If Mike Prax wants to become a competent legislator, he needs a mentor, not David Eastman. Prax and Eastman were the only two legislators to oppose emergency funding to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
Read MoreLucinda Mahoney, nominated to be revenue commissioner, says the state has set up a “Chinese wall” to keep her from being informed about any cases worked on by her husband, an oil company lawyer who has been involved in key cases against the state.
Read MoreThe state’s financial situation has become much worse in the past week. The economic and health threats point to a calamity and there is no coherent response from the governor, who would spend all state reserves except the Permanent Fund within the next year.
Read MoreThe state needs bold leadership to deal with the crisis created by oil prices, the stock market, the coronavirus and the threat to the tourism industry and other businesses. What we have here is more than a momentary glitch. What we have here is a governor running from the recall.
Read MoreOn “Meet the Press” Sunday, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said the words that no one in the Alaska tourism industry wanted to hear. “Don’t get on a cruise ship.”
Our political, community and business leaders need to recognize that the worldwide spread of the corornavirus has triggered an oil price war that will soon drain all state savings except the Permanent Fund.
Read MoreThose of us who believe in right-size government can tell that a job shouldn’t exist if the state can’t explain how the newly hired employee is going to occupy her working hours, earning $135,168 a year.
Read MoreThe governor promised a "deep dive" into the awarding of the no-bid contract to the grandson of a major benefactor. Even the shallowest of dives into the document pool shows that the state violated procurement regulations designed to prevent insider dealing.
Read MoreBecause so much remains unknown about the transmission of the coronavirus disease, the Legislature needs to maintain monitoring of cruise ships in Alaska waters this summer and reinstate the Ocean Ranger program.
Read MoreThat this emergency requires the state to try to hire skilled health workers on a temporary basis—jobs that have been difficult to fill for a long time—reflects a serious decline in preparedness created by years of cutbacks as Alaska reduced spending on crucial services needed during a crisis.
Read MoreThe latest edition of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s support group is making many false claims, starting with: “Gov. Dunleavy’s actions when he took office were completely in line with what he talked about on the campaign trail.”
Read MoreJohn Binkley, whose family owns the pro-Dunleavy Anchorage Daily News, says Gov. Mike Dunleavy is getting better all the time.
Read MoreWhat we have here from Dunleavy, his support group and the Republican Party is an attempt to use political influence on the courts to help Dunleavy. This should be resisted.
Read MoreAs long as Dunleavy plays the part of a hapless and helpless politician, waiting for the legislative gang of 60 to mobilize, the state will drift aimlessly. And speed toward a recall election.
Read MoreRather than deal with the political origins of the Clark Penney contract, Dunleavy launched into a Costanza-like airing of grievances. He blamed Reps. Zack Fields and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for everything from long legislative sessions to lower Permanent Fund Dividends.
Read MoreThe basic pitch from Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Donna Arduin during the Dunleavy/Koch Network road show was the same—the state appropriation for ferry service could be cut by 75 percent to $24 million and the results would be great for Alaska. They were wrong.
Read MoreWhat should happen now is that Dunleavy should either fire Attorney General Kevin Clarkson over this decision or apologize to Supreme Court Justice Joel Bolger. If anyone fails the test of impartiality, it’s Dunleavy.
Read MoreGov. Mike Dunleavy, on the run from the recall, introduced a bill Wednesday to add $815 million to the state deficit by giving Alaskans an additional $1,304 in Permanent Fund Dividends for last year. It’s not going to pass.
Read MoreI want to thank blogger Suzanne Downing, unofficial spokeswoman for Gov. Mike Dunleavy, for confirming that it was Dunleavy who wanted a no-bid contract to go to the grandson of Bob Penney, the businessman who spent $350,000 to help get Dunleavy elected.
Read MoreDuring his appearance on Talk of Alaska Tuesday, Dunleavy tried to sell the idea that no one named Mike has any control over Stand Tall With Mike. That’s not what he tells groups Outside.
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