Anchorage has chance to stop UA infighting before it's too late

The damage started by Dunleavy and his GOP backers has touched off academic infighting that could cause the University of Alaska to implode. It has to stop.

Dermot ColeSeptember 18, 2019 Comments

State hires Outside attorneys for $600 an hour to sue Alaska union workers

With this contract, AG Kevin Clarkson is sending a message to conservative lawyers that he is willing to use state resources to give them extra business, even though it features the “Alaska discount” that deprives them of an extra $350 an hour.

Dermot ColeSeptember 17, 2019 Comments

Temporary budget director's departure follows pattern

Now that she is the former temporary budget director, it’s time to assess Donna Arduin’s failure to understand anything about Alaska politics and Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s failure to demand a more responsible approach.

Dermot ColeSeptember 16, 2019 Comments

Daily News is wrong, Dunleavy recall is the best option for political change

The Anchorage Daily News editorial board, led by company CEO Ryan Binkley, is wrong on all of this except for the statement that the Dunleavy administration will fight the recall effort all the way.

Dermot ColeSeptember 14, 2019 Comments

Chaos in health care: Dunleavy creates Medicaid 'emergency'

Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants to cut Medicaid spending by $700 million over a couple of years. He has been unable to define the level of reduced services this would require or which Alaska health care institutions might survive the bloodletting.

Dermot ColeSeptember 13, 2019 Comment

Sullivan, who led fight to block tax on cruise ships, draws most industry contributions

The 2017 Republican tax law, which Congress approved without a hearing, was going to include a provision to collect about $70 million a year from cruise ship companies that don’t pay federal taxes. But Sen. Dan Sullivan led the charge to sink the ship tax.

Dermot ColeSeptember 12, 2019 Comments

State seeks 'development manager' for tasks similar to Penney's no-bid contract

AIDEA Executive Director Tom Boutin told the governor’s press secretary to pretend that he did not know about the no-bid contract with Clark Penney, valued at up to $441,000. Was this to divert attention from the obvious questions about whether this contract was a political gift for the oversized role that Bob Penney played in helping Dunleavy win the election?

Dermot ColeSeptember 8, 2019 Comments

Contradictory statements cloud no-bid deal with grandson of Dunleavy donor

What we know is that an unnamed person or persons in the Dunleavy administration bestowed a no-bid contract on Clark Penney, the grandson of a major Dunleavy donor, and prevented competitive bids on a contract worth up to $441,000.

Dermot ColeSeptember 7, 2019 Comments

Guns and gambling and new businesses in Alaska

The state would be better off if the governor focused on improvements to education, both K-12 and the university, to try to better prepare young Alaskans to compete for the demanding jobs of the future, which won’t be in gun factories or casinos.

Dermot ColeSeptember 6, 2019 Comments

Recall Dunleavy campaign has a legal edge on specifics

Attorney General Kevin Clarkson will try to assemble a case against the recall of Gov. Mike Dunleavy. He will be tempted to reject or ignore the work of his predecessors in analyzing election law, which would be a mistake.

Dermot ColeSeptember 5, 2019 Comments