Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a written response to the passage of the 2021 Operating and Capital Budget, as well as the 2020 supplemental budget and emergency disaster relief.
Dunleavy said he thinks the Legislature missed an opportunity to help Alaskans by not including a cash infusion that many leading economists believe should be implemented as quickly as possible.
“Thousands of Alaskans are out of work through no fault of their own, due to the government pausing most economic activity to slow the spread of the disease,” Dunleavy said. “It would appear lawmakers missed the opportunity to create a cash infusion from the earnings reserve account into the hands of Alaskans, like hairdressers and restaurant workers, that could have happened in as little as two weeks. I am quite frankly puzzled why they would not do that.”
“The vast majority of economists worldwide, as well as the President of the United States, and almost every member of congress understand how a quick injection of cash into the hands of workers will do more to stabilize the economy than any other approach at this time. My administration will continue to work closely with Alaska’s congressional delegation and the White House on how to maximize the benefit of the federal emergency relief package here in Alaska,” he said.
