Readers write: Letters to the editor, December 26, 2017

Can't enjoy tax cuts with no job

For the first 10 months of 2017, Trump's first year in office, the U.S. imported almost 18 percent more steel than it did in 2016. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, year-to-date statistics indicate that by October 2017 U.S. steel imports were 29.7 million metric tons compared with 25.0 million metric tons through October 2016. Trump used steel workers as props during his campaign. Remember his speech in June 2016 when he said, "Wait till you see what I'm going to do for steel and your steel companies."
The administration hasn't done anything. Now the steel industry is looking at layoffs. It's going to be hard to enjoy those big, beautiful tax breaks that the president recently promised if you don't have a job. The key word here is promises, the ones not kept.
— Garth Olson
Anchorage

Tax bill violates statehood act

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young are well aware that the recently passed tax bill violates the terms of the Alaska Statehood Act with its provision for a 50-50 split of revenue from ANWR with the federal government.
What's their game plan? Is the 1995 Young/Stevens "bait and switch" still in play?
"… We'll take the 50-50 split and then we'll go after the rest of it at a later time." — Don Young, Problem Corner, KFAR Radio, Oct. 31, 1995
"Once the state actually receives less than 90 percent, then we can sue." — Ted Stevens, Fairbanks Daily Miner, Sept. 10, 1995.
— David Falsey
Anchorage

Citizens hurt by deregulation

In the midst of the tax reform package favoring corporations and the wealthy receiving its final vote, deregulation is also being undertaken largely behind closed doors. The tax cuts are coming amid record profits, record stock markets and record unemployment. Massive deregulation is moving along given these record indicators, even though industry complains how regulations are costing billions and are job killers.
How can industry have record profits and unemployment amid costly job killing regulations? Why can't infrastructure be paid for to reduce pollution, the very thing industry balks at for being too expensive? Where are the record profits going?
With regulatory roll-back, citizens will have no one looking out for their best interest. For one, critical regulations (Dodd-Frank) established following the financial collapse of 2008 are in the process of being rolled back. Financial losses included housing foreclosures, 401(k) account losses, while unemployment and homelessness swelled, and bank accounts ran dry. These regulations were designed to ensure citizens weren't subjected again to rampant financial practices on Wall Street. Please think about how all regulatory changes will affect you. Research them. Call your members of Congress. Don't assume things you are enjoying today will be available to you tomorrow.
— Roberta Bruce
Juneau

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words 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@adn.com.