Thanks to Great Harvest
I'd like to thank Great Harvest Bread Company for donating cookies to the Blood Bank of Alaska. What a nice treat to receive a yummy cookie after donating blood. Thank you for your support of the community.
— Karen Walker
Anchorage
Anchorage taxpayers can't absorb all lost state revenue
We property taxpayers cannot alone absorb the impact of the loss of state revenues to the municipality. In the not-too-distant future I anticipate that I will not enjoy my current situation where I can use my PFD to offset my property tax. I also do not trust a funding scheme that uses a combined property tax and sales tax to pay for all government services including bond debt using a formula of revenue apportionment to be determined by elected officials.
Therefore, in order to provide a clear line of delineation between the sources of revenue (sales or property tax), I support establishing a sales tax to pay for bond debt only. Any debt created following a vote of the people to extend the full faith and credit of the municipality to underwrite that debt will cause the sales tax rate to adjust to cover that debt. Simply put, if you want to pay more sales tax then vote for more bond debt or if you would like to lower the sales tax rate then don't vote for more bond debt.
— Lynn Willis
Eagle River
Republicans exposed
I would like to thank Donald Trump for pulling back the sheets and exposing just what the Republican Party stands for: racism, misogyny, fascism, homophobia and fear. These things have been at the heart of the conservative movement for years. Only now, with Trump trumpeting these values has it been cool for the Republicans to literally expose themselves.
Very enlightening. If you think I'm being too hard on them listen to what the Republican Party is saying to rebut Trump's sayings. Their leadership won't go against 40 percent of their base.
— Jay Cross
Big Lake
In the interest of avoiding a stalemate
On Dec. 15, the Dispatch reported that majority legislators will be considering education cuts in the coming session. A dispute over the public education appropriation was a principal reason for the Legislature's failure to complete its fiscal year 2016 budget in the normal 90-day window. The ensuing delay totalled 53 days and exceeded $1 million in legislative costs.
While the future of the Constitutional Budget Reserve will be a major consideration before the Legislature in 2016, in the event that a three-fourths vote is required to access the CBR (and it appears it will be), the House Independent Democratic caucus can be expected to continue to oppose unwise public education cuts. We agree with the governor that the Base Student Allocation should be held harmless in the coming year.
In the interest of expediting the session and avoiding the May-June 2015 stalemate, it seems smart to communicate this fact now.
— Rep. Andy Josephson
Anchorage
Thanks for the Tom Sanzillo commentary
When I read Tim Bradner's recent article about Alaska's coal, I though I had fallen into a "time warp." How could there be any market for Alaska coal now, clean or not, in today's energy market? I was relieved to read Tom Sanzillo's reality check in the Dec. 22 ADN.
Now, I am wondering about Alaska's gas fitting into world energy markets. As much as I support our governor's attempt to bring our gas to market, the only market may be right here, and we may not be able to afford it. Tough times for an energy exporting economy.
— Nick Cassara
Palmer
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.