Rep. David Eastman embarrasses Alaska once more

Rep. David Eastman had plenty of chances to apologize for his remarks about the long-term “benefits” to society when a child is killed by an abuser. That Eastman refused to do so is another reason why someone of his ilk doesn’t belong in the Legislature.

In 45 years of following Alaska politics, this was the most disgusting line of questioning I have ever heard from a politician.

On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the impact of trauma on children.

One way of analyzing some of the costs of a child fatality is in the estimated future loss of lifetime earnings, a measurement that doesn’t begin to cover the real toll. A 2020 study puts the economic cost per fatality of child abuse at $1.5 million or $18 million, depending upon the factors used in the calculation.

From “Economic Costs of Child Abuse and Neglect in Alaska in 2019,” by Nolan Klouda. VSL “means value of a statistical life” and QALY means “quality adjusted life year.”

Eastman, who never hesitates to use his four cute kids as political props, said we need to understand how much the state saves on government services that aren’t necessary for children who are dead. This is the guy who likes to yammer about the sanctity of life.

He claimed that unnamed others think this way as he put his question to Trevor Storrs, the president of the Alaska Chidren’s Trust in a hearing Monday. This is a handy dodge.

“How would you respond to the argument that I’ve heard on occasion where in the case where child abuse is fatal, obviously it’s not good for the child, but it’s actually a benefit to society because there aren’t needed for government services and whatnot over the whole course of that child’s life?”

Storrs didn’t believe what he had heard. “Did you say a benefit for society?”

A decent person would have apologized and said it was the wrong word to use. That’s not Eastman, who was undeterred.

“It gets argued periodically that it’s actually a cost savings because that child is not gonna need any of those government services that they might otherwise be entitled to receive and need based on growing up in this type of environment,” said Eastman.

Storrs said the impact of the death of a child is not measurable.

Eastman kept on. He wanted to know if the loss of a newborn represents a higher loss than the death of a six-month-old.

“Does that $1.5 million get higher or lower depending upon the age at which the child is killed?” he asked.

Storrs answered again that the cost can’t be measured.

Rep. Cliff Groh, a former prosecutor, said he was “disturbed” by Eastman’s questions, which is legislative code for saying the man is a jackass.

Rep. Andrew Gray couldn’t believe that someone would put a value on the immeasurable loss. He has an adopted child who suffered childhood trauma. He said his child is the greatest joy he’s ever had and “there is no price tag on that.”

Rep. Sarah Vance, the Homer Republican who chairs the committee, should have called out Eastman, but just sat there. The same is true for Rep. Craig Johnson and Rep. Ben Carpenter. Their silence was cowardly.

Eastman is on the committee only because of Vance, who invited him because of his “thought process,” she told the Anchorage Daily News. She should remove him and apologize to the public for her complete lack of judgment.

Your contributions help support independent analysis and political commentary by Alaska reporter and author Dermot Cole. Thank you for reading and for your support. Either click here to use PayPal or send checks to: Dermot Cole, Box 10673, Fairbanks, AK 99710-0673