Must Read Alaska - Start your engines
The Legislature is organized
Well here you are again, Friday. Good to see you looking so well-rested for the weekend.
Signs of spring: We’re one week away from the tough-as-nails Kusko-300 race, and the favorite is up-and-comer Raymond Alexie (age 19, the photo above is from his Facebook page), who just won the Bogus Creek 150 sled dog race, and Pete Kaiser (Iditarod winner 2019), who came in second.
We also can see the Iron Dog from here … Feb. 15, with the largest winner purse in the race’s history of $200,000. Gentlemen and ladies, start your engines …
The Alaska House and Senate gavel in this morning and chances are it will be short and sweet in both bodies. Senate committees have informational meetings: A revenue forecast at 9 am with Rev. Commissioner Adam Crum and tax experts in Senate Finance. A presentation on the University of Alaska's Land Grant program at 3:30 pm in Senate Resources by Chad Hutchinson, University of Alaska.
Who gets what: House committee assignments
The House committees look surprisingly good. The assignments are reasonable and just. Unlike the Senate, no one is banished to the wilderness, and nobody got to hog all the committees. Even Rep. David Eastman got committee assignments. Speaker Cathy Tilton … that has a ring to it … has been in the minority since 2016 and she knows what they’re going through. She is treating the loyal opposition with respect. We have the list for you.
Governor's State of the State Address is Jan. 23 at 7 pm
What will the governor talk about on his fifth trip to the lectern at a joint session of the Legislature on Monday night? Will there be any memorable lines at all or are we doing a list-checker-off-er speech that we can say in our sleep?
Ron DeSantis’ state of the state: “Florida has become the escape hatch for those chafing under authoritarian, arbitrary and seemingly never-ending mandates and restrictions.” Preach it, Ron.
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas: “Texas is America’s undisputed economic leader, providing pathways to prosperity for all Texans. Our $2 trillion economy is now the ninth-largest in the world. Texas is number one in America in producing the food, the fiber, and the fuel that we use every day.
“The gas you put in your truck, the jeans you wear, the steak you eat for dinner, all of it is made in Texas. In fact, “Made in Texas” is the mightiest brand in America, and we use it to build the number one economy in the United States.”
Alaska has marvelous potential that is locked away by the federal government. We’re an environmentalist colony in 2023, waiting for crums from the federal government, and waiting for the Biden decision on 180,000 barrels more of oil in our pipeline a day from the proposed Willow project in the NPRA. The speechwriter has his work cut out.
Spy-gate: More allegations made about mayor’s office
Sadly, things aren’t going in the right direction for Mayor Dave Bronson of Anchorage at the moment. This matter, unsubstantiated accusations of misdeeds involving security cameras at City Hall and a Left-sympathetic Ombudsman, has now been referred to the municipality’s Department of Law. It is a serious set of allegations.
Another Friday, another Assembly meeting
The Anchorage Assembly will take up some other actions against the mayor on Friday over allegations that his office mishandled contracts and other resources. Not to mention people serving penis-themed cookies in the break room. Impeachment is clearly the target. What a mess.
Who is that masked woman? Eagle River’s Assembly rep
An artist, writer, and poet, and the only woman in the 10 applicants to have applied for the seat … and she’s a social justice warrior, too! A little bit of a slap at conservative Eagle River, but par for the course on the Assembly. Mask and all.
What fun: Assemblywoman Dern sat at Jamie Allard’s old seat, with the computer monitor that has the “I Did That” Biden sticker slapped on it. The sticker is gone by now, but for one bright and shining moment …
What’s in a name? Alaska Federal Credit Union will be called Global
We’re not sure what the point is, other than maybe the Alaska brand isn’t big enough right now. Global is a bit cold, but we’ll bring our survival kit.
Dear 118 Congress
As the new year ramps up, Congress has a choice: will they stick with the status quo?Or fix the economic crisis hurting Americans? Inflation, overspending, overregulation — for too long our lawmakers have used political theater and partisan gridlock as excuses for their failure to address real solutions for our economy. What can you do? Learn more at www.Dear118Congress.com
Capitol Police ask public to tone down violent rhetoric on social media
There’s a 22% drop in threats against U.S. lawmakers year over year, but social media can be a contagion for violent language. Keep it chill, like we do here at MRAK.
