House Bill 209 would be a game changer for our Permanent Fund dividends. The overarching impact of the bill, offered by Anchorage Rep. Zack Fields, would be to transform the PFD — your annual share of Alaska’s oil wealth — into a targeted entitlement program.
When the dividend program was envisioned by Gov. Jay Hammond, it was never intended to be any such thing. Gov. Hammond envisioned a mechanism through which all Alaskans would become enfranchised participants in the benefits of our state’s resource development.
This bill would restrict qualification for a PFD check only to individuals who don’t file federal taxes or who make $50,000 or less in annual income. Additionally, the bill would cap the PFD at $1,000 permanently, regardless of the performance of the Permanent Fund. Also, the PFD would not be inflation proofed.
The PFD is not a handout. It is a dividend paid to you for your share of Alaska’s resource wealth. If you own shares of stock in General Motors and your shares pay a dividend, does GM call you and say, “Sorry, but your income disqualifies you from receiving your money”? Obviously not. Yet, HB 209 would have this be the ‘new normal’ for Alaskans.
Achieving a fiscal balance while confronting declining state revenue continues to be paramount. However, disenfranchising tens of thousands of Alaskans from a program established for all Alaskans is not the way to do it.
Rep. DeLena Johnson represents District 25, including Palmer, Butte, Lazy Mountain, and the Walby Lake area.
This Mother’s Day, treat Mom to delightful foraged dandelions. With dandelions blooming throughout Alaska, there is a perfect opportunity to gather sustainable greens and flowers that will add a special touch to your Mother’s Day table. Below, you’ll find some recipe suggestions for dandelion iced tea, a salad with citrus vinaigrette, sunny dandelion eggs, and dandelion baked halibut.
Mother’s Day celebrates the unconditional love and nurturing spirit of moms. Reflecting on moments spent gathering dandelions for your mother serves as a beautiful way to honor her. Dishes inspired by dandelions can showcase vibrant greens and blossoms, providing a meaningful way to pay tribute to her with simple creations that remind us of the joys that nature offers.
Dandelions truly are a gift from God, despite being unjustly labeled as undesirable invasive weeds. They are a dense superfood, rich in multiple vitamins, including A, C, and K, and they also provide essential minerals such as iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and beta-carotene.
All parts of the plant are edible, including the roots, stems, leaves, and blossoms. Dandelions are considered safe to eat in large amounts and have been harvested as food and medicine for over a thousand years.
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale), also known as the lion’s tooth flower, originated in Eurasia and have evolved over millions of years to survive in diverse climates and soils. Since ancient times, they have been used as a nutritional source, with references to dandelion salads, teas, and wine found in Roman and Chinese texts dating back to around 900 CE. It is believed that the 17th-century European settlers purposely transported the dandelion to North America. Its presence in the new world is noted as occurring around the time of the Mayflower, according to an article published by the National Library of Medicine.
Since their arrival in North America, dandelions have spread across the continent, becoming a familiar sight. Today, their resilience and adaptability have led some to regard them as an undesirable invasive weed, while others continue to appreciate their value as both food and medicine.
According to Rosalee De La Foret in her book Alchemy of Herbs, herbalists value dandelion leaves for the potential they provide in aiding liver health, digestion, and as a diuretic. She also states that the dandelion root is used by herbalists for arthritis and to support the health of people with cancer. Dandelion is also used topically to treat skin conditions.
Dandelions are pollen-producing plants that benefit bees and other pollinators essential for our planet’s survival. However, some individuals may develop allergies to dandelion pollen, similar to allergies caused by goldenrod and ragweed. Herbalist Rosemary Gladstar warns in her reference guide, Medicinal Herbs, that allergies can also stem from the milky latex found in dandelion flowers and stems. She advises, “If a rash develops upon use of this latex, just discontinue the treatment.”
For culinary applications, dandelion blooms are valued for their beautiful vibrant burst of color in dishes. You can also enjoy them as fritters, fry them in butter, and use them to make jam and wine. Their slightly bitter flavor complements a wide range of ingredients, making them a versatile choice in both savory and sweet recipes.
