Fred Fleitz ~ Although Peter Schweitzer’s new book “Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill ...
Jay Hammond Predicted this Day
“I wanted to transform oil wells pumping oil for a finite period into money wells pumping money for infinity.” Governor Jay Hammond, father of the Ala...
Alaska Miners Point Out Interior Secretary’s Disconnect
Miners in Alaska are organized and make their voices heard, especially when it comes to misinformation about their livelihood. Recently, they s...
Mark Begich Joins the Ranks of Ex-Congress Lobbyists
In the beginning, former Senator Mark Begich will not be lobbying directly, since that’s the law barring elected officials for two-years from th...
“Plan B” Presents a Major Risk Factor
Governor Walker’s “Plan B” for a non-competing, in-state gasline downgrades the entire larger gasline project being pursued by the m...
Difficult to Cut Another $500M From the $100M Remaining
This session Alaska Legislature faced an impossible and undesired task. Craig Tuten, in an Alaska Commons blog post, summarizes their effort and conve...
An Amy Demboski Hit Piece
In a recent Mudflats article, Shannon Moore slices up Amy Demboski like an early run salmon filet. The runoff election for mayor of Anchorage is in le...
Lift Iran’s Oil Export Ban But Not Ours?
In a recent industry conference in Houston, Senator Murkowski reiterated her effort in Congress to remove the U.S. oil export ban in a poignant rebutt...
Senate: We Will Not to Be Held Hostage
House Democrats are exerting their negotiating power, when their so-called opponent is in the end zone with the ball and the buzzer has sounded. They ...
Oil Production Down, Income Tax Inevitable
A former oil field tech on the North Slope, Herb Butler, relays dire news about oil production dropping off in Alaska in an op-ed in the Fairbanks Ne...
The Bills Just Short of the Finish Line
Several good bills just did not make it to the finish line this session. You can say the 90-day limit is too quick to get all the deliberation needed ...
The NO Votes on Confirmations
While all of the Governor’s cabinet members were confirmed by the Legislature, several commissioners were not. Namely, Joe Paskan for the Alaska...
Education Dollars Can Be Cut Without Laying Off Teachers
Taking a line-by-line look at the actual budget worksheet documents of the Anchorage School District can show you room for making cuts that do not imp...
Our Power Struggle
Trevor Fulton ~ At this very moment a power struggle is occurring in the state capitol between the Governor and the Legislature, the outcome of which ...
The “Backup” LNG Project Is “Taller Than Denali”
The Governor vetoed it. The Legislature is 3 votes short to override it. Or is it? The passion behind House Bill 132 is enough to keep high-stakes in ...
Palmer Mayor Chimes In to Support Governor’s Veto
Palmer Mayor DeLena Johnson wrote an op-ed in the Frontiersman, urging legislators NOT to override the Governor’s veto on HB132. She says that b...
Tighten Everybody’s Belts
The House passed by a one-vote margin a controversial bill paring back salary increases for state workers. They almost didn’t pass it. Finally, ...
Vetting Education Dollars
We have to look seriously at education in Alaska. We rank at the bottom of all the states for reading at the fourth grade level, and yet we rank at th...
An Elephant Fight
During a rally on the capitol steps for Medicaid Expansion, which is turning into a political “elephant fight,” the folks sang “Happ...
Alaska’s Economy Relies on These Truckers
The Dalton ice-road disaster has caused a huge problem by cutting off the supply chain for Alaska’s major economic engine. The one hundred truck...
Governor Seeks to Avoid Last Week Brawl Over In-State Gasline
Governor Walker sent a letter last week to legislators, in an effort to avoid a last-week-of-the-session brawl, explaining his revised emphasis on an ...
Murkowski Swing Vote on Lynch Nomination
Even as Alaska’s Attorney General confirmation hearing gets snagged, the appointment of new United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch, likewi...
The Reality Lawmaker Show
Tax credits for the film industry are being taken off the table by the legislature. Because the film industry pays the State nothing, it is not seen a...
Dems Pin Medicaid Expansion onto Constitutional Budget Reserve Vote
The Republicans look at Medicaid Expansion as a huge program shift for a system that itself is currently broken. Sen. Pete Kelly wants the time during...
Creation of New Marijuana Board Adds to the Budget
During a session where every lawmaker carried a pair of budget scissors holstered to their side, only a substance that altered the mind could have alt...
