Dunleavy administration claims no constitutional duty to fund University of Alaska

A representative of Gov. Mike Dunleavy claimed last week that the state doesn’t have a constitutional duty to fund the University of Alaska. Anchorage Rep. Zack Fields was being polite when he said that was absurd and ludicrous.

Dermot ColeMarch 17, 2019 Comments

University of Alaska deserves honest analysis from Dunleavy, not this word salad

Legislators are accustomed to those who give answers without answering, deflecting and distracting by stringing random sentences together long enough to make everyone in the audience start thinking about lunch. The future of the university is too important to Alaska to accept that.

Dermot ColeMarch 16, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy, who promised no Pioneer Home cuts, looks to collect $15 million a year more from residents

Sometime after the election the governor decided that he wanted to squeeze up to $15 million more out of Pioneer Home residents who are not already indigent.

Dermot ColeMarch 15, 2019 Comments

State plans to end dairy inspections, which would put remaining dairy out of business

Ending dairy inspections won’t harm public health in Alaska, the Dunleavy administration says. Why? Because the one dairy still in business won’t be permitted to sell milk to consumers as soon as inspections end.

Dermot ColeMarch 14, 2019 Comments

UAF considers closing three residence halls, moving hockey to Patty Center to cut costs

UAF chancellor Dan White says, “we are actively looking at ways we can manage our budget that are consistent with how we want to position ourselves for the future.”

Dermot ColeMarch 13, 2019 Comment

University may never recover from Dunleavy's reckless attack on education

Dunleavy’s attack on higher education in Alaska presents a “clear danger that UA’s reputation would be so damaged that it would never fully recover.”

Dermot ColeMarch 13, 2019 Comments

Neglect leads to $2 billion Alaska maintenance backlog, crumbling public facilities

The state has a $2 billion backlog of neglected maintenance work, a problem that goes unacknowledged until the plumbing fails, the roof leaks or the heating system calls it quits. The Dunleavy budget pretends this problem is not a big one.

Dermot ColeMarch 12, 2019 Comments

Fearing bulldozer attack in Anchorage, state official moved oil secrets in late-night clandestine operation

Former Sen. Hollis French disclosed a priceless state secret, perhaps the ultimate state secret, with an unforgivable breach of security. He did no such thing, but that was one of the charges against him as chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Dermot ColeMarch 11, 2019 Comments

Paul Jenkins wasn't paying attention to what candidate Mike Dunleavy promised

Here is a consumer guide to Dunleavy promises to not cut the ferry system, public schools, the University of Alaska, the Pioneers Home, the court system, the prison system, state Troopers and Power Cost Equalization. It also includes his promises to increase spending on education, the courts, Troopers and prosecutors.

Dermot ColeMarch 10, 2019 Comments

No, Mr. Revenue Commissioner, ISER did not back away from job loss estimate

It is misleading to subtract short-term job gains from long-term job losses and present the result as a single category. The conservative “walking around number” of 17,000 jobs at risk should alarm every Alaskan.

Dermot ColeMarch 9, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy administration job loss guess draws on fantasy plan for Alaska

The idea that the Dunleavy Disaster is going to stabilize Alaska’s budget, prevent a population decline and attract a lot more economic growth is ludicrous.

Dermot ColeMarch 8, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy leaders stonewall on ‘honest’ budget analysis

It appears the Dunleavy budget plan is to stonewall the Legislature as long as possible on the economic impacts of his devastating budget plan, while surrogates spout anti-government ideology and call it good.

Dermot ColeMarch 7, 2019 Comments