Lawmakers not working for Alaskans
Just where are they coming from?
The more I read about what is and isn't being done down in Juneau, I ask myself where are they coming from, cut education, cut early learning, cut advocacy for children, cut pay raises and don't expand Medicaid. We can pay for a really nice office building for Anchorage legislators, we can give all kinds of tax credits to industry, we can sock away into the "parking account" $70-plus million, we can add funds to fight the feds on whatever.
Just who are these people working for? Not the everyday Alaskan; must be some Outside group.
— David Lewis
Homer
Consider children when cutting budget
I agree that our government has to balance the state budget. However, I am dismayed that our current budget proposals are focused on cutting funding to our children's education.
I am the parent of two elementary students and one ASD pre-K student, and I have seen over the years the size of their classes increase while the number of teachers and staff decreases. It is completely appalling to me that the people we trust to "run this government" continue to disgrace our future with the lack of funds to help them grow. But they will spend $10 million on a fancy upgraded building for themselves.
Let's stop being selfish and think about our children. The operating budget needs those funds to help our children grow.
— Mindy Johnson
Anchorage
Will Demboski have time to serve all?
So Amy Demboski doesn't have time for the NAACP? I'm not sure how the public safety forums came about, but the NAACP is a long-established and respected organization regardless of what one's racial or cultural background might be. Too bad we won't be able to find out what's on her mind. Does she have time to be everyone's mayor?
— Mark Sutherlin
Anchorage
GOP majority legislating by ideology
To address the state's huge budget deficit, the Republican majority is slashing funds for schools, pre-schools and numerous programs that benefit hundreds of thousands Alaskans. In its ideological fervor to reduce government, it is reneging on negotiated contracts with state employees, reducing constitutionally mandated programs and opposing nearly all the governor's legislative priorities. At the same time, the Republican majority wishes to spend millions of dollars for a new legislative office, and refuses to consider any change to the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives and tax breaks to the multinational oil companies. In effect, the Republican majority has placed the burden of responding to low oil prices on Alaska's citizens, while majority members meet in nice offices, and the multinational oil corporations continue to reap profits.
— Andy Durny
Fairbanks
Legislature the best money can buy
The state Legislature proposes to give oil companies $500,000,000. It proposes to reduce public school funding by almost $80,000,000. We are told that there is enough left over to refuse federal funds that would provide thousands of Alaskans decent health care. It is, without a doubt, the best Legislature that big money could buy.
— Samuel J. Fortier
Anchorage
Like our current Legislature, the lights are on but nobodys home at new office
Much has been written lately about the newly remodeled six-story legislative office building in downtown Anchorage, so I decided to visit and see for myself what the fuss is about.
The interior is architecturally stunning: light, bright and sparkling clean. There were two people working in the legislative information office just off the lobby and a security guard near the front entry.
A tour through the upstairs floors revealed more beautiful design elements. Of course with the session in progress all the office doors were locked as one would expect. This office building somehow seemed like an apt metaphor for the current Legislature. The lights are on but nobody's home.
— Ken Flynn
Anchorage
Out-of-touch lawmakers are our fault
I guess we get what we deserve; after all, we elected a Legislature not at all in touch with the people of the state. They cut education but keep their lush offices in Anchorage, they cut out raises promised to our state employees — the lawmakers sure know how to make the unions stronger — and offer tax incentives for a plant in the Kenai, and to avoid costs several years down line they refuse to allow the extension of Medicaid. Now if they would cancel their health care, which costs us lots right now, I could understand their zeal at saving money. No matter; they have theirs, and people living in or on the edge of poverty don't need or deserve health care. The children of the state don't deserve a good education. Most of all, our oil companies can't afford to pay a proper amount for our oil. Like I said, it's our fault — we elected them.
— Bill Harbin
Anchorage
City needs to hang on to surplus funds
Our current but soon-to-be-gone Anchorage mayor has proposed to lower real estate taxes by $10 per $100,000 evaluation. Who will benefit? Individuals who do not own property will get no benefit. Those who own modest homes will get enough of a tax break to be able to take their family out to dinner at Subway or McDonalds with their newfound money. The well-to-do in our community, who own expensive homes and businesses, are the ones who will get the greatest share of the tax break. As a member of the party of the rich, by the rich and for the rich, this suggestion by the mayor comes as no surprise. Due to low oil prices, the state of Alaska finds itself in a serious deficit situation. Cuts are coming that will affect the amount of money coming from the state to Anchorage. Shouldn't the city hold on to its surplus as long as it can, so that we can continue to adequately support our schools, our roads, our recreational assets and those programs for those citizens who need an extra hand?
— Elliott Barske
Anchorage
SB 89 a danger to our community
I am a junior at the University of Alaska Anchorage, studying criminal justice. I have a passion for justice, including reproductive and social justice. I am writing because we have a potentially dangerous issue on our hands. I testified before the Senate State Affairs Committee this week because I am opposing SB 89. I believe that we need comprehensive sex education in public schools. I have been a volunteer with Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest for the last four years, and I have seen how important sex education is for teenagers ranging from middle school to college.
Sex education is not the only component, but education for healthy relationships is crucial. Alaska is the No. 1 state for sexual assault, domestic violence and certain STIs. These issues are personal to me, because I have experienced domestic violence in my life, and I've taken my experiences to create awareness and education for others regarding this epidemic in Alaska. In Alaska, one out of three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. It is crucial that we continue education so victims of domestic violence and sexual assault can get the appropriate resources that are needed in a time of crisis.
More than half of sexually active people will get an STI in their life. By taking away sex education, we are only adding to the problem. By removing sex education, we are letting teenagers be uninformed on how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy and STIs. I graduated from the Alaska Military Youth Academy in 2010, and we did not have comprehensive sex education among our studies. Within the first year of my class graduating, more than half of the females had gotten pregnant. Studies show that comprehensive sex education is effective in preventing not only teen pregnancy, but STDs.
I am asking you to please oppose SB 89, and continue to allow comprehensive sex education in public schools. We have a huge issue regarding domestic violence, sexual assault, STI rates, and SB 89 will only create more problems in our community.
— Lena A. Illig
Anchorage
Use extra money to clean city streets
The newspaper says that Anchorage has a $7 million budget surplus. How about we spend some of that right now cleaning the dirt, dust and gravel off city streets — which have been clear for a long time — and painting lines so that we know where to drive when there are multiple lanes?
— Wendy Withrow
Anchorage
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