Alaska governor says he wants policies supporting families

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy told lawmakers late Monday he wants to work with them to make Alaska “the most pro-life state in the country,” with policies supporting families and making the state an affordable and a desirable place to live.

“Kids are a blessing and they shouldn’t be viewed as a burden. But we all have to accept that raising a family today is more challenging than when many of us were growing up,” the Republican told a joint session of the Legislature during the first State of the State speech of his second term.

He cited inflation and housing, food and energy costs, which he said were “making people think twice about growing their family or even starting one.”

He said if policymakers are successful, they will enact policies reducing the cost of living, addressing health care options and helping create jobs with wages that can support families.

Alaska's Supreme Court has interpreted the state constitution’s right to privacy as encompassing abortion rights.

Dunleavy said lawmakers have a chance this session to “change the course of Alaska's history.” He urged action on a range of initiatives, including legislation aimed at crime and public health and efforts to promote the state, which he called a “resource powerhouse.”

The speech, delivered a week into a new legislative session, also touched on familiar themes for Dunleavy, who in November became the first Alaska governor since 1998 to win back-to-back terms. Those included fighting against federal actions seen as slowing or delaying energy development projects.

He also touted what he saw as successes of his first term, such as passage of legislation aimed at improving reading skills for students and the payment of $3,284 to residents last fall, representing a combination of the...