Alaska Congressional delegation aids Trump with silence

The consistent silence, which equates with political approval, has given Trump confidence that he can do or say anything as far as Republican members of Congress are concerned.

Dermot ColeApril 11, 2018 Comments

What the New York Times gets wrong about Sen. Lisa Murkowski

The surprise was not that Murkowski voted for a tax cut. It was that Murkowski voted for a giant tax cut that had no more public review than a bill to name a road or a post office.

Dermot ColeApril 5, 2018 Comments

Alaska would be a poorer place without Bulchitna Lake

I hope the Alaska Historical Commission sticks with Bulchitna Lake and rejects a proposal to start calling it Hneh'itnu Bena Lake. The existing name is important for historical reasons and it has literary merit.

Dermot ColeApril 2, 2018Comment

Irresponsible 21-19 House vote boosts PFD with no plan to finance services

This grandstanding move is not sustainable. It is a 2018 election ploy, pure and simple, by politicians with conflicting goals.

Dermot ColeMarch 26, 2018 Comments

Alaska Chamber of Commerce could show budget courage, but opts for worthless advice

Today is a good day to ask Curtis Thayer if the road to a balanced budget is paved with cuts to spending for repairing bridges on the Glenn Highway. There is a connection between state spending and services.

Dermot ColeMarch 22, 2018 Comments

Rebecca Logan's silence on garnished wages sounds like an excuse

Rebecca Logan was the president and CEO of a small organization that did not comply with a court order to direct a portion of her paycheck to pay a debt. That could not have happened without the knowledge of the president and CEO.

Dermot ColeMarch 12, 2018 Comments

Alaska's Permanent Fund won't survive unless state changes course

Alaska candidates running for state office have to admit that every financial choice means inflicting pain on the public now or taking more from savings, postponing the pain until young Alaskans are old enough to realize what we've done to them.

Dermot ColeMarch 10, 2018 Comments

Dunleavy shadow campaign shows how rich people can bankroll Alaska candidate

There is an easy way to bypass the ineffective Alaska law limiting campaign contributions to $500. The shadow campaign backing Republican Mike Dunleavy for governor shows how it's done.

Dermot ColeMarch 9, 2018 Comments

House Republicans conjure up phony budget statistics

North Pole Rep. Tammie Wilson, who once said she doesn't believe in inflation, is wasting valuable state time again with dozens of budget amendments based on a misreading of budget statistics.

Dermot ColeMarch 6, 2018 Comments

Public safety employees deserve better pensions, but no one else, Sen. Pete Kelly says

The record shows that Rep. Mike Kelly was wrong and that offering a weaker retirement plan did create personnel problems in Alaska. The latest confirmation comes from an unusual source—Mike's brother Pete.

Dermot ColeMarch 2, 2018 Comments