Dandelion leaves possess a savory sharpness that enhances and brightens a fresh salad and complements milder lettuces. They can also be sautéed just until they start to wilt and finished with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, turmeric, salt, and pepper, or prepared with a balsamic option. Additionally, the leaves can be transformed into a delicious pesto with walnuts, garlic, lemon, seasonings, and Parmesan cheese. They also provide a finishing touch to egg dishes, imparting a unique earthy essence to scrambled eggs, frittatas, or quiches. The potential is limitless.
The dandelion root can be used in various dishes, including roasted vegetables and stir-fries, or infused in apple cider vinegar to make salad dressings and marinades. Roasted dandelion roots have a distinct flavor with bitter undertones that can be used as a coffee replacement or supplement to reduce caffeine intake. Harvesting dandelions for their roots is most effective later in the summer when the roots have fully developed and grown larger.
Teas made from dandelion may include the leaves, flowers, or roasted roots of the dandelion plant. These teas can also incorporate additional ingredients, such as mushrooms, herbs, spices, and honey.
All the potential opportunities to include dandelions in your meals can create an exciting culinary adventure and a way to introduce a healthy superfood to your diet that is free of cost and sustainable to harvest.
When foraging for dandelions, make sure the area is free of contamination caused by lawn maintenance or road traffic. Be sure to correctly identify the plants, as lookalikes may potentially be toxic. Before eating dandelions, always wash them well to remove any dirt or insects. The young, tender leaves in spring are the most desirable, as they become increasingly bitter as the plant matures.
Dandelions are a plant that you do not need to worry about overharvesting. Those who consider dandelions an invasive weed attempt to eradicate them each summer, pulling them by their roots and dousing them with herbicides. Nevertheless, dandelions continue to expand their reach, offering their heavenly gifts to pollinators, animals, and humans in new and distant regions, far beyond their origins in Eurasia.
Like our mothers, the dandelion is a remarkable wonder of nature that offers both sustenance and healing with incredible resilience and adaptability, thriving in Alaska’s harsh surroundings despite numerous challenges. Its ability to flourish in unexpected ways reflects the strength and perseverance that our mothers exhibit in their daily lives.
It serves as a reminder of the nurturing qualities found in both dandelions and mothers, who overcome adversity to create beauty and sustenance. Just as the dandelion disperses its seeds to ensure future growth, so too do mothers cultivate hope and possibility for the generations to come.
Mother’s Day is a day for us to honor the special person in your life, whether she a mother or simply someone who embodies a motherly energy. If you are not inclined to try out dandelion recipes, you could always bring her a dandelion bouquet instead.
Below are a few dandelion recipe ideas.
Iced Dandelion Blossom Tea
Iced Dandelion Blossom Tea
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups of fresh dandelion flower heads
5 cups of water
2 tablespoons of honey, more or less to taste
1 lemon, washed and juiced (approximately 2 tablespoons)
For the garnish:
10 to 12 fresh dandelion leaves
5 to 6 fresh dandelion blooms
Makes 5 to 6 servings.
Preparation:
Harvest the dandelion flowers when it is sunny and the blooms are fully open. Gently rinse the blossoms under cold water to remove dirt and insects. Then separate the yellow petals from the green base to remove and discard the bitter portion of the bloom. This process will yield just over one cup of clean yellow petals.
Simmer the blossoms
Bring the water to a boil. Turn off the heat and immediately add the dandelion petals, the lemon juice, and the rind of the lemon for extra zest. Let it steep for 15 to 30 minutes to extract the floral flavor.
Remove the lemon rind and strain the tea through a fine mesh sieve, discarding the petals. Add the honey and stir until it dissolves, taste, and add more honey if desired. Chill the tea in the refrigerator for about an hour.
Serve the dandelion tea in a glass, poured over ice, and garnish it with a couple of fresh dandelion leaves and a bloom.
Enjoy the fresh flavor of this cool beverage!
Dandelion Walnut and Citrus Salad
Dandelion Walnut and Citrus Salad
Ingredients:
For the salad:
4 cups fresh young dandelion greens
½ cup red onions, thinly sliced
½ cup walnuts, toasted
½ cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
1 orange, segmented and cut into small bite-sized pieces
2 to 3 fresh dandelion blooms for garnish, gently rinsed and patted dry
For the citrus vinaigrette:
1 orange, freshly squeezed (approximately 3 tablespoons of orange juice)
1 lemon, freshly squeezed (approximately 2 tablespoons of lemon juice)
1 teaspoon mustard (yellow, brown, and Dijon all work well)
1 ½ teaspoons honey
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Makes 4 servings.
