Opinion

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, as she speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, to acknowledge the final passage of tax overhaul legislation by congress. Also on stage are Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, right. (Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press)

Let’s end 2017 on a high note

Health care dominated the headlines this summer and although the cameras turned off and the media largely tuned out after the end of the fiscal… Continue reading

  • Dec 19, 2017
  • By Sen. Lisa Murkowski
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, as she speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, to acknowledge the final passage of tax overhaul legislation by congress. Also on stage are Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, right. (Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press)
Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla (courtesy photo)

Are you being fooled?

Have you ever wondered why every year since Gov. Bill Walker took office the state’s estimated budget deficit has been reported as $2.5 billion? Have… Continue reading

  • Dec 18, 2017
  • By Sen. Mike Dunleavy
Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla (courtesy photo)
How Alaskans can help save the state’s distillery industry

How Alaskans can help save the state’s distillery industry

The Alaska craft spirits industry is stronger than it’s ever been, with new distilleries opening each year providing quality jobs for Alaskans and quality product… Continue reading

  • Dec 15, 2017
  • By Heather Shade
How Alaskans can help save the state’s distillery industry
Clean up, closure of the Tulsequah Chief is long overdue

Clean up, closure of the Tulsequah Chief is long overdue

Toxic acid mine drainage (AMD) leaking from the abandoned Tulsequah Chief Mine in British Columbia has been flowing into and polluting the largest tributary of… Continue reading

  • Dec 18, 2017
  • By Jerry Dahl
Clean up, closure of the Tulsequah Chief is long overdue
How the oil industry benefited from tax progressivity

How the oil industry benefited from tax progressivity

Don’t kick an industry that’s down on its luck. That’s one of the main messages two advocacy organizations sent to our Legislature via the Empire’s… Continue reading

  • Dec 17, 2017
  • By Rich Moniak
How the oil industry benefited from tax progressivity
A large still is the centerpiece in the tasting room at the Amalga Distillery at Franklin and Second Streets in downtown Juneau on Sept. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Don’t dampen Alaska’s innovation

Imagine you’re starting a business in a new field. For years, you work to hone your product. You confer with other businesses and entrepreneurs. You… Continue reading

  • Dec 15, 2017
  • By THE JUNEAU EMPIRE EDITORIAL BOARD
A large still is the centerpiece in the tasting room at the Amalga Distillery at Franklin and Second Streets in downtown Juneau on Sept. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Grateful for what we have

With all the negative economic news making headlines in Alaska, sometimes it’s tough to stay positive. But we have plenty of reasons to be thankful.… Continue reading

  • Dec 14, 2017
  • By WIN GRUENING

Alaska’s budget and fiscal report card

This week, the Walker-Mallott Administration will release its fiscal year 2019 budget proposal. Ahead of that release, we wanted to provide a report card to… Continue reading

  • Dec 14, 2017
  • By Sheldon Fisher
Jeremy Price (courtesy photo)

There’s no better gift than a great education

It’s not on the kids’ holiday wish lists. It’s not something they whisper in Santa’s ear. But it’s a gift that every child deserves, whether… Continue reading

  • Dec 12, 2017
  • By JEREMY PRICE
Jeremy Price (courtesy photo)
Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer (Courtesy photo)

Three years of reductions: Isn’t that enough?

What does it all mean? Where are we? Eghads. If we’ve really cut 44 percent (we haven’t) then we must be down to bare bones… Continue reading

  • Dec 12, 2017
  • By Shelley Hughes
Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer (Courtesy photo)

The pipe dream: A bad penny

Despite a $2.7 billion dollar budget deficit and Sen. Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, bent on spending the last of our savings, the governor is promoting sub-marginal… Continue reading

  • Dec 12, 2017
  • By JOE MEHRKENS

Working with China on oil is dangerous

As I read Gov. Walker’s opinion in the Juneau Empire (Dec. 5, “Alaska LNG: The time is now”) I wondered about those new “construction jobs… Continue reading

