JUNEAU, AK — The Alaska House Republicans today condemned the House Majority’s handling of the Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget, which prioritizes government growth and slush funds over the interests of individual Alaskans, public safety and vulnerable children.
“The budget passed by the Majority is a betrayal of the Alaskans we were sent here to represent,” said Minority Leader Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer. “While Alaskans face one of the most unaffordable years of their lifetimes, this Majority has chosen to fund government agencies at record levels, while leaving families and communities behind.”
“This budget is not a responsible document; it is a wish list for government growth,” said Minority Whip Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna. “House Republicans will continue to stand for fiscal restraint, public safety and putting Alaskans first.”
Protecting ghost funding and travel slush funds
The Majority repeatedly blocked Republican efforts to right-size government and redirect wasted dollars to critical needs.
In House Bill 265, the state operating budget, House Republicans proposed redirecting $41 million to fund 535 state worker positions that have been vacant for over six months to pay for a massive backlog in school major maintenance. However, the Majority voted to keep that ghost funding within department budgets where it can be spent with zero legislative oversight.
“The Majority is effectively just giving them money and letting them figure out how many positions are needed,” said Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake. “To me, this is tantamount to a total abdication of our responsibility as legislators.”
Rep. Frank Tomaszewski, R-Fairbanks, said: “We are the appropriators for the state. We hold the purse strings and when we give departments money for specific reasons, and they use that money for other reasons, they are making an end run around the normal appropriation process.”
In addition, the Majority rejected a series of Republican amendments to align department travel budgets with actual spending levels from previous years. Despite an existing executive travel freeze, travel costs in multiple departments have continued to increase.
“In today’s climate, with fuel costs hitting Alaska families hard, spending millions on travel is not justifiable,” Rep. Elexie Moore, R-Wasilla, said. “We can and must restore discipline without impacting core services.”
Prioritizing inmate wellness over abused children
The House Majority voted down several Republican efforts to redirect funds toward Child Advocacy Centers (CACs), facilities where professionals from various disciplines, including law enforcement, child protection, medical and mental health, coordinate their response to allegations of child abuse.
Republicans proposed moving funds from administrative retention bonuses, in-person training that the department admitted they would not use and correctional “peer support and wellness” programs to CACs to help them provide justice for children who are victims of sexual assault and human trafficking.
Currently, CACs like the one in Kenai/Soldotna are so underfunded that children often cannot even get a required interview following a traumatic event.
“If the trauma from abuse is not addressed early, victims are more likely to become part of the problem later in life,” Rep. Bill Elam, R-Nikiski, said. “We have heard loud and clear that we need to take care of this. It’s a big issue on the Kenai and we have heard that from a number of constituents.”
Turning a blind eye to public safety
The Majority also blocked the re-establishment of the Talkeetna Alaska State Trooper post, a move intended to combat the trafficking of fentanyl and to address violent crime and traffic hazards along the Parks Highway.
Despite compelling testimony that public safety is a primary function of government and a critical tool for preventing cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP), the Majority dismissed the request for improved public safety resources as the responsibility of local residents, not the state.
“Public safety along the Parks Highway corridor is a critical state responsibility,” Rep. Mike Prax, R-North Pole, said. “Maintaining law enforcement and safety on state highways is the primary function of the state troopers.”
Assaulting resource development and infrastructure
The Majority is jeopardizing Alaska’s economic future by attempting to take receipts from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), which could threaten its bond rating and its ability to fund major mineral and infrastructure projects.
“It is not good fiscal policy for us to be doing this in the budget,” said Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan. “That means the authority’s ability to perform its duties is at risk.”
House Bill 265 advanced from the House on a strict 21-19 vote along caucus lines and moves next to the state Senate.
Media Contact: Amanda Bohman, 907-378-6809