Comments on: Comment of the week: Will Keithley’s money make a difference?

By: The Zot

The Zot — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:11:59 +0000

“so far he has been the cleanest and ablest governor Alaska has ever had.”

Wow…delusional much. Remember a guy name Jay Hammond?

By: Garand Fellow

Garand Fellow — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 14:56:37 +0000

First, Democrats always propose more spending, not less. I believe there will be real, measurable spending cuts beginning with the budget we see on or about December 15. The cuts will not be nearly as deep as what will be claimed after the 2015 session (or at the end of any session), and for the first few to several years the cuts will be general, across-the-board; those cuts are a fiction in that they allow elected and appointed officials to tell constituents that every program can continue despite spending reductions. Most state agencies have program receipts and non-GF sources, and they can revert to those to keep special assistants, spokespersons, and legislative liaisons. Most of those positions were invented during the Frank Murkowski administration by the way.

Hopefully Governor Parnell will continue to pay down debt – pension debt and GF debt in particular. If debt has been paid to zero when the liquidity reaches zero that would be best of course. By then there will be no alternative to eliminating programs. Through this entire process Alaskans will be demanding increased spending for education, more capital projects, and continuing the PFD. We cannot blame the elected people because when we donate to their campaigns we also demand more spending. Given what a poor deal it is to be a legislator we all should be grateful for the people willing to run for that office. And as disappointed as I sometimes am with Governor Parnell, so far he has been the cleanest and ablest governor Alaska has ever had.

By: Mae

Mae — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 04:18:01 +0000

The state Capitol is soooo far away from a majority of Alaskans.

By: Cean Stevens

Cean Stevens — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 02:11:32 +0000

If we keep doing the same thing, we will continue to get the same results. I didn’t blindly pledge not to join a caucus if doing so forces me to vote for an increased budget. I knew the possible repercussions because I was repeatedly warned I was committing political suicide. I for one am choosing to have faith in the very people that I’m hoping will elect me to office. I’m choosing to believe that enough Alaskans are fed up with politicians who say one thing and then do the opposite once they go to Juneau.

By: A.B. Normal

A.B. Normal — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 19:03:54 +0000

Lynn–I hope your wrong about Keithley’s effort, Alaska needs more rational thinkers in the legislature, even if it’s only one or two new faces. Your forecast of the republican behavior is right on!
It’s so ironic that the republican caucas and Govenor that recently admonished Congress for deficit spending are in fact responsible for the largest amounts of State deficit spending in the entire history of Alaska. Two billion for FY2014 and forecasted 1.5 billion for FY2015.
Meanwhile, Parnell’s says with a straight Christian face, “Alaska has never been in better fiscal shape”.
Parnell claims to read the bible every morning before he goes to work. Where is it found in the bible that it teaches one to use deceit, smoke and mirrors to hide financial facts from the public? The vast majority of voters don’t have time to vet the comments of elected officials. In my view he has violated the public trust by not speaking the truth to the people of Alaska.