The Latest: Alaska governor calls another special session

JUNEAU, Alaska – The Latest on Gov. Bill Walker calling another special session (all times local):

2:10 p.m.

Gov. Bill Walker has called another special session.

Walker on Sunday said lawmakers will reconvene in Juneau on July 11 to address the state’s $3.2 billion budget shortfall.

It will be the second special session this year after lawmakers went a month beyond the voter-mandated 90-day limit.

The Alaska House ended the first current session Saturday night after its Finance Committee failed to pass a bill that would limit the amount of the oil fund checks that are given to Alaska residents in order to help bridge the funding gap. The Senate had already passed the bill.

That bill will be back in the July special session, as will measures to create a state income tax, increasing other taxes and to a bill dealing with oil and gas credits.

___

8:42 a.m.

Though the Alaska House of Representatives closed their special session, Gov. Bill Walker is expected to call the lawmakers back to the job.

The House adjourned Saturday night after its Fiance Committee failed to move a bill that would provide limited Alaska Permanent Fund dividend checks as a means to help counter the $4 billion dollar budget deficit. The Alaska Senate remains in session.

The Juneau Empire reports (http://bit.ly/1PARcbv ) that Walker had previously warned lawmakers that he would call them in a second special session if they did not act on the deficit. On Saturday he did not indicate when that special session would take place.

Walker spokeswoman Grace Jang says the governor will decide the time of the next special session after the Senate adjourns.

___

This story has been corrected to show the deficit is $3.2 billion instead of $4 billion

___

Information from: Juneau (Alaska) Empire, http://www.juneauempire.com