If he wants to finally deliver some fraction of his 2018 campaign promise, he needs to explain how he will pay for it. As long as the governor stands in the way of new revenue, clinging to the fantasy that it all can be done without pain, he will also stand in the way of larger dividends.
Sure, the first dividend was $1,000 but the repeal of the income tax paid even bigger dividends to the wealthiest Alaskans.
Who really believes oil and investment income will suddenly smooth out into a dependable upward climb? If so, I’ve got a pipeline, a bridge and a dam to sell you.
Somehow the governor’s team figured out a pain-free plan to pay out huge dividends. Someone should get ahold of the legislators who’ve been pushing far more modest plans to let them know they can have their cake and eat it too.
We were always going to need to find the line of acceptable covid-19 cases and deaths, and it seems like that line is being drawn right around “There’s a widely available vaccine that will keep you out of the hospital.”
As long as Dunleavy stands in the way to durable solutions, Alaska’s financial woes will continue.
The decisions regarding the money will be a welcome change of pace.
It’s a bet that Alaska’s generally promising trends, declining case counts, relatively few deaths and fast vaccination rate will keep up without the state’s disaster powers.
Unfortunately, instead of inviting Alaskan public health experts and health care professionals who have been on the front lines fighting the pandemic for the last year, they have chosen instead to invite individuals pushing false claims and theories that aim to undermine guidelines and recommendations that that keep people safe.
We have waited long enough for real leadership. With the virus’ spread across Alaska, the country, and throughout the world, we cannot wait any longer. Xavier Becerra is the right person at the right time and he deserves the support of ALL senators. To delay his appointment is to prolong our suffering, and put millions of Americans’ lives in jeopardy.