Are meals reported to the IRS?

In reference to "Our View: They can't be serious" (Feb. 24):

I very much agree with your editorial, but you didn't go far enough. Do our legislators report the full cost of their meals as income on their IRS forms? If not, why not? It is income, just like the tips that a young waitress has to report. When some lobbyist is spending $100 (or more) to feed a legislator and his wife, that borders on bribery, and the public needs to know how much these "lobbyists" are spending to "court the favors" of our legislators.

-- R. K. Butts

Wasilla

A chance to hear Pebble issues

As a Bristol Bay fisherman, I'm glad our leaders are talking about the sufficiency of Alaska's permitting process ("Alaska legislators weigh study of mine permitting," March 19.)

The people of Bristol Bay have been subsisting off our fisheries for 7,000 years. We provide for our families and others around the world. It also gives some in Anchorage jobs and a livelihood. We are concerned about the proposed Pebble Mine's possible impact on our fisheries.

Nunamta Aulukestai (Caretakers of Our Lands), a coalition of eight Bristol Bay village corporations downriver from the proposed mine, will hold a free public discussion on the proposed Pebble Mine from 7 to 10 p.m. today at UAA's Rasmuson Hall, Room 101.

We have presentations from experts in mining, water quality and fisheries with more than 25 years of experience, and from the Alaska departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Conservation and Fish and Game. Pebble Partnership was invited.

Come hear from experts, meet Bristol Bay residents, ask questions, share your thoughts and learn about Bristol Bay, the proposed Pebble Mine and the state's permitting process.

-- Verner Wilson III

Dillingham

Young fails to show eloquence in his response to health care

"Gobbledygook!" That was the carefully considered opinion of The Representative for All Alaska on the health care bill. For $174,000 per year plus perks and a pension, I thought Don Young would have gotten together with some of the other intellectuals in the Republican Caucus like Virginia Foxx, Joe Wilson, Michelle Bachman, Steve King, Randy Neugeberger, and Louis Gohmert to give us a cogent analysis of what more we could do for the health insurance industry.

Perhaps as he ages, the esteemed congressman is leaving the heavy legislative work to younger colleagues and concentrating on his forte. Raiding the federal treasury for campaign contributors, wherever they may be, seems to have worked pretty well so far. Oh and, as he showed at Bill Allen's last fundraiser, he can dance too.

-- John R. Stummer Sr.

Eagle River

Tolls will not cover Knik bridge

During last week's Assembly meeting on delaying the Knik Arm Crossing, Mayor Sullivan said, "If the bridge can truly be financed by tolls to be charged drivers, that seems like a win-win. If the state sells revenue bonds to back up the project, that's OK if they're paid back by tolls."

However, KABATA's own figures, based on questionable population projections show only $8.8 million in annual net revenue. $8.8 million will certainly not cover the estimated $44 million in annual revenue bond debt services.

It is plainly obvious that tolls cannot come close to covering the revenue bonds, let alone finance the bridge. That's not a "win-win." That's a "lose-lose" for all of us because we'll get stuck with the bill.

-- Stephanie Kesler