State budget shortfall hits
This is going to be messy
Good morning from Somewhere in Alaska!
Boots and heels on the ground in Juneau with AFP-Alaska
Thirty-six Alaskans from across the state made the trip to Juneau to work on conservative budgeting priorities. Their timing was impeccable, and they dressed smartly, too.
Legislators are accustomed to seeing lobbyist trolling the hallways for 119 days of the session, but are not used to having a group of Alaskans who are there as citizens. Some of the leaders in the Senate simply refused to meet with them, i.e. Sen. Cathy Giessel, Sen. Forrest Dunbar, Sen. Click Bishop. The House members on both sides of the aisle were more receptive to meeting with their constituents.
Uh-oh, State comes up short in revenue this year and next
The Spring Revenue Forecast is bad, with a $900 million plus shortfall for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. Where will the money come from? You guessed it.
Not a bad shot: Sen. James Kaufman was mostly accurate in the archery division of the Alaska Legislative Shoot on Saturday. Considering he was using a bow that he’d never drawn before and was not built for him, that’s impressive.
Houston School District taken over by Texas state agency
The Houston guy who was in charge of recruiting and hiring? Dr. Jharrett Bryantt, who was just hired by Anchorage Schools as superintendent … to make it as good as Houston.
Peltola travels to Minnesota to push ranked choice voting
She testified on behalf of Fair Vote Minnesota, which is a group just like Alaskans for Better Elections, funded by the same dark Outside money.
Alaska House votes 34-4 to join legal brief supporting Willow
Only four legislators voted against supporting the Willow Project in court. Who were they?
Kari Nore hired by Alaska Chamber as external affairs director
Prior to joining the Chamber, Nore was with the Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc. and she spent six years as a legislative aide in the Alaska Legislature.
She is a lifelong Alaskan, born and raised in North Pole. Congratulate her at kari@alaskachamber.com.
Thank you to everyone who has become a paid subscriber since I made the leap to Substack as the MRAK newsletter provider. I appreciate your support!
Muni Clerk’s Office puts thumb on scale for incumbents
The map for the drop boxes has an extra feature — the names of just some, but not others, who are on the ballot for the district.
Blooming in the Capital
The National Park Service predicts that peak bloom for the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. will take place from March 22-25 this year. The average peak bloom date, which is when 70% of the flowers of the cherry blossom trees are open, is around April 4.
LGBTQ special protections sought in HB 99
The LGBTQ caucus in the Legislature is focusing on the rights of gays and trans as a legally special class of people. We’re running out of protected classes.
Alaska Humanities Forum promoting drag queens for children
The organization hosts a speaker who says kids need to be around more drag queens in order to make the world safer for everybody. She must have not been thinking about what is safe for the kids.
Personal data of 250,000 Medicare recipients compromised
Federal subcontractor was hacked, and then Americans were not told until December.
Side note: HMS is the newly contracted fiscal agent for Alaska Department of Health Division of Health Care Services, having access to all the personal health information for Alaska’s Medicaid recipients … As of April 1, 2023.
The 907 Question of the Week:
No one can see how you vote, so do it now! Results announced Friday.
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Today in history
Price of Alaska oil: $71.62
Price of Henry Hub gas: $2.22
Alaska North Slope Production: 480,908
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $76,507,600,000
COLUMNS
Suzanne Downing: Ice cold revenge of Deb Haaland
She is punishing Alaskans for the Willow Project. Haaland takes back King Cove road land.
Win Gruening: When is a trail a road?
The latest debate over a commercial use permit in Juneau to use city land for a bike tour on the West Douglas Pioneer Road seems overblown.
Alex Gimarc: Parental rights come to Alaska
Will the Legislature ensure that parents are not cut out of the raising of their children?
Tim Barto: Nice guys don’t have to finish last
Conservatives don’t have to emulated down-and-dirty politics of the left.
Judicial Watch: What you need to know about ERIC
The media is condemning officials in Republican-led states for withdrawing from a controversial data-sharing consortium that purports to help manage voter registration rolls and, not surprisingly, the news reports fail to tell the whole story.
Bob Maier: Ballot neglects to tell voters that Prop. 14 will add homeowner taxes
Another $68 in property taxes for an average house.
MULTIMEDIA
Take a video tour inside Alaska’s largest cold-weather shelter
It’s not a place most on the Anchorage Assembly have ever visited (they say it is unsafe), but you can tag along with John Quick as he videos the inside of the Sullivan Arena and talks to the people trying to help the homeless.
Mayor Dave Bronson, extending olive branch to Assembly
John Quick has a heart-to-heart with Anchorage’s mayor. Find out what the buzz is.
MUST READ ALASKA PODCAST
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Preservation Alaska. Once it’s gone it’s gone
Dorene Lorenz is a champion for all things historical
Rep. Gray is passionate about foster care, affordable housing, and potholes
Pastor Bob Roberts Jr. is an international peacemaker
Undercover Billionaire star & Tedx Talk Speaker RJ shares his life story
Rachel Ries is running for Anchorage Assembly seat 6
Gwen Adams is a modern day HERO
Rep. Jamie Allard of Eagle River is true to her word
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