While Alaska’s House conservatives may have lost considerable power in the current session of the Alaska Legislature, the more liberal wing is already scheduling some hot-button legislation for committee hearings.

On the docket for this week is a hearing on a measure that would lower the number of votes needed in the Legislature to override a governor’s veto. House Joint Resolution 15 would reduce the required votes from three-fourths to just two-thirds of the full body of the Legislature.

The bill is set for a hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 1:45 p.m. in the House Judiciary Committee. The meeting will be teleconferenced with opportunities for public testimony.

On Jan. 24, the Republican controlled Legislature failed to override $74 million that was sliced from Alaska’s budget last summer by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in an effort to reduce state spending during the current fiscal crisis. The override vote failed 37-20. Forty-five votes were required for the override to succeed. If HJR 15 passes, only 40 votes would be needed.

The measure is sponsored by some of the more liberal leaning Democrats in the House – Representatives Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins of Sitka and Anchorage Democrats Andy Josephson and Matt Claman.

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