Senate overdraw would put Alaska on path to liquidating Permanent Fund

I still think that a solution that makes everyone unhappy is the best we can hope for—a smaller dividend, an income tax, higher oil taxes, higher gas taxes and limited spending increases.

Dermot ColeMay 20, 2021 Comments

Legislature has option to trim level of hypocrisy by cutting $10 million gift to Mat-Su

Cutting the state gift to Mat-Su in the final version of the budget would be a good step to take, one that would decrease the degree of hypocrisy by $10 million.

Dermot ColeMay 19, 2021 Comments

Alberta to Alaska RR promoter has negative $96 million net worth, accountant claims

The Bridging Finance scandal has upended almost everything claimed by Dunleavy, the Alaska congressional delegation and other leading politicians have said about the proposed Alberta to Alaska railroad.

Dermot ColeMay 18, 2021 Comments

Dunleavy seeks to boost 2022 re-election hopes with $10 million for Mat-Su roads

The most flagrant political item in the Dunleavy gift bag is the idea of giving the Mat-Su borough $10 million to spend on whatever road projects the borough deems the most important.

Dermot ColeMay 16, 2021 Comments

Dunleavy refuses to say how he would pay for state government

The biggest flaw is the continuing lack of leadership—Dunleavy wants a special session to start this week to rewrite the state financial plan without giving Alaskans or legislators a clue about what he sees in future taxes and spending on state services.

Dermot ColeMay 15, 2021 Comments

Canadian backer of Alberta to Alaska RR denies taking kickbacks from railroad promoter

“I just want to put it squarely to you. Are these kickbacks that Mr. (Sean) McCoshen is paying you in connection with extending loans to his companies?”, Carlo Rossi, a staff member of the Ontario Securities Commission asked David Sharpe, co-founder of the Alberta to Alaska railroad dream. “No, they’re not,” said Sharpe.

Dermot ColeMay 13, 2021 Comments

Dunleavy aims to delay big decisions on spending, services and deficit

Dunleavy spoke about his plan for nearly 50 minutes before mentioning that it would require taking an extra $3 billion out of the Permanent Fund to cover the deficit it would create. He said the $3 billion would cover the deficit for “several years,” but that requires a leap of imagination.

Dermot ColeMay 12, 2021 Comments

Legislators ignore AG Treg Taylor's deception about Ben Stevens ethics waiver

AG Treg Taylor did not tell legislators the truth about the Ben Stevens ethics waiver during his confirmation hearings. But the 35 legislators who voted to confirm him Tuesday didn’t care.

Dermot ColeMay 11, 2021 Comments

Legislators should reject Babcock for Alaska Judicial Council

Tuckerman’s disgraceful interference in the process to pick judges is reason enough to keep him and his wife away from the Alaska Judicial Council. The full Legislature is set to hold a confirmation vote on Kristie Babcock and others Tuesday.

Dermot ColeMay 10, 2021 Comments

Oil industry shows its strength once more as legislators bury oil tax bills

The claims last year from the alleged “OneAlaska leadership team” that the Legislature is the proper place to thoroughly consider oil taxes and do it out in the open were part of the oil industry con job.

Dermot ColeMay 9, 2021 Comments