Budget-Wrangling Season in the People’s House
The House version of the operating budget bill is sitting at approximately $12.3 billion (including the PFD). Where do we get the revenue to cover…
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SB 107 Fails to Deliver
A PFD Cut is Not a Fiscal Plan SB 107 cuts the PFD and sets Alaska on a pathway to decimate the PFD altogether. Its…
Next Shot at a Long-Term Fiscal Plan
The House decided to pass and move the operating budget bill to the Senate last week after reaching an agreement for fair play regarding the…
Untapped Source
Part of Solution to Workforce Shortage It started last year. Nearly every single person who streamed into my office, no matter the sector, no matter…
The Cart Before the Horse = A Runaway Horse
Taxes Alone = A Runaway Horse If your horse is not hitched to your wagon, don’t expect your load to go anywhere soon. Better beware…
Pooling Option Picks Up Steam
Real Health Insurance Savings Potential for School Districts The words “pooling” and “steam” in the title may conjure up images in your mind of hot…
The Key Point Is…
…The Key Point in Email Traffic I try my best to keep up with the hundreds of emails I receive. Admittedly, it is getting more…
Pay Raises for Legislators?
Flawed Process and Policy In response to the 67% pay raise proposal for legislators, I introduced Senate Bill (SB) 111 “Rejecting Legislators’ Salary Increase” last…
Getting the Most Bang for Our Buck?
How can we make sure we’re getting the most bang for our buck in state government operations? Chatter about raising old taxes and implementing new…
Putting Fiscal House in Order May Gain Traction
Spending Cap, PFD, and SB9 Should Be First, Not Taxes Discussion among leadership and the governor ensued last week about the need for a fiscal…
Student Learning Outcomes Must Be Tied to School Funding
Student Learning Outcomes Must Be Tied to School Funding Are Legislators Listening? I testified under “public testimony” to the Senate Education Committee a couple of…
News from Hughes Letter: February 6, 2023
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Things have been rockin’ and rollin’ this past week in the people’s branch and there’s no stopping the momentum this coming…