'Open for business' administration tries again to shut down Alaska's only cow dairy

The Dunleavy administration is trying again to shut down the Havemeister family dairy farm near Palmer by ending the state inspection program required to sell milk on the commercial market. It’s still a bad idea.

Dermot ColeDecember 16, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy dithers on budget as state speeds toward financial cliff in 2021

Dunleavy’s budget envisions a deficit in the fiscal year that starts next July of about $170,000 an hour, which is $4 million per day, about $120 million a month and about $1.5 billion a year. By October 2021, all savings except the Permanent Fund would be gone.

Dermot ColeDecember 16, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy's failure to plan creates Medicaid dental coverage chaos

After vetoing adult dental coverage for Medicaid recipients in June and again in August—rejecting the near universal testimony from health care experts—Gov. Mike Dunleavy has now signed off on a plan to resurrect coverage in January.

Dermot ColeDecember 14, 2019 Comments

After no-bid contract with Bob Penney's grandson, Dunleavy looks to draw down loan fund

Under the latest plan, the team would be funded by $2.8 million to be withdrawn from a state loan fund for aviation equipment, a fund managed by the commerce department that is soon to be shut down.

Dermot ColeDecember 13, 2019 Comments

State claim on reversal of public assistance cuts fails red face test

The Dunleavy administration has offered an unbelievable account about the sequence of events and the timing of the decision to cut benefits for the poor, blind, disabled or old, followed by the reversal of that plan after the public began to learn about it.

Dermot ColeDecember 13, 2019 Comments

Dunleavy budget falsely claims 'Ocean Ranger' program eliminated

This seems to be a bit of wishful thinking on the part of DEC Commissioner Jason Brune, who told the Resource Development Council in March that eliminating the Ocean Ranger program was “near and dear to my heart.” The Legislature refused to give him his heart’s desire.

Dunleavy budget would exhaust all state savings except Permanent Fund by 2021

Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced a reckless budget Wednesday afternoon in Juneau, one that would leave the state with no savings except the Permanent Fund by October 2021, then he ducked out of his own press conference.

Dermot ColeDecember 11, 2019 Comments

Alaska attorney general wastes state money on embarrassing education fight

The Legislature took a sensible position and ignored Attorney General Kevin Clarkson on school funding. Clarkson’s losing streak is intact.

Dunleavy backtracks on benefit cuts for impoverished old, blind, disabled Alaskans

The reductions, about $100 a month for many, were supposed to start Jan, 1, but they are going to be largely reversed, according to a Department of Health and Social Services memo sent to Reps. Ivy Spohnholz and Tiffany Zulkosky, who voiced opposition to the unannounced cuts.

Alaska politics, LegislatureDermot ColeDecember 9, 2019Alaska Comments

Dunleavy is not facing recall for doing 'what he said he was going to do'

Former Sen. Pete Kelly repeats the convenient half-truth in the Daily News-Miner today that “We have a governor who has done exactly what he said he was going to do during an election, and voters are now furious because he did it.”