Legislative Leaders Express Deep Concern Over Executive-Legislative Friction
Senate President Gary Stevens and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon have issued a pointed letter to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, condemning the state Department of Revenue for allegedly “obfuscating” critical information related to oil and gas tax assessments. The letter, sent on Tuesday, highlights fears of growing tensions between the executive and legislative branches and calls for Dunleavy to endorse a bill clarifying the auditor’s right to access information from his administration.
This initiative emerges from ongoing disputes dating back to a 2020 legislative audit into the Department of Revenue’s oil and gas tax evaluation process. The audit uncovered $1.3 billion in additional taxes and interest owed to the state. However, under Dunleavy’s administration, legislators claim access to vital data has been obstructed, undermining the state’s financial oversight.
The proposed Senate Bill 183 aims to ensure that state agencies fully cooperate with the legislative auditor and provide information in the required formats. Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson emphasized the bill’s significance, warning that any agency’s selective sharing of data can prevent proper legislative oversight, potentially hiding billions from public knowledge.
Despite achieving broad bipartisan support—passing with 19 out of 20 Senate votes and 30 out of 40 in the House—concerns linger over a possible veto from Dunleavy. Legislators fear that his refusal to sign could imply an attempt to obscure the Department of Revenue’s inefficacies.
The recent dismissal of a senior department official shortly after an audit was initiated has only intensified suspicions of malfeasance within the administration. Edgmon lamented that Alaska may be missing significant revenue due to these ongoing issues.
As the bill awaits Dunleavy’s decision by June 19, both Edgmon and Stevens stress the paramount importance of reinforcing accountability norms within Alaska’s government.
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