Legislature Overrides Dunleavy’s Education Veto
Alaska lawmakers override Governor Dunleavy’s $50M education veto in historic vote, preserving school funds and reaffirming legislative authority.The Alaska Legislature voted last month to override Governor Mike Dunleavy’s veto of more than $50 million in public school funding. The 45-14 vote met the exact threshold needed to override a gubernatorial appropriations veto. The override cancels a 5.6% cut to public education funding and ensures a modest increase for school districts across the state. Superintendents said the restored funding will enable them to reduce class sizes and reinstate essential programs that were previously on the chopping block. However, because the vote came just weeks before the start of the school year, implementing those changes will be logistically challenging.
The session came after weeks of political maneuvering. Dunleavy had vetoed the funds after calling the Legislature’s spring compromise on education “inadequate,” pushing instead for policy reforms favoring school choice and accountability. When lawmakers resisted, he called a special session for August 2, aiming to catch members off guard or when they were unavailable. The override required the exact threshold of 45 votes, prompting extraordinary efforts from lawmakers to ensure their presence. Some postponed family events or work trips, while others traveled from as far as Europe and Asia to attend. The override not only preserved funding for public schools but also marked the first time since 1987 that Alaska lawmakers successfully overturned an appropriations veto by a sitting governor. The House and Senate also overrode Dunleavy’s veto of a bill requiring transparency in oil tax settlements, further showing a potential appetite in the Legislature to assert its authority and use the overriding mechanism. Governor Dunleavy defended his actions, stating that the special session provided voters with a clear indication of where lawmakers stand. While the override is a win for school districts in the short term, many agree it is just one step. “I am grateful the legislature overrode the Governor’s veto of these critical funds for education,” said Representative Alyse Galvin in a statement to SDMN. “This action does not provide what schools truly need but will keep them treading water financially for now. It was also needed to rectify the first time in Alaska history that a Governor vetoed funds from the Base Student Allocation, the amount set in State law as the necessary base level of funding. It was very important for the Legislature to stand up for the rule of law,” she added. |