Letters to the Editor

Letter: Dunleavy’s bad fiscal policy

I oppose Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s efforts to create a $2,300 Permanent Fund dividend and his so-called “50-50 plan.” Both are irresponsible and unsustainable, and Dunleavy has yet to say how he will pay for them. Rather than creating a new crisis for the state, he should be working to solve the state’s budget problems. He has been in office three years and has managed to avoid publicly answering these tough questions or doing much of anything to address the state’s economy.

He wants lawmakers to support his crazy scheme for a $2,300 PFD, which was the cornerstone of his election campaign. He seems unaware that it would bankrupt the state. His only idea for a fiscal plan is cut, cut, cut. That’s not a plan.Every expert who has testified has warned that a $2,300 dividend would eventually bankrupt the PFD and create a $1.5 billion hole in the state budget. The only way to plug that hole is with $1.5 billion in new taxes. To make things worse, Dunleavy is proposing a constitution amendment to require a public vote to pass new taxes.

Dunleavy seems intent on driving the state off the cliff. And he will blame the Legislature if he gets away with it. He should be forced to publicly defend his fiscal plan — if he has one.

— Sharon Stockard

Anchorage

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