Amending the Second Amendment in Washington State
Washington State Democrats are filing bills to take away several makes of guns from state residents and make all firearms harder to buy. They are plotting to allow all cities and counties in the state to have their own gun laws that supersede state law. Democrats in the House and Senate have the backing of Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee, who made gun control a major priority of his administration as he considers his next reelection campaign. Drop your weapon.
Clyde, before his sweet life was taken by a polar bear.
Polar Bear attack was a violent and gory scene in Wales
We found out more: It was a gruesome situation when state officials arrived. A young mother and toddler ripped apart and partly consumed by the bear, while school children and teachers scrambled for safety and someone came over with a shotgun that had a slug in it, which stopped the carnage. Life and death at the edge of America.
There’s a GoFundMe site set up to help raise funds for the memorial funeral for mom and baby, and for the grieving family’s travel to and from Wales and St. Michael.
Who done it: ‘Worst betrayal of trust,’ yet investigators find no leak in Supreme Court
Eight months, interviews with 97 employees and they came up with nothing? My guess: It was probably was one of the liberal justices, and they were not investigated. Is it too much to ask for lie-detector tests? Read the investigator’s report.
Downing: Wyoming Legislature's proposed ban of electric vehicles is theater -- with a message
The state with the smallest population in the country made a big statement on electric vehicles. There’s more than meets the eye with the somewhat-serious resolution to stop the sale of electric cars. What’s up, Wyoming?
Alaska Municipal League is hiring tax experts
“Join the AML team! This is your chance to play a role in strengthening Alaska's local governments!” says a notice from the Alaska Municipal League, which is hiring a tax accountant and, just to have belts and suspenders, a tax technician to help local governments collect more taxes. Apply here.
Spotted: Donna Arduin en route to Juneau
The governor’s former budget director Donna Arduin will do a stint as aide to Rep. Ben Carpenter, we are told. Carpenter of Nikiski is chairing Legislative Budget & Audit, with Sen. Bert Stedman of Sitka co-chairing it. Should be spicy. Arduin is a Must Read Alaska reader favorite (and so is Carpenter, I might add).
Hesitancy contagion: Alaskans shying away from the flu shot
An 8% drop in influenza vaccinations administered to Alaskans this flu season compared with the 2021-2022’s flu season is a big swing. State charts show the story.
Tikahtnu Regal in Anchorage RIP
Tikahtnu Regal in Anchorage is one of over 35 Regal theaters nationwide that is closing down. No more “Avatar” on the IMAX screen! Cineworld, the parent company, has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy since the fall and plans to reject their leases next month.
COLUMNS
Patrick LeMay: My business was libeled by Ship Creek Group blog
Business owner in Anchorage sets the record straight after being accused of wrongdoing by a leftist political consultancy’s blog. The dustup at City Hall involves the Tshibaka family.
Fritz Pettyjohn: What divides us — beer and wine
The division of the human family into its two distinct branches, liberals and conservatives, occurred some 20,000 years ago. Until then all humans coexisted as members of small bands of nomadic hunter/gatherers. A thousand generations ago, in the pivotal event of societal evolution, beer was invented. With beer, men were domesticated.
Tim Barto: Top security classified clearances baffle journalists
They get it wrong all the time on this “top secret security clearance” stuff and Barto is taking journalists back to school. Here’s what it all means.
Fritz Pettyjohn: Josiah Patkotak is just right for Speaker Pro Tem
Remembering the great Al Adams in the Legislature and how Rep. Patkotak has some of his admirable qualities. Read more here.
Daniel Smith: Politicians, like pilots, should check their egos at the door
Rachel Ries declared her intentions to run last summer. Carmela Warfield has just announced her intentions at the last minute by filing with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Read more here.
This day in history
January 20, 1887, the U.S. Senate gave rights to the American Navy to operate at Pearl Harbor on the Island of Oahu. It was the beginning of the U.S. Naval base still operational today.
Jan. 20, 1981, the Iran hostage crisis that began during Jimmy Carter's presidency ended the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated.
MUST READ ALASKA SHOW
Tune into the Must Read Alaska Show for an interview with Wall Street Journal's Kimberly Strassel. You can watch it here on Facebook.
Scott Kendall, the force behind ranked choice voting, says....at this link.
Danny Murphy co-hosts a popular true-crime podcast and a Page Six host for the New York Post … at this link.
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What is the point???