A recent opinion column by Jeremy Price, director of Americans for Prosperity — Alaska, applauded the Alaska Legislature's failure to enact any new taxes. But that is incorrect. The Legislature reduced the size of the 2018 Permanent Fund dividend by more than $1,000. That is effectively a $1,000 head tax on every Alaskan, from infants to seniors. Rich folks won't even notice this, but for low-income people and families, it's a big hit.
Mr. Price also quotes the AFP line, "the long-term solution is to spend less on government." Ask the folks in Kansas and Gov. Sam Brownback how that has worked out for them lately.
Should we not support the basics of civilization including: clean air and water, health care, education for our children and law enforcement, and should those of us benefiting from these services not pay our fair share? Americans for Prosperity supports only the desires of the Koch Brothers, which have little to no overlap with those aims.
Gail Heineman
Anchorage