In a quick joint session on Tuesday, the Alaska Legislature has overridden a veto by Gov. Mike Dunleavy on House Bill 57, an education spending bill that fell short of the policy expectations of the governor.
The vote was 46 to 14, with several Republicans joining the Democrats to oppose the governor’s veto of giving $200+ million to the NEA with no strings attached.
Republican House Minority Leader Rep. Mia Costello voted to override Dunleavy, along with Anchorage Republicans David Nelson and Julie Coulombe, Ketchikan Republican Jeremy Bynum, Kenai Republicans Bill Elam and Justin Ruffridge, Fairbanks Republican Will Stapp, and Eagle River Republican Dan Saddler. The issue appears to have fractured the House Republican minority.
In the Senate, Republicans Rob Yundt, Jesse Bjorkman, Mike Cronk, and James Kaufman joined the Democrat-led majority to vote for the override.
Republican women’s clubs around the state had issued a warning that they would withdraw all support for those incumbent Republicans who voted to override the governor.
The joint session only needed 40 votes. Getting above 45 was a message to the governor that certain Republicans will oppose him on other vetoes as well, if he line-items specific spending to make up for the Legislature’s decision on HB 57.
