By MICHAEL TAVOLIERO
In a recent Facebook comment, newly installed Senator Rob Yundt (R) responded to Suzanne Downing’s Must Read Alaska, “Camel’s nose: Alaska Senate Democrat majority has a surprise tax package to raise cash for state spending”, Feb. 26, 2025, as follows:
“Poor Suzanne, I’m afraid if brains were dynamite she wouldn’t have enough to blow a fart.
“It’s not conservative to have a tax environment that treats one company substantially better than the rest in the same industry. That’s called crony capitalism. It’s also not conservative to allow 743K Alaskan residents to get short changed because of a loophole that was accidentally created nearly 50 years ago. So far that loophole is $732 per resident & will be approximately another $179 per resident next year. It’s hard to fix the PFD if we’re giving our natural resources away at a large discount.
“This subject has been discussed in this building for at least 4 years (picture attached). It’s time to close the damn loophole & stop letting Alaskan residents get ripped off. Nothing more, nothing less.
“My cell phone is still the same. 907-232-8340, if anyone has any questions give me a call anytime.”
A quick reminder to anyone paying attention. Candidate Yundt’s campaign promise of Feb. 19, 2024, stated his intentions of “Expanding our state economy through responsible mining/timber development so we’re not solely dependent on oil revenue.”
Even more fascinating, candidate Yundt’s campaign promises contain the typical political spectrum of promises for family bonding improvements, municipality land rights, timber harvesting growth, school choice, election integrity and a better Alaska for seniors. Nope, nothing on a new tax or closing that nasty loophole.
Sen. Yundt’s SB 92 surprised most of us conservatives.
Sen. Yundt’s response is a perfect illustration of why Alaska’s government spending problem continues unchecked. Rather than addressing the real issue of bloated bureaucracy, he’s engaging in petty insults and political distractions emblematic of the boring and stupid junior high school insults the public has seen for more than a decade from state democrats and RINOs.
On March 25, 2024, candidate Yundt wrote, “Instead of burdening Alaskans with more taxes, policymakers should prioritize investing in infrastructure, mineral development & reducing red tape. By staying true to our values of personal freedom & self-determination, Alaska can chart a course towards a vibrant & resilient economy for generations to come.”
Senator Yundt’s FB condescending response to criticism, laced with juvenile insults, does not hide the fact that his bill is just another attempt to increase government revenue instead of reforming spending. His so-called “conservative” tax proposal targeting one company—Hilcorp—reveals that Alaska’s elected officials are more interested in shifting tax burdens than making the state’s bloated budget more efficient.
This is not a principled stand against crony capitalism; it is selective taxation designed to generate more state revenue under the guise of fairness. Yundt’s bill aligns perfectly with the broader Democrat-led push to impose new taxes on businesses, including SB 112 (targeting oil production) and SB 113 (taxing out-of-state digital commerce).
Alaska does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem.
The unelected state bureaucracy treats fiscal responsibility as an optional suggestion, burning through taxpayer dollars with little accountability. Instead of tackling this, Yundt is focused on closing a tax “loophole” that has existed for nearly 50 years—all while ignoring the far larger and more urgent issue of out-of-control state spending.
Instead of addressing that reality, politicians like Senator Rob Yundt and his Democratic allies are proposing new tax schemes to squeeze more money from businesses and residents—without any plan to curb the out-of-control bureaucratic machine that continues to waste taxpayer dollars.
It’s particularly revealing that his approach to debate is condescension rather than substance. Instead of offering meaningful reforms to cut government waste, reduce inefficiencies, or demand accountability from the entrenched deep state, which appeared as many of his campaign promises, he lied and is now pushing for new taxes under the guise of “fairness.” It’s the same old big-government playbook: when politicians refuse to cut spending, they look for new ways to take more from the private sector.
If Yundt were truly interested in fixing Alaska’s financial problems, he’d be focused on reducing the cost of government, not inventing new ways to extract more money from the economy. Instead, he’s playing into the hands of the bureaucratic machine that believes it is entitled to Alaskans’ wealth, rather than accountable to them.
