OPINION: Dunleavy stands in the way of Alaska’s education progress

Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of education funding makes it abundantly clear: The greatest threat to Alaska’s future is the governor. It is abundantly clear the Legislature should override Dunleavy’s veto of education funding, but the governor’s veto also demonstrates he is incapable of governing and should resign immediately.

Let’s remember what is in SB 140, and how this bipartisan education package came to receive such overwhelming legislative support. Remember the Alaska Reads Act that the governor claimed to champion? SB 140 finally funded its implementation. Charter schools that the governor claims to support? SB 140 established new staffing and new support for charters. Correspondence schools? Yes, SB 140 increased funding for homeschooling as well.

And, of course, SB 140 restored half of the education funding that had been cut over the past decade. In sum, SB 140 was a true compromise with significant wins for neighborhood schools, charter schools, home schools and what the governor said was his signature priority: the Reads Act.

If the governor can’t support a compromise like this, there’s nothing he can support. And his past few weeks of erratic news conferences, apparent auditions for what he thinks will be another Trump administration, and constantly changing demands for additional education bills make it clear he either does not have or is incapable of articulating any actual policy goals. He appears distinctly disinterested in being a governor at all.

The veto of SB 140 is a test for legislators, and the governor has made the November elections even more of a referendum on education. Any legislator who votes to uphold the veto should be voted out of office.

Alaska continues to suffer from massive outmigration and labor force shortages, primarily because of our dangerously underfunded education system. Dunleavy’s veto threatens to further depopulate our state and damage our economy. Now is the time for legislators to come together and restore education funding. We can’t afford to let Dunleavy’s budgetary terrorism damage Alaska any longer.

As for the governor, it is beyond clear he has no interest in governing. It’s time for the worst governor in Alaska history to resign so our state can get on the path to recovery.

Kevin McGee is a Vietnam War veteran and serves as president of the Anchorage NAACP, Branch 1000.

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