Past & Future Sessions
The whole legislature came back to Juneau last week to take action before the official end of session. We should have convened a whole lot sooner to dole out the federal coronavirus money. The whole process tried to cut constitutional corners, which isn’t how we should make public policy—even in a crisis.
Quick recap: the governor tried to use the “RPL” process to get the money approved by a single committee. Legislative lawyers said it was unconstitutional, but the committee approved it anyway. Predictably, an Alaskan sued to stop the dough from going out. So the legislature reconvened. But rather than pass an appropriation bill that could have been amended—and which would clearly be constitutional—we “ratified” the RPLs. That means we couldn't fix any issues with them. (It also didn't stop the lawsuit, but they're not trying to freeze the cash anymore, so now it's an important constitutional debate, not an economic crisis.)
One of the issues that came from cutting corners is the grants to Alaska small businesses. At the end of session we had it in writing from the Department of Commerce that getting federal help (e.g.: from the Payroll Protection Program) didn’t stop a business from getting the state grant, as long as you didn't count the same expense for both. No problem—Alaska businesses are hurting so badly they're awash in eligible expenses with no income to pay them. But after we adjourned, the department pointed to the first version (the one we "ratified") which said a single nickel from the feds meant you get nothing from the state. That leaves a huge number of our neighbors with small businesses high and dry.
I haven't found a way around reconvening the whole legislature to fix that. Another special session is the last thing we want. (OK, it's second-to-last, right ahead of a spike in COVID cases.) But it needs fixing. I'll keep looking.
