Alaska governor wants lawmakers to offer budget ideas

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he’s eager for the Alaska Legislature to offer alternatives for addressing the state’s ongoing deficit.

Dunleavy says that while he attends an energy conference next week in Texas he hopes the legislature will “get serious” about budget proposals.

House and Senate lawmakers have been working through details of Dunleavy’s budget, which was introduced last month.

His plan to fill a projected $1.6 billion deficit includes sweeping cuts to areas such as education, health and social service programs and the state ferry system and tax collection changes...