- Many of us wrote about how Sen. LIsa Murkowski’s Sealaska lands bill is on the cusp of passing Congress. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner takes it further and writes about how the defense bill which it was attached to will impact the state’s economy.
- Now that his time in the senatorial sun is over, many potential Democratic mayoral candidates are waiting to see if Sen. Mark Begich, the patriarch of Alaska party politics, is going to claim the spot on the ticket for himself.
- Many staunch supporters of ObamaCare are now wondering if the passage of ACA has been worth the electoral backlash, according to The Hill.
- The Peninsular Clarion wants to know how do you count Alaska’s governors? That question is one for the ages, just like How Do You Solve a Problem Like AGIA?
- Politico has details on Sen. Ted Cruz being smacked down by Republican leadership for announcing plans to derail their own party’s plan to keep the government funded. The message: STFU-or else.
- In Fairbanks, unlike in Anchorage, some public officials are actually interested in helping citizens cultivate the state’s newest industry. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that at a community meeting about pot, Mayor Luke Hopkins was “enthusiastic about the potential for pot businesses in Fairbanks.” Others were intent on stopping it.
- The Sitka Sentinel documents the continuing work on the Blue Lake Dam and has some breathtaking pictures of the state-funded engineering feat.
- The Washington Post explains that Sen. Mary Landrieu is fighting for her political life, alone.
- Becky Bohrer reports on Ray Metcalfe’s latest signature-ready initiative that would make it a felony for legislators to vote on issues where there are clear conflicts of interests. It’s aimed at those legislators who work for oil companies, but keep in mind some also work in the commercial fishing industry, for unions, the construction business, and some have mining claims, to name a few industries that legislators routinely legislate.
- The Hill names the four Republican challengers who could be giving Hillary pause.
- The few people testifying at last night’s public hearing on proposed state air pollution regulations for the Fairbanks said the regulations don’t do enough, according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
- Politico has more on the growing battle over gavel bangin’ power of the Senate Budget Committee. It’s getting really nasty.
- PublicIntegrity.org has an article about questionable relationships between several governors, including former Gov. Sean Parnell, and the oil industry.
- Forrest Dunbar gave two campaign employees $250 bonuses after the election. His response when questioned about this move? “In retrospect it should have been more! They were both great.” Let’s hope donors feel that same.
- The Washington Post has a rundown of the best/worst Christmas cards from politicians.
focus on the Public Integrity article than a bonus for doing good work that’s just a distraction from more important issues