Simpson v. Murkowski

OPINION

FABE, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Alaska’s longevity bonus program was enacted by the Alaska Legislature in 1972 for the purpose of providing to Alaskans age sixty-five years and older an incentive to continue to live hr Alaska. In 1993 Governor Hickel proposed a phase-out of the longevity bonus program that was designed to accommodate seniors who had “counted on the bonus in planning for their retirement.” This proposal was subsequently enacted into law by the legislature. In 2003 Governor Murkowski exercised his line item veto power to eliminate the appropriation for the longevity bonus…