Start by preparing the vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lemon juice, mustard, ginger, and honey until well combined. Alternatively, you can use a hand immersion blender to combine. While continuing to whisk or blend the mixture, slowly drizzle in the olive oil into the vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Thoroughly rinse the greens in cold water to remove soil or insects. Remove the stems from the dandelion greens, then tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces. Rinse the greens again and remove excess water by spinning them in a salad spinner or by patting them dry.
Dandelion Walnut and Citrus Salad ingredients
Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl by tossing together the dandelion greens, red onion, walnuts, feta cheese, and orange segments. Drizzle the citrus vinaigrette over the mixture and gently toss it again to coat it with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Finish the dandelion salad by topping it with some vibrant yellow dandelion petals. Gently pinch off the green base from the bottom of the bloom to remove the petals from the washed dandelion blooms and sprinkle them over the salad.
Note: If you are preparing several items for a brunch service, this salad can be conveniently prepped in advance, with the final tossing of the ingredients occurring just before serving. Begin by preparing the dressing and storing it in a separate container. Next, combine all salad ingredients except for the orange sections and the flower bloom garnish. Just before serving, gently toss the salad greens with the orange sections and citrus dressing. Finally, top the salad with the flower petals as a garnish and serve.
Alternative suggestion: If you don’t have time to harvest dandelion greens, this salad recipe works well with other bitter greens such as kale, arugula, Swiss chard, collard greens, or mustard greens.
Sunny Dandelion Eggs
Sunny Dandelion Eggs
Ingredients:
6 eggs
1 cup of dandelion greens, washed and torn into bite-sized pieces
2 to 3 ounces of cheese (Asiago, Gruyere, Fontina, Swiss, and white cheddar all work well)
1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
Sea salt, freshly ground pepper, and ground cayenne pepper to taste
Makes 3 servings of two eggs each.
Preheat the oven to 375°
Start by buttering the bottom and sides of a small baking pan. Next, line the pan with dandelion greens, and then sprinkle cheese evenly over the greens. Make small indents where you will place each egg to ensure they sit properly in the baking pan.
Make a bed of cheese and dandelion greens for the eggs.
Then crack the eggs into the baking pan, being careful not to break the yolks. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper over the eggs. Finish by garnishing the eggs with a few small pieces of dandelion greens.
Bake in the oven at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the egg whites are set and the yolks reach your preferred consistency. Once you remove the dish from the oven, allow it to cool for a minute or two to allow the eggs set. Serve while still hot, and enjoy.
Serve while hot and enjoy with a side of dandelion salad or hash brown potatoes.
Bonus dandelion suggestion for halibut.
Dandelion Baked Halibut.
Dandelion Baked Halibut
Ingredients:
1 large filet of halibut
1 cup of dandelion greens, washed and torn into bite-sized pieces
1 to 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
Sea salt, freshly ground pepper, and ground cayenne pepper to taste
Total servings depend on the size of the halibut filet.
Preheat the oven to 375°.
Begin by buttering the bottom and sides of a small baking pan. Next, place dandelion greens in the bottom of the pan. Season all sides of the halibut by lightly sprinkling it with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper, or use a spicy seasoning of your choice.
Place the halibut in the pan on top of the dandelion greens and spread a layer of butter evenly over the top. Then, lightly season the top surface of the halibut with an even coating of your chosen spices.
Bake in the oven at 375°F. The baking time will vary based on the size of the filet, typically ranging from 12 to 20 minutes. Be careful not to overbake.
This preparation provides a fantastic way to enjoy dandelion, adding a savory element that complements the mild flavor of halibut.
Serve the dish hot from the oven for the best flavor, and enjoy!
Brenda Josephson is a Haines resident. She holds degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Business Leadership from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York. She enjoys spending time fishing, foraging, and savoring Alaska’s abundance of natural and wild foods with her family.
The Alaska Superintendents Association issued a formal statement after meeting with Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The superintendents publicly urged the governor to not veto House Bill 57, legislation that he has indicated he plans to veto because it contains none of the education reforms he has asked for.
House Bill 57 is spending for schools without any real expectation from the schools for improving results.
The letter emphasized a unified stance among superintendents in support of HB 57, a bill that started out as a ban on cell phones in schools, but which became the Legislature’s vehicle for funding schools at a much higher rate.
