Readers write: Letters to the editor, March 17, 2017

Enjoy long life, eat salmon

I enjoyed today's picture (ADN, March 16) on the opinion page of spawning red salmon. The fish appear to be in a heart-shaped group, reminding us salmon are a heart-health food.

— Jane Samuelson
Anchorage

Senate GOP fail us again

We are indeed fortunate to have an Alaska governor and House that understand the need for a balanced budget that preserves the state's economy and essential services. Services the public has loudly declared they want — and more importantly — are willing to pay for through an income tax. The Senate however, believes a state pushed by further cuts into economic collapse is OK. They think it's OK to cripple the university, eliminate ferry service, inadequately staff state troopers, or fail to provide the multitude of services that make our state a place we want to live and a place where businesses would want to invest.

This Senate has got to go. They couldn't get the job done last year, and it looks like they will fail Alaska again this year. Meanwhile, senators fritter away the state's savings while whining about how hard it is to balance the budget. We can do better, Alaska.

— Mark Wolbers
Anchorage

Who's sorry now?

The Congressional Budget Office was an oversight and analysis agency created by a Republican Congress and signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1974. It has held to its nonpartisan charter since its inception.

All of a sudden now the Republicans are attempting to discredit the CBO report because of the effects of the health care "reform" bill proposed by the caucus of the 1 percent.

— Martin Becker
Fairbanks

Private sector chosen over public by lawmakers

Ultraconservative Republican legislators are totally preoccupied with protecting the private sector from our economic downturn. My legislators, Sens. Giessel and Meyer and Rep. Birch are quite candid about it. In spite of crippling cuts to the public sector over the past several years, they seem determined to make even more cuts, virtually all directed at the poor and lower middle classes.

If we had an income tax, they could argue jobs and tax breaks produced some increased income for the state. Instead they argue for increased income for the private sector, standing logic on its head.

The public sector has been cut enough. We need legislators who have some sense of service to the public sector, not just to the private sector.

— Tom Nelson
Anchorage

Hilcorp leak is shameful

I hope Gov. Walker receives a flood of requests to order Hilcorp to stop the atrocious gas line leak in Cook Inlet.

— Lindianne Sarno
Anchorage

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