And his flippant, unprofessional remarks don’t just expose his arrogance, they reveal his complete unwillingness to engage in a serious conversation about fiscal responsibility. If Alaska’s newest Republican senator thinks insults are a substitute for leadership, then Alaskans should take note of exactly who he serves: the bureaucracy, not the people.
Meanwhile, Sen. Cathy Giessel has taken tax advocacy to a bizarre new level—claiming that without tax hikes, more Alaskans will commit suicide. According to this logic, taxation is now a public health initiative, and the only way to prevent despair is by ensuring more money flows into government coffers. The absurdity of this claim underscores just how out of touch Alaska’s ruling class has become.
The real issue isn’t tax loopholes or a lack of revenue. It’s the unchecked expansion of government. Alaska’s unelected bureaucracy, operating without meaningful fiscal restraint, continues to expand, consuming more taxpayer dollars while demanding even greater contributions from the private sector. Meanwhile, these same bureaucratic interests legally funnel a portion of their gains into campaign contributions, effectively bribing state legislators to maintain the status quo.
Alaska has enjoyed 11 years of tax stability, which has led to major investments in oil production—such as Willow and Pikka, expected to increase production by 30% by 2032. Yet, these new revenue bills threaten to destabilize that progress. SB 112 proposes altering per-barrel oil production tax credits, clawing back deductions that have incentivized investment. It even introduces an investment match requirement, where the government—not businesses—determines whether investments are “worthy” of tax deductions. This is nothing more than state-controlled resource management, a strategy proven time and again to reduce investment and lower long-term tax revenue.
SB 113, on the other hand, is a cash grab disguised as fairness. It seeks to tax digital commerce on out-of-state corporations that do business in Alaska, a move that will ultimately be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices. Supporters claim it will raise up to $65 million annually, but such estimates are always optimistically inflated, and the broader impact of discouraging business growth and raising costs on Alaskans is ignored.
The bottom line is this: Alaska’s government is addicted to spending, and rather than cutting waste, it is looking for new ways to extract more money from businesses and residents. Yundt’s bill, Giessel’s bizarre reasoning, and Wielechowski’s tax proposals are all part of the same strategy: demand more revenue while refusing to address bureaucratic inefficiency and overspending.
Instead of confronting this reckless spending, Senator Yundt and his colleagues are doubling down on policies that stifle economic growth, deter investment, and push businesses out of the state.
If Alaska’s legislators were truly committed to fixing the state’s finances, they would follow the example set by the Trump administration—cut government bloat, eliminate wasteful agencies, and hold the unelected bureaucracy accountable. Instead, they are doubling down on the same failed policies, not because they believe in responsible governance, but because their real priority is protecting the power and job security of Alaska’s entrenched bureaucratic elite. This isn’t about fiscal responsibility—it’s about keeping the political machine well-fed at the expense of hardworking Alaskans.
Michael Tavoliero writes for Must Read Alaska.
“it is selective taxation designed to generate more state revenue under the guise of fairness.”
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There is that word, “fairness” that Leftists are so fond of throwing around.
Is Yundt BFFs with Sarah Palin?
Because as another good little Leftist, that was her pet word too, used as she attacked the oil companies with an astonishing ferocity that manifested her hatred of them, just like the Greta Thunbergs of of the world.
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Her attacks got the results she desired too, as during her time as governor Alaska was the only oil producing province in the world to see a decline in production.
Is this Yundt’s wish too? To finally run the oil producers out of Alaska once and for all?
Great article. It’s somewhat amazing the lengths that some people will go to to hide their motivations. The gaslighting from the left, the outright lying, the name calling and insults all done in an effort to get away from the truth. The fact is state government spending more than tripled in 6-7 years under record oil prices and has never been restored to proper levels. Our legislature keeps spending money as if oil was $120 a barrel, they did this by spending down our savings accounts and taking money from every Alaskan.
