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Legislative updates: Clock ticks on Senate’s budget demand
As we head into the final day of the legislative session, the Senate continues to withhold the Capital and Operating Budgets from the House. The Senate majority, which is all but three senators, insists on delivering the budgets only if the House commits to accepting them without changes. We delve into the matter with Rep. Julie Coulombe's perspective…
Rep. Coulombe: Unmasking the mirage of compromise
The representative writes: “Misplaced arrogance based on hubris within the Senate is no way to legislate with respect for the constituency. I, for one, will do all in my power to thwart such tyranny.”
Senate green lights SB 48, governor’s forest carbon offset bill
This carbon bill has now also passed the House in the last few hours of session. It’s a huge win for the governor.
SB 48 establishes a statewide carbon offset program in the Department of Natural Resources. A business or entity that produces carbon dioxide can offset those emissions by buying credits generated by nature-based projects on State land. Land enrolled in a carbon offset project will always be available to Alaskans for camping, hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes. It will not prevent or halt natural resource development on State lands. It does not limit emissions for businesses or individuals. It does not lock up Alaska lands.
HB 61, curbing government overreach on guns, passes Senate
This bill sends a powerful message: the government cannot arbitrarily close gun stores unless it is prepared to shut down all establishments, including hospitals.
SB 89, aimed at Alaska youth vaping, raises legal age, adds taxes
It could get a lot more expensive to vape in Alaska, with a new tax proposed. In a bid to curb a trend of rising tobacco and electronic smoking product use among Alaska youths, SB 89 has been proposed by Sen. Gary Stevens of Kodiak. It was been held to the Tuesday Senate floor calendar. (Update: It has passed 14-6, and is in the House.)
Senate bill revamping Alaska voting laws stumbles backward
Democrat Sen. Scott Kawasaki’s bill to change voting laws in Alaska, stalled on the Senate floor on Monday and was referred back to the Rules Committee. The legislation offered significant alterations to the state’s current electoral process, including a new “ballot curing” requirement and relaxation of signature verification requirements.
Yukon River village of Crooked Creek, National Weather Service photo.
Yukon River flood update: Damage piles up
Communities along the Yukon River and within the Glennallen and Kuskokwim divisions have experienced significant flooding due to snowmelt, ground saturation, and ice jams, resulting in damage to infrastructure and homes. Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a disaster. Here are the main details for each community.
How to get rid of conservative talk show? Kill AM radio in cars
The move by carmakers to not install AM receivers has health and safety implications for Alaska.
Alaska’s nonprofit sector ranks 15th in country as percentage of jobs
Alaska has a lot of nonprofits, mainly funded by government … which makes them government agencies, does it not? The majority of Alaska nonprofit jobs are now in hospitals.
Rep. Mary Peltola's mom passes
Not much more is known, but she was definitely an elder.
Jill Biden snubs Alaska senators with last-minute invitation to Bethel with Peltola
They were definitely not included in the main plans, but as an afterthought. This is clearly a campaign stop, so they’d want to steer clear anyway. Optics.
Toxic tour: Deb Haaland coming to Alaska with Jill Biden
She’ll make the trip to Bethel, where the two will campaign for Joe Biden. To the victor go the spoils, so they’ll campaign for Mary Peltola.
On the other hand, they are giving away iPhones, iPads, and iPods every 15 minutes to people who attend the “rally” in Bethel, so the turnout will probably be good.
Breaking: Anchorage Assemblywoman Zaletel takes medical leave
Meg says she needs time to heal after all she has been through the past couple of years? It’s a dog whistle that the mayor and the community is at fault somehow. Go figure.
Redistricting board accepts map approved by Supremes
The political lines, some of them compliments of the court, are now final until after the next Census.
Downing’s Daily Caller: Democrats have a Zombie problem
It’s not fun to say this, but between Biden, Fetterman, and Feinstein, we’re being led by the downright ghoulish.
Question of the Week
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
May 17, 1954, lawyer Thurgood Marshall scored a landmark victory as the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
Columns
Sean Murphy: Eaglexit and the authority of school boards in Alaska
This is the second part of our series of articles to describe an education model for the new Chugach Regional Borough. After all, isn’t it always about the future?
Kreig and Vazquez: Who to vote for in Chugach Electric board elections
There are three good choices for the future of Anchorage electric rates. And three really bad choices the greenies want you to vote for. This is the last week to vote.
Did Anchorage’s superintendent break promise to Family Partnership Charter School community?
He said the principal of Family Partnership would remain. Now he says she is leaving. That was fast.
Downing: Democrats have a zombie problem
Not to be unkind, but between Feinstein, Fetterman, and Biden (not to mention Sanders and Pelosi) it is the Night of the Living Dead running our country.
Glen Biegel: Choose your school wisely
Be in alignment with the school that your children attend. If you are not, you’re not going to like the results.
Doug Vincent-Lang: Another unjustified attack by the feds on Alaska
The National Park Service is once again dividing Alaska by unjustifiably undermining the state’s sustainable management of Alaska’s wildlife. In the latest attack, the National Park Service has proposed rule making that prohibits traditional methods and means of hunting throughout national preserves in Alaska.
Win Gruening: Connecting the dots on Alaska’s higher cost of living
According to a recent survey by the Alaska Department of Labor, housing became less affordable in all parts of Alaska in 2022.
Stephen Moore: Saving Alaska from the biggest tax hike in state history
Alaska is America’s Saudi Arabia when it comes to bountiful energy resources, but thanks to Biden’s anti- drilling and anti-mining policies, energy production in the state is way down. This red state is considering the worst possible fix: enacting one of the biggest tax increases ever seen in Juneau.
Alaska oil: $75.79
Henry Hub gas: $2.38
Alaska North Slope Production: 470,574
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $76,749,700,000
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