  • Dec 11, 2017
  • By RAY SOUTHWELL

Legislating in the echo chamber

The bipartisan Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the tax bill passed by the U.S. Senate last weekend will generate about $400 billion in economic… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2017
  • By Rich Moniak

Protecting salmon is part of doing business

In-mid August, when the silvers are running strong, we park the Kenworth, power down the chainsaws and head out on the water. Within an hour… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2017
  • By GORDON CHEW
In this Jan. 17, 2017 photo, state Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, talks with another legislator during a break in the opening session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau, Alaska. An Alaska state representative accused of inappropriate behavior by a former legislative aide says he apologizes if an encounter with him “made anyone uncomfortable.” Westlake released the statement after allegations against him were made public by the aide, Olivia Garrett, who did not work in Westlake’s office. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Westlake should resign

“Sweetheart.” “Honey.” “Baby.” How are we supposed to get any work done when you’re “dressed like that?” We’re disgusted by the actions of state Rep.… Continue reading

  • Dec 9, 2017
  • By THE JUNEAU EMPIRE EDITORIAL BOARD
In this Jan. 17, 2017 photo, state Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, talks with another legislator during a break in the opening session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau, Alaska. An Alaska state representative accused of inappropriate behavior by a former legislative aide says he apologizes if an encounter with him “made anyone uncomfortable.” Westlake released the statement after allegations against him were made public by the aide, Olivia Garrett, who did not work in Westlake’s office. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)
In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an airplane flies over caribou from the Porcupine Caribou Herd on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. A showdown is looming in the nation’s capital over whether to open America’s largest wildlife refuge to oil drilling. A budget measure approved by the Republican-controlled Congress allows lawmakers to pursue legislation that would allow drilling on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge takes up an area nearly the size of South Carolina in Alaska’s northeast corner. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP)

Let’s not ruin Alaska’s Arctic Refuge

Standing on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge some years back, I watched in wonder as tens of thousands of caribou, many… Continue reading

  • Dec 8, 2017
  • By DEBBIE S. MILLER
In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an airplane flies over caribou from the Porcupine Caribou Herd on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. A showdown is looming in the nation’s capital over whether to open America’s largest wildlife refuge to oil drilling. A budget measure approved by the Republican-controlled Congress allows lawmakers to pursue legislation that would allow drilling on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge takes up an area nearly the size of South Carolina in Alaska’s northeast corner. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP)

Logging doesn’t need to expand

Late last year, the U.S. Forest Service finalized the latest amendment to the Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (TLMP.) One of the focuses of… Continue reading

  • Dec 7, 2017
  • By MICHAEL COLE

Miners need assurance they can produce minerals for the nation

This week, reason prevailed and the American minerals supply chain won. After being forced into a nonsensical rulemaking process born from environmental litigation, the U.S.… Continue reading

  • Dec 6, 2017
  • By Phillips Baker

Alaska LNG: The time is now

Alaska now has the necessary alignment for the Alaska gasline LNG project. Mid-June 1970: one of the most important days in my life. It rained,… Continue reading

  • Dec 5, 2017
  • By GOV. BILL WALKER
Members of the U.S. Forest Service, Yakutat Tlingit Tribe and Yakutat Schools are seen at the Good Neighbor Tree blessing ceremony Nov. 22 before the tree was harvested and sent to Juneau that evening. (Courtesy Photo | Russel Wicka via the U.S. Forest Service)

Good neighbors and woosh.ji.een

As we head into the holiday season, I am reminded how much I appreciate the support of family, friends and good neighbors. As a large… Continue reading

  • Dec 4, 2017
  • By BETH PENDLETON
Members of the U.S. Forest Service, Yakutat Tlingit Tribe and Yakutat Schools are seen at the Good Neighbor Tree blessing ceremony Nov. 22 before the tree was harvested and sent to Juneau that evening. (Courtesy Photo | Russel Wicka via the U.S. Forest Service)