Sen. Chris Birch and many other legislators have a bit of misdirection going on in their heads. The discussion should center on the way the Legislature was able to get its hands on the Permanent Fund dividend payout for Alaskans and stopping that incursion. The budget has to do with reduced spending. Can’t they understand this? Stop most of the giveaways. For at least a year, nothing is an emergency.
The kind of state we want to live in is one that stops overspending and cuts out unnecessary pet projects that we cannot afford at this time. I am not saying we should afford and pay for all of these projects. Can legislators tell me what exactly the state should be financially responsible for? That is a list of things all voters should and would be interested in seeing. I know I would.
Let’s go back to basics and realign our budget pursuits from a point of this understanding, truly understanding, what the responsibilities are for the state and its residents.
— Michael McGauley
Anchorage
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