Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, Oct. 19, 2014

Bradner right that politicians just want re-election

Great article by Tim Bradner asking if politicians have the "guts" to address Alaska's financial crisis. As a former Alaska senator, I can say the answer to Tim's question is "No!" The simple reason is that when candidates are honest about possible solutions to the state's financial problems they can't get elected. The No. 1 priority of all politicians is to get re-elected.

We need to be talking seriously about capping the Permanent Fund dividend and instituting a state income tax again. When the state income tax was repealed, Sen. Pat Rodey and I tried to put some limits on the repeal. We knew once the income tax was repealed there would be little chance of reinstituting an income tax. We proposed an amendment for a 10-year suspension of the income tax, with a review, to determine whether it should be suspended again. But we could not even get any debate in the Senate on our amendment as the push for total income tax repeal was overwhelming.

Alaska is fortunate to have citizen groups such as Common Ground and Commonwealth North searching for realistic solutions to our pending financial crisis. They need to continue to take the leadership the Legislature will not take in initiating a grass-roots effort to realistically address the critical financial problems facing our state.

-- Terry Stimson

Former Alaska senator

Anchorage

Halloween candy could be spiked if pot is legal

Halloween is coming and here is something Alaskans need to know before voting on Ballot Measure 2.

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CNN just reported: "Colorado parents have a new fear to factor in this Halloween." The Denver police issued a video warning parents about marijuana infused candy. CNN further notes: "In the video, Patrick Johnson, owner of Denver's Urban Dispensary, explained that rather than crafting sweets from scratch, many edibles shops buy soft or hard candy in bulk, then spray it with viscous hash oil. 'Once that candy dries, there's really no way to tell the difference between candy that's infused and candy that's not infused,'" Johnson warned.

Alaskans need to know that Ballot Measure 2 isn't simply a decriminalization bill -- it goes much further than that, making hash oil and other marijuana concentrates legal. Do we really want all of these commercialized edibles in Alaska? I am voting no on Ballot Measure 2.

-- Karen Compton

Anchorage

Health care should be priority for Alaska voters

I take issue with John Cole's letter (ADN, Wednesday). Before the Affordable Care Act, when someone wanted to get insurance in Alaska there was more than a 30 percent chance that they would be turned down; with the ACA in effect, no one is turned down. And you can no longer be denied coverage for preexisting conditions, you can not be dropped because of any illness you get, and there is no cap on lifetime coverage. Good health care is important to all of us, and we need to elect people who care about our health.

If, from the beginning, more people had worked as hard FOR this Act as they have done trying to obstruct it and make it fail, we might have a better system now. Maybe rates would be lower too.

-- L.L. Raymond

Homer

Governor fought to keep ferry project in Ketchikan

On Sept. 20 in Ketchikan, the governor announced the state's newest ferries, the "Alaska Class Vessels," will be built at the Ketchikan shipyard.

While this is good news for Ketchikan it is also great news for Alaska. The project is a shining example of government actually living within its means with the good of the entire state in mind.

In 2006, when the project was initiated, the Legislature appropriated $120 million for one 280-foot ship -- envisioned as a basic no-frills shuttle ferry with a bow door for fast loading and unloading and no staterooms for passengers or crew.

During the public scoping process the ferry morphed into a 350-foot vessel with crew staterooms. As the cost increased, ($167 million for a single vessel) and the risk grew that a larger Outside shipyard would have to build the ship, Gov. Parnell put the brakes on a potential runaway express.

In 2010, the governor directed the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to "de-federalize" the new Alaska ferry project, specifically so the Ketchikan shipyard could have the first and best opportunity to build the new Alaska Class Ferry, while still having to submit a competitive and fiscally-responsible bid.

By insisting DOT stick to the project's initial budget, the governor challenged his people to go back to the drawing board and get creative. To the credit of Commissioner Pat Kemp and Deputy Commissioner Reuben Yost and their team, the state will be able to purchase not one but two smaller vessels for $101.5 million, to add to the Alaska Marine Highway System's aging fleet.

As former commissioners of DOTPF we can only imagine how difficult it was for the governor to intercede and demand that the vessel be built for the money that was appropriated.

We also know how tough it was for the current commissioner to make his people take a step back and redesign the vessel to meet the purpose and need of the original project.

We compliment the governor and his administration for their holding the line and their commitment to building the ships in Alaska.

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"Made in Alaska" is now a reality for the Ketchikan shipyard and the AMHS.

-- Former commissioners Richard Knapp, 1984-86 (Gov. Sheffield)

Joe Perkins, 1994-2002 (Gov. Knowles)

Michael Barton, 2003-2007 (Gov. Murkowski)

Division of Elections should answer for attack ad

I finally read the outrageous partisan attack on Mark Begich printed in the Official Election Pamphlet (page 186).

It is worth repeating: This is in the Official Election Pamphlet.

Even the Division of Elections, of all state bureaucracies, has been penetrated by the poisonous partisanship of the Republican right wing.

The Republican Party's disclaimer at the bottom reads, "Neither paid for nor endorsed by any candidate or candidate's committee." Someone at the division accepted that nonsensical claim.

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The only way out of this loss of our democracy is to vote Democratic or independent on Nov. 4.

-- Clarence Crawford

Anchorage

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter for consideration, email letters@adn.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.

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