Gov. Dunleavy informed superintendents during the meeting that he intends to veto HB 57 unless two policy provisions are included: Open enrollment between school districts and additional charter school expansion measures.
He also raised concerns over literacy incentive funding being tied to a separate bill, Senate Bill 113, indicating a preference for those funds to be handled independently. SB 113 is the tax on internet businesses.
The superintendents also praised the Legislature for the quick passage of SB 113, the Etsy Tax, which raced through the House and Senate with no analysis.
Valley Republican Women of Alaska responded to the unfolding drama by posting a clever meme showing Gov. Dunleavy with a big veto stamp in his hand, shown above on this page. Soon, other Republican women’s clubs around the state were sharing the same meme.
In the Must Read Alaska newsletter, the Question of the Week survey asked readers if they think the governor should veto HB 57. The response was 89% “Yes” from 640 participants in the three-day poll of Alaska conservative activists:
I am 73 years old and have lived under eight different popes. I even recall the news of the 1958 conclave.
I was shocked when the first non-Italian pope in 450 years was elected in 1978. I was shocked at the assassination of JFK, RFK and MLK. I was pleasantly shocked by Ronald Reagan’s two landslides. I was shocked at the multiple heretical moves and musings of Pope Francis.
But nothing prepared me for this: an American pope, from the diocese of my own birth, who was not on anyone’s radar screen as papabile. Give the College of Cardinals credit: They can still administer electro-shock treatments to the world.
We are going to likely have undignified insults traded between the White House and the Vatican. I hope Pope Leo will not respond in kind to Trump’s often childish musings. Pope Francis, who was quite practiced at snide and even crude insults, might have done so. But Trump would do better to allow Vice President JD Vance do the talking.
But this is a pope who has done the following:
Openly criticized America’s efforts to control our own border, which flies in the face of the Church’s own teaching. And it is interference in the domestic politics of a sovereign nation. The Church’s role is to save souls. What about these millions of illegals, who have broken our laws?
Ousted the most godly and humble bishop in America, Joseph Strickland, after he went “out of bounds” from his Texas diocese to picket the LA Dodgers. If you never heard of this, it is because the mainstream media buried it. Strickland, along with thousands of other Catholics, was protesting a vicious anti-Catholic parody that took place by the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”, an LGBTQ mockfest, in a pre-game ceremony.
During Covid, Leo approved the use of non-valid confessions over the telephone, despite clear Church teachings against this practice.
He has been part of Pope Francis’ heretofore unheard of tactic, known as the “synodal magisterium.”
Now Leo’s first immediate gestures might — might — be a harbinger of a change of heart.
He blessed the people, unlike Pope Francis, who asked the people to bless him.
He wore the traditional red cape of a newly-chosen pope, the mozetta … unlike Francis.
He chose the name of a long-suffering and traditionalist pope of the 19th century, Leo XIII.
He has made strong statements on the sanctity of innocent human life.
There have been surprise conversions in the 267 popes, the most noteworthy being Pope Vigilius. He was an “Insider” currying the favor of Empress Theodora in the 500s. He maneuvered the exile and possible murder of the previous and very humble Pope Silverius, who excommunicated two influential bishops for adhering to the Monophysite heresy, a heresy which stated that Jesus was not fully human. If Theodora used her influence to elevate Vigilius to the papacy, he promised to restore the excommunicated heretic bishops.
So — the Empress got Vigilius into the Shoes of the Fisherman. To restore these bishops would be to endorse a heresy. Catholics — and all current Christian denominations — believe in the “hyperstatic union”: that Jesus is fully God and fully Man. Not a 50-50 thing. Not 90-10. He is 100% God and 100% human. This impossibility is what makes Truth a divine mystery.
Theodora waited. And waited. And waited. She wrote Vigilius, “Our dearest friend and pope” about why he was balking at restoring these Monophysite bishops. His reply of 538 AD, is justly famous:
Far be this from me, Lady Augusta; formerly I spoke wrongly and foolishly, but now I assuredly refuse to restore a man who is a heretic and under anathema. Though unworthy, I am vicar of Blessed Peter the Apostle, as were my predecessors, the most holy Agapetus and Silverius, who condemned him.
There is a church-approved prophesy that came out of, of all places, Akita, Japan in 1973. I have visited the miraculous statue, a wooden and Japanese-looking Virgin Mary, which shed tears. The Japanese respect all religions, and this miracle was broadcast on live television at the time.
