The override to Dunleavy’s SB140 veto failed by one vote
Let us start by saying thank you for signing the petition to override the Governor’s veto. We hand-delivered the petition (all 34 pages with 1,588 signatures!) to every legislative office before yesterday’s vote.
Thank you too to everyone who called, wrote, and showed up to support funding for our schools.
Because of the incredible support from parents, teachers, and students, we came very, very close to overriding Governor Dunleavy’s veto.
Unfortunately, the veto override fell short by 1 heart-breaking vote.
This is disappointing, to say the least.
But there are some silver linings:
The majority of legislators did vote to override the Governor; there is clearly a mandate from the people to invest in education.
During the joint session debate today, multiple legislators who did not vote to override the veto promised to support increased education funding, via another bill or route.
We now have to hold them accountable.
Please take a moment to say THANK YOU to those who voted yes, especially those who challenged the party line and made powerful floor speeches, including Representatives Ruffridge and Edgmon and Senators Bjorkman, Stedman, Kaufman, Bishop, Hoffman and Tobin. We’ve included some sample messages for you below.
Representative.Jennie.Armstrong@akleg.gov
Representative.Ashley.Carrick@akleg.gov
Representative.Maxine.Dibert@akleg.gov
Represenative.Bryce.Edgmon@akleg.gov
Representative.Zack.Fields@akleg.gov
Representative.Neal.Foster@akleg.gov
Representative.Alyse.Galvin@akleg.gov
Representative.Andi.Story@akleg.gov
Representative.Andrew.Gray@akleg.gov
Representative.Cliff.Groh@akleg.gov
Representative.Sara.Hannan@akleg.gov
Representative.Rebecca.Himschoot@akleg.gov
Representative.Andy.Josephson@akleg.gov
Representative.CJ.McCormick@akleg.gov
Representative.Donna.Mears@akleg.gov
Representative.Geneveive.Mina@akleg.gov
Representative.Dan.Ortiz@akleg.gov
Representative.Justin.Ruffridge@akleg.gov
Representative.Calvin.Schrage@akleg.gov
Representative.Will.Stapp@akleg.gov
Representative.Louise.Stutes@akleg.gov
Representative.Jesse.Sumner@akleg.gov
Representative.Stanley.Wright@akleg.gov
Senator.Click.Bishop@akleg.gov
Senator.Jesse.Bjorkman@akleg.gov
Senator.Forrest.Dunbar@akleg.gov
Senator.Cathy.Giessel@akleg.gov
Senator.Elvi.Gray-Jackson@akleg.gov
Senator.Lyman.Hoffman@akleg.gov
Senator.James.Kaugman@akleg.gov
Senator.Scott.Kawasaki@akleg.gov
Senator.Kelly.Merrick@akleg.gov
Senator.Bert.Stedman@akleg.gov
Senator.Gary.Stevens@akleg.gov
Senator.Bill.Weilechowski@akleg.gov
Example Message: Thank you for standing behind your vote and standing for Alaska’s kids by voting to override Governor Dunleavy’s veto. I’m not going to give up on our kids or our schools and I hope you don’t either.
And for those who voted no, please let them know that you are disappointed they didn’t stand behind their vote; and that you will hold them accountable for improving outcomes.
Representative.Jamie.Allard@akleg.gov
Representative.Thomas.Baker@akleg.gov
Representative.Ben.Carpenter@akleg.gov
Representative.Julie.Coulombe@akleg.gov
Representative.Mike.Cronk@akleg.gov
Representative.David.Eastman@akleg.gov
Representative.Delena.Johnson@akleg.gov
Representative.Craig.Johnson@akleg.gov
Representative.Kevin.McCabe@akleg.gov
Representative.Tom.McKay@akleg.gov
Representative.Mike.Prax@akleg.gov
Representative.Dan.Saddler@akleg.gov
Representative.Laddie.Shaw@akleg.gov
Representative.Cathy.Tilton@akleg.gov
Representative.Frank.Tomaszewski@akleg.gov
Representative.Sarah.Vance@akleg.gov
Senator.Shelley.Hughes@akleg.gov
Senator.David.Wilson@akleg.gov
Example Message: By supporting Governor Dunleavy’s veto, you have put our children’s future at risk. I appreciate that many of the floor speeches centered on finding out routes for increasing school funding. Have no doubt, we will hold you accountable to those promises.
