JUNEAU -- The Alaska Senate moved Thursday to all but disregard an order from Gov. Bill Walker to hold confirmation votes on his political appointees Friday morning, and instead voted to hold its joint confirmation session with the House on Sunday -- the last scheduled day of this year's legislative session.
The Legislature's Republican leaders, who have been feuding with Walker since before the legislative session began in January, on Monday canceled a joint House-Senate meeting for the confirmation votes that was scheduled for Friday afternoon. An aide to the Senate's Republican leadership simultaneously released a legal memorandum outlining what would happen if the Legislature didn't vote on the appointments at all.
Two days later -- with votes on his 89 appointees still not rescheduled -- Walker used his constitutional powers to order the Legislature to convene for the confirmation session Friday morning. A statement from Walker with the order said "the risk that these hardworking Alaskans will not have the opportunity of a confirmation vote is unacceptable."
The appointees include members of Walker's cabinet, as well as people selected to serve on state boards and commissions.
Senate President Kevin Meyer, an Anchorage Republican, suggested the Legislature could convene Friday under Walker's proclamation, then immediately adjourn. The vote Thursday appeared to confirm that threat.
The 14 to 5 split was along caucus lines, with the Republican-led majority voting for the Sunday session. Senate Majority Leader John Coghill, R-North Pole, said the Senate needed time to vet a new appointment by Walker to the state education board that was submitted Thursday.
Democrats objected, with Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, saying he's "never seen a confirmation session so late in the session."
"The last day of session we're going to do confirmation hearings?" Wielechowski asked. "We're talking about people who have left their careers. We're talking about people who have left their families for the session to come down here and work, and probably taking huge pay cuts. And here we are playing a game with their confirmation hearing."
The Legislature is scheduled to complete its 90-day session on Sunday, but it could be extended.
A spokeswoman for Walker didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.