A March 2024 vote on overriding the governor's veto of an education bill has come up repeatedly in talks with voters, candidates said.
Education is playing a big role in campaigns for the Alaska Legislature in the closing weeks ahead of the 2024 election.
Senate Bill 140 would have raised base per-student funding by 11%, or $680, a longtime goal for school districts that have complained about years of flat funding under the state’s formula. Even if lawmakers had overridden the governor’s veto, Johnson said Dunleavy likely would have vetoed the funding boost from the state budget after the House and Senate adjourned for the year, which would have made it difficult for schools to budget.
Her opponent in the race for the open Senate District R seat is Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok, a retired teacher. Like Johnson, he first voted for the increase, and later reversed course. Republican Anchorage Hillside Rep. Julie Coulombe said she’s also hearing a lot about her vote to sustain the governor’s veto after initially supporting the bill.
Coulombe also said improving retirement benefits could help the state attract and hang onto quality teachers. Like many Republicans, Johnson included, Coulombe said she’s skeptical of returning to a defined benefit plan. But Couloumbe said she’s open to other ideas, including smaller tweaks to the existing 401-style defined contribution plan.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lone USDA-certified meat processing plant in Southcentral Alaska to close in coming monthsSouthcentral Alaska’s only USDA-certified meat processing facility – Alaska Meat – is shutting down.
Read more »
Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Set to Explore Critical Issues Facing Alaska Native CommunitiesThe Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention returns in 2024 with a focus on 'Our Children - Our Future Ancestors.' The event, drawing thousands of delegates from across the state, will address pressing issues like subsistence rights, education access, and legislative barriers facing Alaska Native communities.
Read more »
Young Texans face barriers to election in older LegislatureThe average age of Texans last year was 37, while the Legislature’s average age was 55. Hurdles to voting and the unique challenges young candidates encounter fuel the mismatch.
Read more »
North Carolina legislature swiftly passes hurricane relief and election flexibilityPolitical News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government
Read more »
Eastern German legislature elects mainstream conservative speaker after far-right election winLawmakers have elected a mainstream conservative as speaker of the state parliament in eastern Germany’s Thuringia region, putting aside a convention that the strongest party gets the job after the far-right Alternative for Germany won a regional election for the first time.
Read more »
Far-right congressman suggests N.C. Legislature should consider handing electors to Trump on Election DayAli Vitali is a Capitol Hill correspondent for NBC News, based in Washington. She is the author of 'Electable: Why America Hasn’t Put a Woman in the White House ... Yet.'
Read more »