“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres…churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises, and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
This told accurately what would happen, and thus stands the Biblical test of authentic prophesy.
The news behind this man, Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is too early. The Catholic Church just made an apparent hairpin turn to the Left. Let me emphasize “apparent”. If Leo wants to really make news, he could restore Bishop Strickland, who certainly was no heretic, but worried about a pope who was flirting with Church dogma like it was his own toy.
If faithful Christians were praying for a good and holy pope, they might have one now. Yet they must now pile on and redouble their prayers. Vigilius is not on the list of saintly popes, but if he made it into Heaven, we can ask him to add his own pleas to the Almighty.
But Peter and Paul are there, and Paul rightly corrected Peter in Galatians 2:11-14. Let us hope that we will have bishops and cardinals who will dare to do the same, if Leo goes the way of his predecessor.
Their fate, however, might become a newly minted word: Strickland-ized.
Bob Bird is former chair of the Alaskan Independence Party and the host of a talk show on KSRM radio, Kenai.
On TruthSocial, President Donald Trump came out with an enthusiastic early endorsement of Congressman Nick Begich, who was sworn in as Alaska’s replacement for Mary Peltola just 130 days ago. Presumably, Begich will be running for reelection in 2026.
“Congressman Nick Begich is doing an incredible job representing the Great People of Alaska, a State I love, and WON BIG THREE TIMES, in 2016, 2020, and 2024! A very successful Businessman, Nick knows the America First Policies required to Create Great Jobs, Cut Taxes, Strengthen our Economy, and Eliminate Government Waste. He will never stop fighting to Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Halt the Flow of Illegal Drugs, Strengthen our Military/Vets, Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Nick Begich has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump wrote.
Trump wasn’t always a Begich supporter. He had been told by politically connected people in Alaska to back Nancy Dahlstrom for Congress, but Dahlstrom did not come out ahead in the primary, and she withdrew her name from the general election ballot in order to not split the Republican vote.
Then, in September, Trump was convinced by Alaskans to endorse Begich, who had been a Trump supporter and campaign donor since the president first ran for office in 2016 and who has been an advocate for the America First agenda from the outset.
Lawmakers love to tinker. They can’t help themselves. Deep in the DNA of nearly every politician is the pathological belief that the worst thing a legislature can do for the public is … nothing.
Forget Jefferson’s old maxim that “the government which governs best, governs least.” Sorry, Tom, what really excites the political class is meddling. Tampering. Grabbing whatever levers of power they can reach. It’s not ideological. It’s instinctual. And it’s on full display right now in Juneau.
When lawmakers aren’t slashing the Permanent Fund dividend or floating new taxes to prop up budget-busting boondoggles like unsustainable pensions and a broken education system, they’ve found a new arena for flexing muscle: a turf war over constitutional boundaries.
Exhibit A: Senate Bill 183.
On paper, it looks harmless, dull, even. Just a bit of “cleanup” language. (Pro tip: most power grabs start out looking boring.)
The bill would force executive branch departments to hand over information to the Legislature’s auditor in any format the auditor or their legislative overlords demanded. Refusal? That would be illegal.
This is more than oversight. SB 183 blatantly infringes on executive branch autonomy. It empowers legislative auditors to dictate how data, including sensitive or proprietary information, is delivered, regardless of operational burden or security risks. That’s especially problematic in complex areas like oil and gas tax audits, which often involve trade secrets and confidential commercial data.
Imagine a state employee, already buried in technical work, being told to repackage geophysical models or Medicaid financials — not because it’s necessary, but because a legislative staffer prefers PowerPoint over Excel, with 12-point Allegri font in off-black. Sound absurd? That’s exactly the kind of power this bill hands over.
So why is this happening? Simple: a long-running feud. Legislative auditors and Department of Revenue staff have been at odds for nearly a decade, under multiple governors and commissioners. The friction finally came into the open during a House Rules Committee hearing.
Revenue officials testified they’d already provided the requested data. The problem? The format. Legislators wanted the data redone their way — even if it meant hundreds of extra hours for agency staff.
The auditor’s response? Too bad. Get to work. And make sure the color palette is pleasing.
