Republicans on Edgmon Proposal to Gut PFD Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2019 (JUNEAU) – Following Governor Dunleavy’s announcement that he intends to call
a special session, House Speaker Bryce Edgmon indicated in a press statement that his leadership
team in the House of Representatives is considering a plan to address whether or not the Permanent
Fund Dividend should “actually remain permanent.”
Rep. Lance Pruitt (R-Anchorage), the House Minority Leader, released the following statement:
“The fact that, at the eleventh hour, the House leadership is considering plans to gut the PFD
program shouldn’t really be all that surprising considering the way they’ve handled business this
session. They had 121 days to avoid special sessions, and they knew exactly what needed to get
accomplished before tonight’s deadline.”
“At the beginning of this session, we were told that a 21-person majority would never be able to
get any work done,” said Rep. Josh Revak (R-Anchorage). “Well, it appears that the current 25person majority hasn’t worked either. With less than six hours to go before midnight, we have no
budget, no education funding, no crime reform, and no PFD.”
“The wheels have come off the bus. Some members have said they feel rushed to get things done,
but there has been no sense of urgency whatsoever,” added Rep. Ben Carpenter (R-Nikiski). “I
hope Alaskans will show up at every meeting of the special session and make their presence known
to those who have willfully ignored their requests for the last four months.”
“The House Majority spent the entire session trying to show Alaskans they knew better, and in
the process have only proved that they themselves have no understanding of how to govern,” said
Rep. George Rauscher (R-Sutton). “Their intentional delays are forcing Alaskans to shell out
money for special sessions, and that’s a tragedy.
The House Republicans will hold a press availability following the completion of the 2019 regular
legislative session.
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Press Contact: Zachary Freeman, Press Secretary   (907) 868-7378   Zachary.freeman@akleg.gov