Alaska’s hospital capacity matters, but fewer covid-19 cases would be even better
Ask not what Alaska’s hospitals can do to meet the covid-19 surge, ask what we can do to reduce the covid-19 surge that’s straining Alaska’s hospitals.
State Politics
Dunleavy asks Legislature for do-over on public health nursing veto as covid surges
In his veto, the governor’s administration claimed that the gap could be made up with federal funds and then in an editorial later claimed that no public health nurses would be laid off due to the vetoes. What he didn’t mention was agency has extreme staffing problems with as much as a 30% vacancy rate when the pandemic started, according to the budget documents.
$1,100 PFD emerges after bitter fight in the House
“Something is not a compromise merely because one says it’s a compromise,” said Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage.
PFD will be delayed as legislators, governor angle for leverage
It’s likely that this whole thing could end up in the court again while Alaskans are left waiting for resolution.
Budget, PFD stall as House GOP minority makes one last push for big payout
“This is way beneath Alaskan standards,” said House Speaker Louise Stutes.
With little pushback from legislators, House Finance Committee approves $1,100 PFD
“There’s certainly a lot to talk about if needed but if not that’s fine,” Wool said before the committee held the vote on the measure.
Court ruling could have doubled this year’s PFD… if Dunleavy hadn’t already vetoed it
In a deeply wonky combination of last-minute maneuvering and a recent ruling, there would have been nearly twice as much money available for this year’s dividend. It would have been $1,025 instead of the $525. Right now, though, it’s zero.
Legislature’s bipartisan baby steps run into instant gratification problem
Now that the state is starting to work out the basics of a new fiscal plan, the governor argues we should start paying out larger dividends even though that plan is far from a reality.
Garas and Walkers and Bear Doctors, Oh My! The state of the race for governor
Obligatory: The 2022 election in Alaska will be unprecedented with the brand-new combination of open primaries and ranked-choice voting on the books as well as a court ruling that just took the state’s contribution limits off the books.
Les Gara joins the race for governor
Gara doesn’t have a running mate at this point, but said he’s looking to form a ticket that represents Alaska.