Clintons follow their own rules
Deja vu. The Clintons have returned us to the 1990s with business as usual (think deception and skullduggery). With Hillary's candidacy announcement looming, voters need to remember a few important details. The Clintons don't follow rules; they make their own. "Misspoke" and "clarification" are synonymous with lying. It "is" what it is.
— Burt Neimeyer
Palmer
Protect Denali Kidcare and our kids
Once again the family values' espousing Legislature is going after the most vulnerable: kids.
Insuring children is actually very inexpensive and that is what Denali Kidcare does.
— Jackie Pflaum
Anchorage
Majority acts like Communist China
As a Alaskan and registered Republican currently visiting China, I must say I was very dismayed by Rep. Mike Chenault's actions regarding Rep. Lora Reinbold. I read the story "Alaska political leaders give us two more reasons to disdain politics" by Mike Dingman on the ADN website Tuesday and my initial reaction was that Chenault's actions bore a striking similarity to many things I have observed here in a communist nation.
I do wonder at what point in time did an alleged democratic system of government suddenly allow a political party to start dictating how an elected official (who was elected by the people and not the political party) should vote?
The vengeful action of stripping Reinbold of her chair and committee positions, the unwarranted punitive firing of staffers, and the forced reduction in pay of another completely innocent staffer gives credence to the phrase "power tends to corrupt, but absolute power corrupts absolutely."
— John A. Loomis
Talkeetna
Legislature is completely insane
Usually I like watching "Gavel to Gavel Alaska" and keeping tabs on my elected officials while I work on something.
Not last Friday. Last Friday, my senator burned up the Finance Committee's time trying to properly pronounce "Tetrahydrocannabinol," and the majority leader fooled around on the floor with some birthday wishes while the House voted to get rid of the WWAMI program.
What's it like to be completely insane — do you even see the same colors as the rest of us? The proverbial Taliban is inside the barbed wire and you're the dumb private in the chow hall grabbing pies. Fix yourselves.
— Bryan Box
Eagle River
Dems need to vote in mayoral election
Who cares about the Kochs?
Great article in Saturday's ADN by Sean O'Hare — Democrats please read it and heed it. The message is clear and easy — just vote in the upcoming mayoral election.
— Ann Sugrue
Anchorage
Reinbold has voters to represent
I know this letter is the height of naivete, but when we vote there is a name beside the letter "R" and "D."
We do not vote for the party but the individual. Rep. Lora Reinbold represents her constituents and as such they deserve to have their representative heard and participatory.
The other Republicans should not be the ones to punish Reinbold for not voting party line. It's up to voters to decide at the next election.
— Steven Tucker, MD
Anchorage
Partisanship is immoral, irresponsible
I have yet to locate an argument against Medicaid expansion that makes any sense. Therefore, I must conclude the resistance from our lawmakers is a result of pathetic partisanship. This is immoral and fiscally irresponsible.
— Sue C. Johnson
Anchorage
Game Board is disgrace to this state
Yes, James Kowalsky is so right about the Alaska Board of Game (ADN, Wednesday). It was with disappointment and disgust that I read the headline a couple of days ago — "18 Wolves Killed by Helicopter" by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The Game Board is a disgrace to this state. I hope the governor will replace this board and instill a policy of representing all residents of Alaska.
— Katherine West
Anchorage
Beware the promise of prosperity
Americans for Prosperity, you have your hands in your pockets because they are full of money. You are spending a little so you can keep the rest in your pockets as well. Beware of those who promise prosperity at no cost to you, for what sounds too good to be true is just that.
— Beverly Churchill
Anchorage
Iditarod basher should get on dog sled
It was disappointing to read Laura Stine's Iditarod bashing letter (ADN, Thursday). It's clear to me she has never been on a dog sled or around the sport. If the dogs could speak, they would surely oppose any idea of taking away the sport they love and live for. One cannot come away from the experience of running a dog team, especially in the wilderness, without an inside and personal knowledge and appreciation of the sport. It is a learned skill with remarkable canine interaction that has no equal, and leaves indelible memories shared by few.
If she is ever fortunate enough to have this amazing adventure, her "Outside" naive beliefs of the "barbaric" race will be changed forever.
— Shawn Roberts
Chugiak
Sell the office building, fund WWAMI
Apparently, the Alaska Legislature can't find $3 million per year to support the education of medical students who want to practice medicine in Alaska. Don't worry, I found a solution.
The newly remodeled legislative building in Anchorage now costs $4 million a year to lease, up from the $685,000 a year it cost before it had $200 automatic trash cans in the bathrooms and panoramic views of Fourth Avenue.
Let's cancel the lease for the remodeled building and move the legislative offices to a location more befitting our current legislators: a warehouse. Given that each legislator needs no more than 100 square feet for a desk, a chair and a bookshelf, all 60 of them will require no more than 6,000 square feet. I found the perfect spot within a mere minute on Craigslist: It's across the street from a big hotel on Spenard Road, and it's only $2.50 per square foot per month or $180,000 per year.
So, now is the time for our Alaska legislators to lead by example and get serious about belt tightening. Hey, I'm sure there is someone in the Legislature resourceful enough to find a bunch of used office dividers to make nice cozy cubicles.
— John McCormick
Anchorage
Help save the Chuitna River salmon
The state Department of Natural Resources should be protecting our rivers, thereby protecting our salmon. The salmon spawning in the Chuitna River have always been very plentiful. My people have always relied on the salmon for our subsistence and livelihood. We depend on the fish to last the winter.
It is so very disheartening to face the threat of a coal mine destroying our subsistence and way of life. DNR must protect our rivers, not just for my people, but for the many sportsmen who use it too. I urge everyone to learn about PacRim's proposed coal strip-mine and the harm it will cause to the people and resources of Cook Inlet, then voice your opinions to DNR (kimberly.sager@alaska.gov) and Gov. Bill Walker (bill.walker@alaska.gov) by April 9.
— Barbara Doss
Anchorage
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