Gattis, the medias punching bag
I applaud the difficult task taken on by Rep. Lynn Gattis, who has become the punching bag of the media for taking a hard look at the state's budget. Cutting back will be difficult for everyone. But, it must be done. That, or we allow the state to go bankrupt. As a fourth-generation Alaska whose children are now fifth-generation Alaskans, I say, "Keep on keeping on, Rep. Gattis! Cut! Cut! Cut!" Then, let's talk about increasing revenue.
— Jeannine Jabaay
Hope
Do you know where your $7K is?
I just want to put the budget in perspective for all of the Alaskans out there. The population of Alaska is about 750,000. The current-year budget deficit is about $3.5 billion. In big numbers that is 3,500,000,000. That means that each Alaskan owes $4,600.
How did we get here? The current budget is estimated at $5.6 billion. In big numbers, that means the state of Alaska is spending about $7,500 on each of us. Do you know where your $7,500 is? I do not, because it does not go to me. Now they also want to take an additional $1,000 to $2,000 from my dividend, which does not seem fair. I would think we should be taxing those people who are taking our resources out of state and who are hiring out-of-state workers to work for us. There is just so much wrong with our state government that needs to be fixed. If they make bad decisions, replace them.
— Lisa Kelly
Anchorage
Not too LGBT-friendly
I see the Legislature hasn't got enough to do so they want to do a better job of regulating women's body functions. (See anti-abortion legislation.) Now Gov. Walker wants to appoint someone from the Salvation Army to replace Max Gruenberg. I wonder if someone is going to tell her there might be gay people that she will have to represent. As I recall the Salvation Army is not too LGBT friendly.
— Jay Cross
Big Lake
Avoiding another recession
Those of us who were here in the late-80s remember the drop in oil prices then and the deep cuts the Legislature made to the state budget. This sent the state economy into a tailspin. I remember whole neighborhoods in Mat-Su that were shuttered when people turned their keys in to the banks because they had lost their jobs and could not pay the mortgage. Droves of people left the state and businesses closed because there were no customers.
The ripple effect of the budget cuts affect everyone. The Legislature needs to make wise cuts while also considering new revenue. I hope legislators and their constituents realize that cutting too deep would cause another recession like we had in the late-80s.
— Jeanne Foy
Juneau