“We’re Not Poor.”
Are you ready to pony up $4500? That’s how much the Alaska’s State spending deficit is per person. One of our leading state economists, Gu...
He Actually Overpaid
The takedown of Senator Ted Stevens five years ago was a “vicious, comprehensive Alinskyite attack using the legal system” of which the le...
Governor Readies His Negotiating Power
The governor has published a large list of his Medicaid Expansion supporters. Polls show that over 60% of Alaskans support the idea. It looks l...
That Was an Expensive Coffey Cup
Some vote analysis done by AK-Pipeline for the recent mayoral race discovered, after breaking it down, a huge cost-overrun by Dan Coffey. His good bus...
Eagle River’s Mayor?
Did Eagle River carry Demboski to the runoff? AK-Pipeline shares a couple of voter number cruncher maps of the recent Anchorage Mayoral electio...
The Last Week
The Legislature has several big issues to be resolved this last week of its session, which adjourns on Sunday. The Budget. Medicaid Expansion. Confirm...
Take Off the Blinders About Why Iran Needs to Enrich Uranium
Fred Fleitz ~ It is now clear from the framework nuclear deal with Iran announced last week that the final nuclear agreement will permit Tehran to con...
At What Point Does the Nanny State Take Over?
During an emotionally charged hearing Thursday, lawmakers heard personal testimony from individuals who believed a loved one would have benefited from...
President’s Moratorium Disregards Public Process
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, criticized the Obama administration’s lack of consultation with Alaska in developing its draft 2017-2022 outer con...
Drawing the Battle Lines on Federal Overreach
Frank McQueary ~ Allen Smith, former vice president of The Wilderness Society’s Alaska chapter, praised the efforts of President Barack Obama in a Mar...
The Best Place to Be a Taxpayer
At least you’re not living in Illinois. And too bad you’re not a resident up in Alaska. The financial services website WalletHub is out this week with...
A Portent of What’s Coming
Since the Murkowski administration, the Alaska House of Representatives has not passed a taxation bill where the levy goes beyond the oil industry. Th...
A Tax Idea
With education facing deep cuts, a Fairbanks legislator has proposed reinstating the education head tax to help pay for education. Days after the Sena...
In the Name of Revenue Diversification
Peninsula Representative Paul Seaton, a Homer Republican, filed a bill Friday to bring back an income tax to Alaska. Representative Bryce Edgmon, a Di...
Recap and Preview of Runoff Voter Numbers
Here’s a good recap of the Anchorage Mayoral election turnout and a thought-out prescient look at what we can expect as far as voter splitting p...
Ethan vs. Amy
Election Summary Report 2015 Regular Municipal Election Summary for Jurisdiction Wide Unofficial Results 04/07/15 23:29:02 Registered Voters 206033 &#...
Secret Interview with Next Mayor of Anchorage
This was a discreet interview of the future mayor of Anchorage held before the election that is now being published for your enrichment… ...
Mayoral Runoff Next
A survey released Wednesday by left-leaning pollster Ivan Moore suggests that no mayoral candidate will come close to getting 45 percent of the vote o...
Get To Know Them Before You Vote
Alaska Public Media and KSKA interviewed the Anchorage Mayoral Candidates and produced an excellent video series. These interviews give an objective l...
Senate Delivers Their Cuts to the House
Senate Finance co-chairs Pete Kelly and Anna MacKinnon said these are tough times. Low oil prices have exacerbated a budget deficit projected to be in...
Hawker and Chenault Explaining It
Rep. Hawker / Rep. Chenault ~ We want to work with our new governor to progress this great state forward, especially knowing the difficult times befor...
‘Tis Not Good to Legitimize Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Program
By Fred Fleitz ~ At a press conference April 2, 2015, President Obama lauded the preliminary agreement reached with Iran to reduce the risk of an Ira...
White House Urges Congress to Permanently Close ANWR
Revised recommendations by the Obama administration call for designating 12.28 million acres (5 million hectares) as wilderness in Alaska’s Arct...
Protest Against Education Cuts
A group of about 60 people, ranging from grade schoolers to grandparents, chanted, “Enough is enough! Enough is enough!” “Think about our education!” ...
Alaska Signs Brief Supporting Same-sex Marriage Ban
Alaska’s Attorney General Craig Richards has signed on to an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court that says same-sex marriage bans should be upheld....
