Avoiding tax talk prolongs Juneau stalemate

The Senate and the House have rejected the radical elements of Gov. Mike Dunleay’s so-called Honest Budget—showing bipartisan support for education and other public services.

But disagreement on the size of the Permanent Fund Dividend has led to a political stalemate in which everyone is unhappy.

A compromise that no one likes is in order, one that won’t make everyone happy, but will contain a plan to pay for state government.

Dunleavy said Monday that a plan to pay $1,600 per person in dividends is unacceptable.

“This bill kills the Permanent Fund Dividend as we know it. The PFD is your share of Alaska’s mineral wealth, and there should be no change to the dividend without a vote of the people,” Dunleavy said in a statement Monday. “That’s what I promised on the campaign and that’s the promise I intend to keep.”

Read more: https://www.anchoragepress.com/news/avoiding-tax-talk-prolongs-juneau-stalemate/article_b37ee578-87b6-11e9-bf5d-5b606ae4680e.html