How many state workers from Indiana does it take to screw in a light bulb? One.
How many state workers from Alaska? Five. For every one state worker in Indiana, Alaska has five.
Alaska comes close to quadrupling the number of state employees per capita of that of 11 other states. It doubles the number of state employees of all but 8 states. Alaska’s 245 state employees per 10,000 residents is by far the highest in the nation.
That is 2.4 state workers for every 100 Alaskans, and 1.2 state workers for every 50 Alaskans. This does not count federal, municipal, university, or school district employees.
The state may be short on daylight in the winter, but state workers? Not so much.
In light of Alaska’s Jabba the Hutt-like morbidly obese state government, some are questioning Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s call for creating an entire new department — a Department of Agriculture.
Dunleavy’s pitch for his new department doesn’t seem to offer any reasonable rational explanation of how a new government agency would increase agriculture in the state.
Former Republican President Ronald Reagan once described three typical ways government impacts an industry. “If it moves tax it, If it keeps moving regulate it, and if stops moving subsidize it.”
Since Dunleavy says he wants to grow state agriculture, his newly created agency, as least under his watch, probably won’t tax or increase regulation on farmers. Which leaves subsidies.
On his Facebook page the governor wrote: “Alaska imports 95% of its food, but we don’t have to. Creating a dedicated Department of Agriculture will give our farmers the support they need to grow more food right here at home. “
Does “support” mean subsidies? If so, does the state need an entire new department just to hand out free cash to farmers?
Most comments on the governor’s Facebook page have ridiculed the idea of creating a new Department of Agriculture.
“Haha because another government department is always what helps the free market to grow,” wrote Jake Amberson.
“While I believe your heart is in the right place… Alaska history is littered with failed agricultural attempts,” posted Jim Taylor.
“There are already agricultural loan programs through the gov’t. We already have a Alaska Farm Bureau. No more Gov’t!! Farmers are NOT stupid. They don’t need someone from the Gov’t telling them how to raise meat and crops. NO to dept of agriculture. NO,” posted Deena Benson.
Not all posts rejected Dunleavy’s idea.
“Farmers need the ability to speak directly to the governor and the legislature, a commissioner will give them this option,” wrote Tarn Coffey.
If Coffey is correct, wouldn’t it be a lot cheaper if legislators and the governor promised to take farmers calls instead of hiring a bunch of new state employees to do so.
Dunleavy’s pitch to grow state government by creating a new department is curious and somewhat politically tone death in light of the widely popular DOGE movement on the federal level.
The nation is finally waking up to how wasteful and bloated government has become thanks to President Donald Trump and the head of DOGE, billionaire Elon Musk.
The irony in all of this is when the dust settles, it will be Dunleavy who will be responsible for holding the line on spending over the next two years in Alaska.
Legislative Democrats and turn coat Republicans like Senators Cathy Giessel and Rob Yundt have big tax and spend plans for the state and only Dunleavy can stop them with his veto pen. I believe he will.
Even if voters disagree with the governor on his plan to create a Department of Agriculture, they should keep in mind he’s the only guy standing between a radically left leaning tax and spend legislature that if successful, would bankrupt the state.
The governor is expected to veto proposed new oil taxes, giant increases in education spending, and the financially suicidal return of pensions for state employees.
Dunleavy should save the day. And he seems to have little legislative support for his plan to create a Department of Agriculture.
Dan Fagan reports and writes columns for Must Read Alaska. He’s covered Alaska politics for close to 30-years. He currently hosts a morning drive radio talk show on 1020 am 92.5 and 104.5 fm on KVNT. For news tips, email Dan at [email protected]
Cut 10 worthless state workers for every 1 new agricultural state employee.
Government workers are part of the parasitical class.
What has your experience been dealing with state workers?
Efficiency, excellence, positive attitude, great service, competency?
Everyone knows the answers to those questions.
Cut, cut, cut workers – and when you’re done cut some more.
There are plenty of jobs in the private sector – but you’ll have to work harder than you do now.
Seems Dunleavy has a short memory. Remember the Delta barley project? The Pt Mackenzie dairy project? The meat processing plant? The potato chip facility? On and on. About the only agriculture that has been profitable is marijuana, and even that has its share of failures.
Good intentions don’t pay the bills…..
There should be no new departments with such a ridiculously bloated government. I am seeing stories about an Alaska DOGE but it seems they are more focused on federal within our state. We have a department for that lead by Mr. Musk. It seems a DOGE focusing on state waste, redundancy, and corruption would be most helpful.