Readers write: Letters to the editor, June 7, 2015

My dad would have described Joe Smith’s (Letters, May 30) objection to accepting federal expansion of Medicaid as “cutting off your nose to save your face.” Smith’s argument ignores several fiscal realities. On a per capita basis, Alaskans have always received more money in federal services than we pay in federal taxes. Federal highway funds; military salaries, which are an economic engine; and federal disaster funds to name just three.

Accepting the expansion of Medicaid will save all of us money because fewer Alaskans will have to rely upon expensive emergency room services as their only form of health care. Even if this new federal subsidy were to continue for only a few years, the added recipients will learn how to take better care of themselves and their children; again a cost savings in the long run for the rest of us.

As an Alaskan, Smith pays no state income tax. Depending upon his residency; age; and value of owned property, he pays no sales tax; no property taxes; and can have a free fishing license; a free permanent car registration; and gets that annual dividend upon which he does pay federal taxes. I am entirely in favor of militant monitoring of waste and inefficiency in government at all levels. As a 45-plus-year resident, I love the Alaskan philosophy of helping each other. Fiscal “conservatives” need to be more practical in their arguments.

— Theda Pittman

Anchorage

From May 9-16, hundreds of Anchorage and Girdwood residents trekked and paddled along creeks and in lagoons, marshes, and lakes. Their goal was to gather up a year’s trash for Anchorage Waterways Council’s 31st annual Creek Cleanup. This year, with assistance from the Alaska Center for the Environment, our figures show officially 5 tons of trash were collected and deposited at the municipal Central Transfer Station. It is estimated that at least 2 more tons of trash were picked up by city Parks and Recreation crews or taken home by volunteers to their own trash cans or for recycling. Also this year, for the first time fishing debris (monofilament, hooks, lead weights, etc.) was collected. Over 10 miles of fishing line were picked up, washed, and recycled. This is an incredible amount of unwanted and unneeded garbage that was removed by hundreds of people who care about their waterways. A huge thank you is owed to all those who participated in whatever manner for the benefits to our waterways; the fish, waterfowl, and wildlife that live in or depend on them; and to those who enjoy and use these urban treasures.

— Cherie Northon, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Anchorage Waterways Council

Anchorage

Our Legislature continues to play games. This year’s game is the budget. These clowns need a wakeup call. I suggest term limits and no per diem after the required 90-day session limit. To me it appears to be all about money — extra per diem money to line their pockets at the expense of all of us. Makes me wonder how much money this adds up to and what budget item could be funded with it while they play. Oh yeah, don’t forget it was our esteemed governor and his special projects that put this debacle into motion.

— Martin Grossman

Anchorage

Thanks to the budget gridlock in the state Legislature, 80 percent of government services will shut down July 1. Right now, Medicaid expansion to help the working poor will not come to pass. Erin’s Law will not pass. Schools will not get funded enough. Many of the social service programs we have will be shut down. Many basic services will be shut down — from DMV to fishing licenses to state parks to business licenses to the dividend — shut down. But we have a final hope: You. YOU, dear Alaskan, have the power to change it all. Frustrated with your legislative representatives? Write to them. Email them. Call them. Testify at committees. Don’t know how to contact your representatives? Call the Legislative Information Office in your area:akleg.gov/lios. The Legislature listens to you if you are registered to vote. Voting is a constitutional right — and it’s free:elections.alaska.gov/ot-1.

Don’t feel the Legislature is listening? You can fix that too. Alaska allows voters to recall their representatives. That’s right — You can start the process to allow Alaskans to remove them from office: www.elections.alaska.gov/.

Why wait around and see? Get active and make the change yourself. You have the power.

— Lura Noss

Anchorage

In response to Republican apologists like Ken Jacobus, who keep trying to shift the blame for this catastrophic legislative session from the majority Republicans on the grounds that Democrats are spendthrifts, let me point out a few obvious flaws to their argument.

Medicaid expansion: It would bring federal money to our state for small businesses and the state of Alaska. The conservative state Chamber of Commerce practically begged the Legislature to take the money because of the economic boost it would bring to the state. More importantly, 40,000 Alaskans who are without any health care need it. The majority refused it, despite polls that show 65 percent of Alaskans support it. These legislators are taking a political, but not an economic, stand on this issue.

The infamous Legislative Office Building: This is true fiscal insanity. The state rents office space for Anchorage legislators to use between sessions. To begin with, it’s part-time space (and very part-time space when you figure out how much time legislators actually spend working in the off-season). The rent was $685,000 a year. Rep. Hawker didn’t like the building, so agreed to donate $8 million of state dollars to rebuild it, and he agreed to pay almost $4 million a year in rent. That’s five times what they were paying before. Democrats protested, but were outvoted by Republicans.

Oil tax credits: Whether or not you agree that the oil companies need incentives to stay here, there is a clause that would limit the amount the state needs to reimburse them for production tax credits in years when the price of oil has fallen precipitously. The majority refuses to limit the amount to $90 million and instead insists on paying them $600 million. The difference could make up much of the shortfall Alaska is experiencing. If Alaskans, including children, seniors and the middle class must take less, why not Outside corporations? It makes no fiscal sense.

So no, the Republican legislative majority is not fiscally conservative. They’re fiscally foolish to an extent that even hardened critics have a tough time believing. And they own this mess. They controlled the House and Senate, including the finance committees, since 1992, and this included the governor’s office between 2002-2014, when massive state spending started and continued until Gov. Walker got elected.

The stalemate is over what to spend our limited money on, not how much to spend. Republicans want to fund rich outside corporations and reward those who finance their campaigns. Democrats want to fund quality of life for all Alaskans.

— Patrice Parker

Anchorage

Regarding the drunken driving charges against the state Senate majority’s press secretary, I hope people are wondering how, with the state cutting expenses to the bone under extreme duress, the Senate majority (mostly good Republicans, allegedly) can afford to allocate $94,000 a year for a press secretary. Boggles the mind, for sure!

— David Shimek

Anchorage

I heard several leaders of Alaska government make the comment we are not under a deadline now. There are 10,000 families affected by the layoffs by the state. That is 10,000 families who don’t know how they will meet rent or mortgage payments. They also wonder how they make insurance payments and other costs of daily living. They have deadlines, which means our leaders have deadlines too. I have lived here 41 years and I have seen a lot of leaders go through Juneau. The ones who did the best for Alaskans compromised, like the leaders who created the dividend and Gov. Hammond.

They worked together to make sure every Alaskan got a fair share of the oil wealth. I am ashamed to admit that Alaska looks like the mess in Washington, D.C. I think my 90-year-old father put it best several weeks ago. He said “With everything I have seen this is the first time I have feared for our country!” This is a man who moved all the time during the Depression and served in the South Pacific during WWII. Pull yourself together and put politics aside and do the business of the people of Alaska. Prove to me and others you are better than the leaders in Washington, D.C.

— Debra Gerrish

Juneau