauseum. All failed cities with rampant crime, insane tax burdens, and moral decay.

These idiot Liberals firmly believe in the government’s absolute power over the individual and believe in the mantra “Tax and Spend” and when that doesn’t work (which it never does) they believe that the solution is to tax more and spend more. In other words, Liberals plan extensively and when their plans fail, as they inevitability do, they plan more. They use emotion and coercion broadly to support their agenda and gain support from weak-minded, lazy, uninformed individuals.

Why do they think there's a budget crisis in the first place? Government spends way, way too much on unwanted and unneeded "Government Services," yet, there is never, ever a reduction in government spending. They are only interested in increasing their power over the individual and growing an incredibly wasteful government. This budget crisis is a direct result of liberal/prog policy.

How about no income tax and a lower tax rate on oil companies to encourage investment and development; thereby, increasing revenue - the revenue that has allowed AK to prosper in decades past - did that ever occur to this hare-brained, Progressive f*ck?

AK needs true conservative leadership, and it needs it as soon as possible.

That half a billon budget difference will be cut quite a bit when Walker takes all of the PFD this time. He knows the courts can't stop him.


Petitions are a waste of time but I had the time...

http://www.saveyourpfd.com

I like it!

Dick weasel starting to run for re-election.

I think he should know better. I understand there is plenty of tension between W and Byron... I despise Byron almost as much as W...

I can't believe Walker thinks he's got a shot at reelection.

Rumor is Baggich is planning a run.

There are no shortage of idiots in the state, but I have a feeling grabbing $1000 from everyone's PFD should get the attention of even the most brain dead drugged out gimme dat liberal. Then again, never underestimate the power of stupid.

Thus far I don't see any shoo-in opposition to Walker. Scary!

They need their slush funds.