Mayoral Race Comes Down to Money and Guts
With just a few days left before the Anchorage municipal election, candidates for mayor are campaigning hard for votes. Financial disclosures released...
International Railway Must Go Through Alaska
Plans have been unveiled for an ambitious new transport route through Russia with a mega road and high-speed rail network to link Asia with Europe. At...
Youth Courts of Alaska Students Train to be Leaders
The United Youth Courts of Alaska is notable for encouraging youth leadership in the legal system and students’ own communities. Branches from across ...
Medicaid Expansion Bill Passes First Hurdle in House
A Republican-controlled House committee Tuesday night easily moved forward Gov. Bill Walker’s bill to expand the public Medicaid health program,...
The Federal Oversight War on Small Farmers
Arthur Keyes ~ I am a full-time Alaskan farmer, husband and dad. I love being part of the agriculture industry and contributing to my community. IR...
President Obama Goes Island Voodoo On Us
President Obama today announced that the US would provide new homelands for the nine most climate-change endangered island nations in the world. Here ...
Senate Votes to Restrict Competing LNG Project
The Alaska Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would temporarily restrict participation by a state-sponsored corporation in an alternate gas pipeline pr...
Environmental Groups Upset by Dept’s Go-ahead on Alaska Oil & Gas Lease
The federal government affirmed a 2008 lease sale for exploration in the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska. The decision means the Department of Int...
Bad Iran Deal Gets Worse
By Fred Fleitz ~ In its desperation to get a nuclear agreement with Iran, the Obama administration made a very dangerous concession by agreeing to all...
We Know Where the Money’s Coming From
Former Assemblyman Dan Coffey and former Anchorage Rep. Ethan Berkowitz have collected campaign donations from all across the city while Assembly woma...
One of the Smartest Purchases Ever: 148 Years Ago
On March 30, 1867, the United States bought a large parcel of land from Russia for the hefty sum of $7.2 million. Alaska, as it was called, was more t...
Shell To Resume Arctic Drilling
Royal Dutch Shell will resume drilling off Alaska after suspending operations for two years in the wake of an accident, the special U.S. envoy to the ...
Attorney General Nominee Faced Tough Questioning
Legislative committees have been putting Attorney General nominee Craig Richards through the wringer. Richards has stood up to it, however, deftly ans...
Alaska Senate Delays Vote On Pot Legislation
The Alaska Senate has delayed a vote on its signature marijuana bill after saying they need more time to consider an amendment that would largely ban ...
Legislative Crime Hearing Focuses on Anchorage
A troubling picture about the surge in Anchorage violence was painted for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday. “It is unusual to focus on just on...
Medicaid Expansion Advocate Speaks Out
Jeff Cook ~ Alaska’s hospitals face great risk if our state opts out and thousands of Alaskans may remain without basic coverage. As president of the ...
Public Radio Gets Axed
Earlier this month, public broadcasting survived an effort in the House to slash its state funding by half. Now, a subcommittee in the Senate has axed...
Legislative Analyst Offers Gloomy Budget Outlook
Each week during the legislative session, various interest groups and lawmakers will host catered lunches as a way of drawing staffers to learn about ...
Murkowski: Forest Service Failing Alaska Communities
Senator Lisa Murkowski, on Wednesday March 26, 2015, pressed U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell on the agency’s failure to address the needs of Sou...
Ellis and Coghill Join Together to Reduce Prison Overcrowding
Two senators from opposite sides of the political spectrum jointly introduced legislation Wednesday aimed at reforming Alaska’s expensive, overburdene...
Skip the Forest Industry Completely
Last week, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell testified before the Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee to discuss the 2...
Audio In: Coffey & Starr Discuss Funny Money
Integrity gets a pass in the political field because too much happens no one ever gets wind of; thus perception reigns. In this audio file, recorded i...
26th Anniversary
It was the worst man-made environmental catastrophe in U.S. history — that is, until five years ago, when it was eclipsed by a disaster roughly 20 tim...
Private-Use Fishing Priority Bill
Seven times is the charm for building some momentum on a measure that aims to give personal use fisheries a priority over commercial and sport users. ...
Sullivan Shares the Partisan Battle He’s Facing in Washington
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan returned to Juneau and today gave his first speech as a senator to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature. The first-term Re...