Mike Dunleavy and others have been campaigning based upon restoring the Permanent Fund dividend. None of these candidates has told us where the money to do so will come from. Mr. Dunleavy's ads say that he intends to make further cuts in the state budget. I think that too many cuts have already been made. Legislators have cut: primary and secondary education; closed trooper posts and left positions vacant to save money; reduced court services to four-and-a-half days per week; cut back on prosecutors and not fully funded judges; cut back on the Marine Highway funding (causing problems for Alaskans who do not live on the road system); closed one prison and reduced funding for staffing in prisons; and cut funding to the Department of Transportation, resulting in reduced funding for road maintenance.
Mr. Dunleavy refuses to tell the voters how he will balance the state budget, other than to say he will increase oil production. It takes years to develop any new oil finds, and the current budget crisis has been around for at least three or four years. Legislators have spent billions of dollars out of savings to balance the budget without solving the crisis. Many legislators are saying they won't allow any taxes or replacement funding. The budget crisis is still upon us, and there is not a fix to this crisis at this point. Now candidates are proposing restoration of the dividend, but won't tell us where the money will come from.
How long will we, the voters, allow our elected officials to "kick the can down the road" and not do their jobs? When will we make them accountable to do the jobs that they collect a healthy salary of very limited money? Fire the ones who won't do their job and refuse to elect any new candidates who won't tell us where the money will come from. If you don't want any services, that is what you will get if things continue on the current path.
— Len A. Malmquist
Soldotna
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