Exactly right, plus getting a lower price for Alaska’s oil than anywhere else gets for theirs. The end goal of our politicians is what Klaus Schwab says, “You will own nothing and be happy.” Judging from the majority of the comments posted here, we are almost there!
One of the ‘main’ reasons we sold the Family Business in 2023, long standing AK business over 50years, is that it was apparently too risky to count on elected leaders to ensure a business friendly // positive environment.
The bureaucrats will most assuredly outlast our resources to weather the political mayhem that’s currently playing out, with ‘no’ light of Logic – Reason- Common Sense on the horizon. The collateral damage will wipe out Family Businesses that the bureaucrats won’t pay any price and/or consequence.
Best decision I ever made and I have no regrets!
“What Happened to Rob Yundt?”
Simple. Voters gave him more power. Remember, this is the same Rob Yundt that withdrew from his first run for the legislature so that he wouldn’t “split the moderate vote” in Wasilla, the same district that I represented for the last two years.
Nothing happened to Rob Yundt. He was openly a moderate when he ran for the state house the first time. He was a covert moderate when he ran for the legislature the second time. As he discovered when he first ran, in Wasilla (as in so many other parts of the state), it is easier to get elected when you tell voters you are a conservative and will vote against new taxes.
Juneau loves new taxes. If you want to quickly be accepted in Juneau, just file a bill for new or increased taxes.
November was only three months ago. Please remember the people who told you that Rob Yundt is a conservative and remember that they are part of the problem (psst…Watchman). And if you were one of those people—it’s time for some introspection.
Since when is it not conservative to get a fair market value for Alaska’s oil. Thought you so called conservatives loved market driven economics? After you stabbed every Alaskan in the back when you voted against the full PFD, I am so glad you aren’t in the legislature anymore, you sore loser.
If he’s not careful it will be all over the news what happen to him
Sounds like Yundt ran a deceitful campaign.
What happened to Rob Yundt? Check his courtview record and get back to us on that. He’s got some history with the law.
David Wilson wasn’t all that bad
Yup.
Another RINO, NeoCon, UniParty Tard.
Fooled me.
Shame.
Yundt exemplifies everything wrong with Republican politics.
What a piece of shXx.
I tried to tell everyone for YEARS not to trust that guy. It was an open secret that he made substandard buildings and lied to contractors and inspectors in order to cut corners and save money here in the valley, and if you paid attention to his little talking points it was glaringly obvious that he talked out of both sides of his mouth and expected everyone to just shut up and never disagree with him. But most importantly, and for me the most telling, is just like other lukewarm “conservatives,” he tried to demonize David Eastman for sticking to principles and not compromising. And that is the MOST important metric for me, personally.
David Wilson went full blown Union Party in the end. He told me that to my face. Said there was advancement within the Republican Minority Causcus. Geisel and the Union Party made OFFERS he couldn’t refuse. In his own words.
What Alaska doesn’t have is a “republican party”, we have tax and spend corrupt democrat and seven traitorous union supporting rino’s. We need a rule where we can sue and remove the lying unethical traitorous politicians.
CORRECTION. Dave Wilson Said there was. NO. advancement in the Republican Minority Causcus. He wanted to be an effective Legislator. Geisel and Union Party offers were made and he accepted them
Yundt is typical. Talked tough at election time, got to Juneau, sucked up to the tax-and-spend RINOs, and folded like a cheap suit. If brains were in fact dynamite, and Yundt intended to blow a fart, he’d be at Costco looking for a flat of baked beans.
Couldn’t vote for Rob since I live in Los Anchorage, but as a BL property owner, very interested in what happens in the area….suffice to say that I regret every word I ever said in support of Mr. Yundt, or his proposed BL set back measure in the MSB Assembly, or his general business experience. No matter how he tries to spin it and insult Ms. Downing, Mr. Yundt’s bill is an increase in taxes, something he said he was not in favor of.
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