University budget and the imaginary plan to cut $50 million in administration

Sen. Lora Reinbold thought she heard a University of Alaska Anchorage professor describe an easy way to cut $50 million in administrative expenses from the UA budget. It was what she wanted to hear.

Dermot ColeOctober 29, 2019 Comments

UA faculty alliance seeks to turn UA president's job into figurehead

There is no point in continuing to have a president of the University of Alaska under the organizational scheme promoted by the faculty group. And it may be unconstitutional.

Dermot ColeOctober 28, 2019 Comments

UAA faculty Senate promotes in-fighting at the expense of higher education

Fortunately for the state of Alaska, the faculty do not run the University of Alaska. Faculty have a vital role to play. However, shared governance becomes harder to justify when the actions of faculty representatives demonstrate no sense of true responsibility for all of the university’s stakeholders.

By Terrence Cole

Dermot ColeOctober 28, 2019 Comment

State decided last winter to ship prisoners Outside

Corrections Commissioner Nancy Dahlstrom said the decision to ship prisoners Outside “was not made lightly.” She’s right. The decision was not made lightly. It was made last winter.

Dermot ColeOctober 26, 2019 Comments

Attorney hired by Alaska for $600 an hour, tells court that Trump is above the law

Attorney William Consovoy claims that the presidency provides a cloak of immunity for Trump against state and local authorities. He also claims that Congress has no right to investigate Trump’s behavior.

Dermot ColeOctober 25, 2019 Comments

State ignores public policy questions arising from BP sale to Hilcorp

The hands-off approach taken by the state of Alaska to the sale of BP’s Alaska’s assets to Hilcorp is evident in the lack of any coherent public process to examine the wide range of issues related to the sale.

Dermot ColeOctober 24, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy administration takes egregious step to interfere with oil tax initiative

Armed with Attorney General Kevin Clarkson’s false statements, the oil industry will soon be claiming that the Fair Share Act oil tax initiative could force higher taxes on small oil fields on the North Slope, such as the projects Oil Search is developing.

Dermot ColeOctober 23, 2019 Comments

Nobody's paying attention to Alaska's biggest deal in generation

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska has posted only five public comments on one of the biggest business transactions in the history of Alaska. Perhaps that’s because the RCA online comment system doesn’t work. The RCA needs to immediately extend the comment period on the Hilcorp acquisition of BP’s assets in Alaska.

Dermot ColeOctober 22, 2019 Comments

State's distorted summary of oil tax initiative previews future oil industry talking points

With the oil tax initiative moving ahead, AG Kevin Clarkson has signed off on some preposterous claims, such as: The inability of the state Department of Law to define “field,” as in Prudhoe Bay oil field.

Dermot ColeOctober 21, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy, Clarkson create self-serving plan for free legal assistance in ethics cases

Attorney General Kevin Clarkson refuses to say who came up with the idea that he and Gov. Mike Dunleavy could approve a request by the other for free legal assistance when faced with allegations of ethics violations.

Dermot ColeOctober 20, 2019 Comments