Alaska AFL-CIO Responds to Dunleavy's Budget Announcement

The Alaska AFL-CIO has issued a statement in response to Governor Dunleavy's budget announcement.

Alex Jorgenson, Communications Director for AFL-CIO, says that Dunleavy sent an email actively campaigning against the budget. The union says Dunleavy encouraged Alaskans to contact their legislators to vote no on the budget calling it "coercive" and that as a result of Dunleavy's actions, "we are headed toward an unnecessary government shutdown.

The statement notes that while Dunleavy has prioritized opening up Alaska and jumpstarting the economy, "his rhetoric and actions this week set those respectable efforts back" and says that "Alaska cannot afford a government shutdown."

This afternoon, Governor Dunleavy called the Alaska Legislature into a second special session to meet next Wednesday morning. Sen. Kawasaki wrote on Twitter that most members are changing plans to be there for a very short time to vote, also writing that "A government shutdown is an awful idea that will harm everyday Alaskans, businesses and our visitors."

You can read the Alaska AFL-CIO's full statement below.