DON YOUNG’S GOT GAME
Guess who got one of the highest ratings in the latest Legislative Effectiveness Scores”? Here are the top five most effective Republican representatives, according to the nonpartisan score-keepers:
According to the Washington Post, Don Young continues to be “a strong advocate for Alaska, just as he has in previous Congresses. Alaska is the beneficiary of almost all of the more than 40 bills that he has introduced into the 114th Congress.
“Two of the bills, H.R. 336 and H.R. 1335, have already passed the House and have been referred to the relevant Senate committees for consideration. Several others have been the focus of various committee and subcommittee markups and hearings.”
IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY
Roll Call, the newspaper, quoted Anchorage political strategist Jim Lottsfeldt as a close adviser to Mark Begich who gives Begich a 40 percent chance at launching a write-in campaign against U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski.
The question arose: Does Super Lobbyist Begich even qualify as an Alaska resident, seeing as he lives back in the Beltway? Does he claim Alaska residency based on the Begich name? That looks to be a soft spot some Murkowski supporter will drive a stake in. But there are so many soft spots, including where he will get the money.
ALASKA UNEMPLOYMENT TICKS UP
Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate trended upward to 6.8 percent in August, a bit higher than the previous month. How does it compare to August of 2015? It was 6.6 percent a year ago. The 2015 unemployment average was 6.5 percent.
CRYSTAL SERENITY DOCKS IN BIG APPLE
The approximate 33-day voyage of the Crystal Serenity over the Arctic Ocean, from Alaska to New York, has come to an end. They saw polar bears. They saw ice floes. They saw a whole lot of nothing for days on end.
If you want to try it yourself, the next trip leaves Anchorage Aug. 16, 2017, and will set you back at least $21,000. Here’s the bridge-cam photo for today, as the ship docked in New York City. No polar bears were harmed in this voyage, which went off swimmingly.
IN TRUMP SHE TRUSTS
Author, lawyer, and no-holds-barred commentator Ann Coulter is in Anchorage for her In Trump We Trust book launch, speaking tonight at the Egan Center.
Emily Carlson scored the interview. You might still be able to get tickets to the private VIP party here.
And why might you want to hear what Coulter has to say about Donald Trump?
Coulter has been a Trump supporter from the beginning — and now the polls are proving her right; several polls show Donald Trump now trending for the win.
Check out what poll analyst Nate Silver has to say: Hillary supporters might be worried, if only for this reason.
SPEAKING OF WINNERS…
The event of the coming week in support of a candidate who has Sen. Bill Wielechowski worried enough to file a headline-grabbing lawsuit against the governor. Do attend:
