Dear Editor,
What is barely mentioned in Gov. Bill Walker’s budget this year? Are Alaskans paying attention? We the people need to galvanize senators and representatives of Alaska to step up to the plate and address the reconstruction of Alaska’s economy. There has been a severe economic earthquake, with continuing aftershocks. Shall we rebuild, or just close our eyes and amble along to a chasm with no bridge? Walker’s proposals were spurned last year. The door to the governor’s office is open for negotiation this session. We must again convey our critical concerns to this Legislature with pleas for constructive action. Will they listen? Will they do their jobs? Will they walk in that door?
Walker is serious. He has frozen the salaries of non-union employees. He has proposed taking a one-third pay cut in his own salary. He has told us “… we could lay off every state worker paid with unrestricted general funds. That would save $1.1 billion. We’d still need to find more than $1 billion in cuts.”
The governor’s former budget was held captive by certain factions in the Legislature last year. To minimize the slashing of education and health funding and eliminating state jobs, it is obvious that the state will again need dollars from the Permanent Fund. This is a painful and expensive short-term fix. Our governor wants to develop new long-term revenue streams and has proposed a motor fuel tax. How can the state continue to deliver essential services to the people, if the legislators will only respond to proposals to further reduce staff?
He has left the door open for discussions of fixing the shattered budget, including income taxes, corporate tax sales tax and an oil and gas tax reform. Longer termed solutions were stymied last year. In fact, the Parnell Rewrite of Oil & Gas (O & G) tax credits remains a gaping “black hole in the budget,” as Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, has put it. There are now some new faces and a new organization. Will they step up? Will gaps be filled? How do you like the governor’s proposed budget so far?
Is the Legislature going to walk through the open door into a better future for Alaskans? Forward looking ideas were blatantly ignored last session. How does it serve Alaskans for the Legislature to continue to refuse to engage on realistic options?
Respectfully submitted,
Lee D. Ault
Anchorage
