Latest news with #JointResolution13
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As Trump tells some Afghan war allies to leave US, the Alaska Legislature is asking for more
Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, speaks on the House floor on Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) On Monday, the Trump administration announced that it is canceling permission for about 9,000 Afghanistan refugees to remain in the United States, including some who aided America's war effort in Afghanistan. The move came eight days after the Alaska House of Representatives voted unanimously to approve a resolution that asks the administration to resume evacuation flights from that country. The state Senate is considering that resolution as well. House Joint Resolution 13, from Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, asks federal officials 'to resume processing stalled applications by Afghan allies' and to reinstate evacuation flights 'for applicants with approved special immigrant visas and their families, including efforts to overcome logistical barriers and diplomatic negotiations.' The resolution doesn't address the Trump administration's actions; the resolution was developed before those were announced. Speaking on the House floor, Stapp said he served two tours of duty in the Iraq War and saw the bravery of local interpreters and police officers who worked with members of the American military despite threats to their lives. 'This resolution requests that our federal partners expedite special immigration visas so that we can look to bring as many of those people who stood shoulder to shoulder with us during our time at war to the United States so we can fulfill the promises that we made to them before they too suffer the same fate … that so many have already suffered,' he said. HJR 13 is in the Senate State Affairs Committee and becomes final only if approved by the Senate and the House. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alaska governor proposes new method for picking state judges
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a news conference on Jan. 31, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday proposed a constitutional amendment that would give future governors more latitude when picking judges for the Alaska Court System. If adopted by the Legislature, the amendment would be subject to a statewide vote in 2026. If adopted by voters, it would take effect after Dunleavy leaves office. The draft amendment, known variously as House Joint Resolution 12 and Senate Joint Resolution 13, would reduce the role of the nonpartisan Alaska Judicial Council in the judge-picking process. The council, which consists of three public members chosen by the governor and three members of the Alaska Bar Association, collects applications whenever there's a judicial vacancy. The council considers those applications and picks the most qualified people for a shortlist of nominees. If there's a tie on a particular nominee, the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court casts the tiebreaking vote. The list of finalists, which must include at least two people, is sent to the governor, who makes the final selection. If the governor's constitutional amendment were adopted, the council would no longer be able to pick a short list of finalists based on their merit. Instead, the council would be required to forward every applicant, as long as they met the state constitution's minimum requirements. In a statement, the governor's office said, 'This resolution, if adopted by the people of Alaska would compel the Alaska Judicial Council to send all names of prospective judge candidates to the governor for the purpose of selecting judges for openings.' No hearings have yet been scheduled on the governor's amendment proposal, which was introduced Friday. Dunleavy has previously expressed frustration with the judicial selection process. In 2019, after expressing unhappiness with his options for a Palmer Superior Court vacancy, he did not follow state law, violating the timeline to fill the vacancy. The governor ultimately made a pick, but his violation served as one of three grounds for the unsuccessful campaign to recall him from office. Two years later, Dunleavy asked the Judicial Council for more options to fill a vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court. The Council declined to modify its list of nominees, and Dunleavy picked from the original list. A year later, conservative Republicans made the state's judicial selection process a key part of their campaign to amend the Alaska Constitution. That fall, voters were asked whether they wanted to convene a constitutional convention, and those urging a 'yes' vote said they felt the Judicial Council held too much power and prevented the governor from approving the conservative nominees he wanted. On that constitutional question, Alaska voters rejected the convention by more than a 2-to-1 margin. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
