Dunleavy's vetoes are his smallest yet
Solstice brings on summer
It’s the summer solstice, or at least it was at 6:57 am, Alaska Daylight Time.
Good morning from Somewhere in Alaska!
Thanks for being a reader and subscriber at Must Read Alaska, the news project that alt-lefters, mainstream media reporters, and deep-staters love to hate … but can’t stop reading.
About those vetoes, governor…
We’re remembering back in 2016, when Gov. Bill Walker vetoed $1.29 billion out of the budget, and Democrats didn’t say a peep.
We reminisce about those days when the Undesignated General Fund budget was $3.73 billion in 2016 and $4.4 billion in 2017, under Walker. Democrats were just fine with that.
Now the UGF is $5.9 billion and the Left? They’re up in arms.
Truth is, Gov. Mike Dunleavy didn’t scratch the paint of the annual state budget this year. All-funds considered, this is a $13.9 billion budget for FY24, and the $202 million veto represents a mere 1.3% of that.
If you consider state UFG funds only, without the federal funds, it’s a mighty 3% cut, leaving a UGF budget of $5.9 billion. This is a mere buffing, the smallest cut he has ever made since becoming governor. The chart:
But the mainstream media / Democrats are wringing their hands that the education funding wasn’t expanded to their desired level, not enough money for the NEA. After all, Gov. Dunleavy only let stand half of the increase the Legislature had asked him for. Oh, the humanity!
The Democrats — the more vocal freshmen, anyway — were still worried about their prom dates in 2009 when the budget was significantly smaller and the veto was over $1.29 billion. School enrollment in Alaska today is even lower now than it was in 2009, with about 28,000 K-12 students attending. Our school population has not been this low in what is now becoming decades, and our educational outcomes are lower still.
Governor vetoes $202 million out of budget, keeps overall increase to 1%
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed the 2024 budget on Sunday, cutting about $202 million in legislative spending, which includes about $145 in operating budget spending and $56 million in capital budget items for 2024, a fiscal year that begins July 1. Since 2019, Dunleavy has kept the budget increases to about 1% per year, or a 4.5% increase overall since he has been governor.
Mia Costello signs on to help Mayor Bronson navigate legislative issues
Mia Costello, a former Alaska state senator, has been appointed as the director of Legislative Affairs by Mayor Dave Bronson.
Are Americans boycotting companies for being too ‘woke’?
Yes and no. Republicans are holding back their wallets, avoiding the capitalists that cave to the woke. Democrats are less inclined to boycott, but overall, it is a significant number of Americans who have been withdrawing their support.
Kenai teachers’ union elects new president after sex-scandal
After the last president of the Kenai Peninsula Education Association was arrested for child sexual abuse, former KPEA president LaDawn Druce has been brought in as the new head of the teachers union on the Kenai Peninsula.
Rumors of serial killer on the loose are wrong, say Troopers, Anchorage police
There have been a few homicides lately in Southcentral, but that doesn’t mean there’s a serial killer on the loose. (Usually, serial killers don’t work that fast). But with social media being such a force, the officials had to give an official statement.
Question of the Week
Social media ‘Kyle’ makes terroristic threats against governor
The social media trails leads back to an Anchorage government desk jockey. Three-letter agencies are on it and he got a knock on the door.
Filings
Alaska House Representatives Donna Mears, Genevieve Mina, and Julie Coulombe, all first-term legislators representing parts of the Anchorage bowl, have filed for reelection for the 2024 cycle.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart to everyone who subscribes to Must Read Alaska. Help spread share the news that balances the left-stream media.
This day in history
June 21, 1945, Japanese resistance on Okinawa was finally crushed, less than three months after U.S. troops landed there as the last stepping-stone before the planned assault on Japan's main islands in World War II.
Pride parade in Anchorage this Saturday
If you’ve got a family value to protect, you might steer clear of Delaney Park Strip and downtown Anchorage on June 24. Gays and lesbians have not been able to keep the “community” in a family-friendly mode. These pride parades get more exhibitionist each passing year. For some reason, they’ve scheduled it the same day as the Anchorage Downtown Solstice Celebration.
Hunter Biden gets family deal from Justice Dept.
Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, struck a plea deal with federal prosecutors to resolve a five-year investigation into his massive federal tax dodge, and the purchase and possession of a firearm in 2018, while he was doing illegal drugs.
Rep. Lauren Boebert reads impeachment articles on House floor
The Coloradan firebrand has set up a vote on the House floor, but Democrats say they will block the vote.
Columns
Ben Carpenter: Legislature still needs to settle on long-term fiscal solution
Rep. Carpenter calls on the Legislature to meet in special session this year specifically to address a long- term fiscal plan that prioritizes economic growth for all Alaskans. “We need all hands-on deck to right this ship.”
David Boyle: Mississippi shows Alaska that all kids can read
For years, Mississippi was near the bottom when it came to teaching its children how to read. Now, it’s at the top and Alaska is at the bottom.
Downing in Daily Caller: Woke bubble is about to burst
Oil companies are returning to the basics, and Americans have had enough of the woke agenda.
David Ignell: A mentor for Democrats who care about justice
The flawed judicial system is at the root of the problem in Alaska. A remembrance of the words of Edgar Paul Boyko, former attorney general, who said, “There’s a number of reforms that are crying out to be made in the judicial sy
stem in this state.” He said many constitutional delegates didn’t know much about running a state and we had “some ultra-liberals in there who had ideas that have now been disproven across the world … They created some really horrible things.”
Rick Whitbeck: Eco extremists keep guessing, keep getting it wrong
The dire predictions keep coming, and never get here. It would be comical if it were not so damaging to the American economy.
Alaska oil: $76.97
Henry Hub gas: $2.49
Alaska North Slope Production: 446,291
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $78,152,200,000
Must Read Alaska LLC | 200 W. 34th Ave. #220, Anchorage, AK 99503
www.mustreadalaska.com