This week in Juneau: Alaska lawmakers start overtime with no budget resolution in sight

Good morning from Juneau, and welcome to the first day of the rest of the session.

As expected, Alaska lawmakers put in a light day of work Easter Sunday and will be back Monday morning for Day 91 of the legislative session with much still left to do.

There are two budget proposals from the House and Senate that the two chambers have not yet reconciled, and there's no sign of an impending deal on the combination of measures that will ultimately be used to fill the state's massive budget gap.

Before the morning takes any more of a pessimistic turn, here's a recap of the last week at the Capitol.

—Last Monday, we wrote about how a proposed Senate cut to the Pioneer Homes budget sparked a backlash and a political dispute over who was at fault. (Spoiler alert: On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Peter Micciche apologized for the cut, putting some of the blame on a staffer.)

—Also Monday, the House sent its oil tax overhaul to the Senate, approving it with the bare-minimum 21 votes after a defection from Anchorage independent Rep. Jason Grenn.

—On Tuesday, Senate leaders stripped Wasilla Republican Sen. Mike Dunleavy of his committee posts as punishment for voting against the budget proposal from the majority, to which he'd belonged.

—Also Tuesday, we covered how Drew Phoenix, a transgender appointee to Alaska's Human Rights Commission, has faced hostile questioning from Republican senators during the confirmation process. (The original joint confirmation session was supposed to be last week but was scrapped by Senate Republicans; lawmakers haven't announced a new date yet.)

—On Wednesday, the House approved a proposal to use Permanent Fund investment earnings to fill the state budget deficit, reducing dividends in the process. Also Wednesday, a bipartisan committee approved a $400,000 computer upgrade for the Legislature.

—On Thursday, we covered questions that have arisen about Alaskans' privacy, and the risk it could be compromised, in the debate surrounding the federal Real ID Act — a measure that Gov. Bill Walker's administration is pressing lawmakers to comply with.

—On Friday, Walker's administration released a confounding new forecast of government revenue, which predicted a sharp uptick in oil production this year followed by a steep decline next year. Officials blamed old data.

—On Saturday, the House approved its personal income tax proposal.

The 22-17 vote on the income tax — Big Lake Republican Rep. Mark Neuman was absent — came after a lively, multi-hour floor debate. Two of the most entertaining speeches came from Anchorage Republican Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux — her argument for the bill took less than 60 seconds — and Anchorage Republican Rep. Lance Pruitt, who managed to cram quotes from Winston Churchill, Mark Twain and comedian Chris Rock into his case against the legislation.

We cued up the recording to start right at the beginning of each of their speeches — watch LeDoux's here and Pruitt's here. (Note: There's a break in Pruitt's speech when Anchorage Democratic Rep. Andy Josephson stands for a point of order, accusing Pruitt of offensive "badgering.")

What's on tap for the coming week? It depends on which chamber you ask.

The predominantly Democratic House majority, having passed its three major deficit-reduction proposals, is spending the week working on all kinds of legislation, from a workplace smoking ban to the governor's Real ID legislation to a new bill from Sitka Democratic Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins to create a "North Star Medal" for law enforcement officers, firefighters and search and rescue volunteers killed or injured in the line of duty.

The Republican-led Senate majority, meanwhile, appears to have narrowed its focus and closed down most of its committees. The only bill on its schedule, so far, after Tuesday is the House's oil tax legislation — though Senate President Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, also has promised to give the income tax proposal a fair hearing. (The income tax bill was held in the House for reconsideration Sunday, meaning that it hasn't gotten to the Senate yet.)

In short, Senate leaders appear less interested than their House counterparts in continuing work on legislation outside of a few core issues after the 90th day — a point made in a Wednesday letter from Kelly to House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, that was shared with reporters.

Still uncertain is the rescheduled date for confirmation votes on gubernatorial appointees, including Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth.

Have a great week. And please, be in touch: Send tips, story ideas and suggestions for new angles on the state budget crisis — and the proposed fixes — to nherz@alaskadispatch.com, @nat_herz on Twitter, and by phone or text at 907-793-0312. That number will also work with the encrypted messaging app Signal.

—Nat