Alaska Beacon

If Alaska lawmakers do not vote by 11:59 p.m. Friday on a bill offering a tax break to the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project, Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he will call them into another 30-day special session, writes James Brooks for the Alaska Beacon.

In a message on social media, Dunleavy said legislators are making progress on the issue, but if they cannot finish work by the end of an ongoing special session, “I will issue a call for a second special session to give them more time to quickly complete the work.”

For several days, the Senate majority has been deadlocked on a variety of issues, keeping the bill from advancing to the full Senate.

The governor and leading members of the Senate have met several times in closed-door meetings, frequently gathering in the governor’s cabinet room on the third floor of the capitol even as tour groups walk the halls outside the room.

Late Thursday afternoon, after the Senate Finance Committee canceled scheduled meetings for a second consecutive day, Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said the committee will release a revised version of the tax-break bill about 9 a.m. Friday morning.

As Alaska gasline special session nears end, additional session looms and Senate prepares to vote | Alaska Beacon If Alaska lawmakers do not vote by midday Friday on a bill offering a tax break to the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project, Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he will call them into another 30-day special session.