With Ben Stevens as chief of staff, questions about Veco scandal remain

In the 2007 corruption trial of former Rep. Pete Kott, former Veco Vice President Rick Smith was asked which state senators had been bribed. "That would be Ben Stevens and John Cowdery," Smith said.

Dermot ColeAugust 1, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy plugs 'outcomes' into sentences as a substitute for thinking

I’d like to see better outcomes from the governor’s office, which would start with a confession that anyone who says we can improve education in Alaska by cutting $330 million from K-12 and $130 million from the university is lying.

Dermot ColeJuly 31, 2019 Comments

Usibelli, Shumaker make case for Dunleavy recall

“His brief time as governor has brought us an atmosphere of fear and distress, as people worry about whether they will be able to care for special-needs children or whether they will lose their jobs, their homes, and their ability to live in Alaska.”

By Joe Usibelli, Peggy Shumaker

Dermot ColeJuly 31, 2019 Comments

State tells University of Alaska researchers to wish upon a star for tens of millions

Instead of admitting there is no chance of finding $35 million in spare change, Mike Barnhill suggested that it is not only possible, but likely, as long as the university hits up the thousands of people who benefit from research.

Dermot ColeJuly 30, 2019 Comments

University of Alaska regents should reject Dunleavy's strong-arm tactics

While a bipartisan majority of legislators voted again Monday to support higher education, the UA regents are left in a terrible spot with no good options, because Gov. Mike Dunleavy has decided to rule Alaska via the veto.

Dermot ColeJuly 29, 2019 Comments

Imaginary numbers highlight the Dunleavy attack on UAF research

Among the many false claims made by the Dunleavy administration about the University of Alaska Fairbanks, one of the most important is that it does not do as well as it should in leveraging state funds to attract federal research dollars.

Dermot ColeJuly 28, 2019 Comments

Shaky math and long-term risk underlie $3,000 dividend dream

Taking out extra money to pay a fat dividend would be like retirees taking too much from savings each year, only to discover they outlived their nest egg.

By Larry Persily

Dermot ColeJuly 28, 2019 Comments

Incompetence at the top: Dunleavy seeks to eliminate UAF research

The careless approach to the future of the University of Alaska represents a staggering level of incompetence by Dunleavy.

Dermot ColeJuly 26, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy needs to appear before UA Board of Regents to explain dismantling plan for the university

This is no time for a Dunleavy surrogate to speak to the UA Board of Regents on his behalf, making lame excuses for a man who isn’t there.

Dermot ColeJuly 26, 2019 Comments

With the attorney general's logic, about $10 billion or more could be removed from Permanent Fund

If the Power Cost Equalization fight ends up in court, of which there is a chance, and if the attorney general is right, of which there is a chance, there is also a chance that about $10 billion or more of the Permanent Fund earnings reserve should be transferred into the Constitutional Budget Reserve.

Dermot ColeJuly 25, 2019 Comment