This bill isn’t about transparency. It’s about control. It’s a legislative overreach that sets a dangerous precedent: allowing lawmakers to micromanage executive branch functions under the guise of “accountability.” Today it’s data formatting. Tomorrow, who knows?
Rep. Chuck Kopp insists courts will uphold this power play. He might want to check his case history. In 2020, the Legislature tried a similar move, inserting language into a Covid-era bill that would automatically reject the governor’s appointees if not confirmed by a deadline. The Alaska Supreme Court, hardly a fan club for the current governor, struck it down as a clear overreach.
Maybe, just maybe, in the closing days of session, lawmakers could set aside this petty bureaucratic feud. How about focusing on, say, passing a budget? Avoiding new taxes? Not driving the economy into a ditch?
Just a thought.
Suzanne Downing is founder and editor of Must Read Alaska.
ConocoPhillips Alaska announced a net income of $327 million for the first quarter of 2025, according to figures released today in conjunction with parent company ConocoPhillips’ quarterly earnings. The result reflects continued investment and operational momentum in Alaska.
During the first quarter of 2025, ConocoPhillips Alaska paid an estimated $362 million in taxes and royalties, with $251 million to the State of Alaska and $111 million to the federal government.
That’s down from the $437 million in taxes and royalties reported for the first quarter of 2024, reflecting reduced earnings and commodity price impacts.
The company also invested more than $1 billion in capital during the quarter. The rise is largely attributed to activity at the Willow project, where ConocoPhillips completed its largest-ever winter construction season.
“This quarter’s accomplishments are significant,” said Erec Isaacson, president of ConocoPhillips Alaska. “We achieved critical milestones on Willow, keeping us on track for first oil in 2029.
Isaacson emphasized the company’s broader strategy for Alaska, highlighting development potential in Kuparuk and the Western North Slope, and crediting the state’s fiscal policy for enabling continued investment.
“We continue to deepen our Alaska portfolio through optimization and exploration. We have a strong pipeline of resource opportunities across our operated assets which will drive growth in Kuparuk through Nuna, Coyote, and viscous developments, and in Western North Slope satellite reservoirs. This continuing activity underscores our commitment to Alaska and demonstrates the effectiveness of state fiscal stability in our state,” Isaacson said.
Since 2007, ConocoPhillips Alaska has paid more than $46 billion in taxes and royalties, approximately $36 billion of which went to the State of Alaska, while earning around $28 billion for its investors during that same period.
House Joint Resolution 11, a shot over the bow of President Trump’s international trade negotiations that are under way, has passed both the House and Senate.
It’s a resolution that has the Legislature wandering into international affairs, praising the mutual interests and collaborative efforts between Alaska and Canada, all the while that trade talks are happening. The resolution waxes about the importance of cross-border cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure development, environmental stewardship, and indigenous relations. A brainchild of Rep. Chuck Kopp, a Republican who caucuses with the Democrat majority, the resolution does not acknowledge that President Donald Trump is trying to get Canada to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and illegal aliens into the United States, and also is seeking to create more fair trade conditions for the US, and that this resolution may irritate the president by its appearance of meddling. It could cause Trump to lose interest in helping Alaska recover from the Biden-era economic sanctions.
In March, the Trump Administration imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, cars, and parts not compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canada responded with 25% tariffs on $52 billion worth of U.S. imports. This week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Trump in Washington to address strained trade and security ties.
Carney begged Trump for tariff relief, calling Canada America’s “biggest client,” but Trump did not budge on tariffs during that meeting. Carney was later quoted saying “serious trade discussions” can now begin, though no concrete agreements were announced at the White House.
Meanwhile, the Alaska Legislature is trying to make nice with its border neighbor and send a message that it’s not in alignment with President Trump.
The joint resolution does not need the governor’s signature as it is a statement of the opinion of the Legislature.
The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out and the crowd outside cheered as white smoke emerged from the chimney at the Sistine Chapel at 3:47 pm, Rome time, signaling the successful election of a new pope.
The announcement ends days of anticipation following the death of Pope Francis.
The smoke indicates the 115 cardinal-electors reached a two-thirds majority vote. The traditional smoke signal is produced by burning the ballots with a chemical additive, marked the culmination of a secretive process steeped in centuries of tradition. Black smoke indicated earlier that a vote had failed to reach that majority.
The identity of the new pontiff remains unknown at this writing, but this article will be updated as we learn who will lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
