Page 1604 – Must Read Alaska

Did Edgmon and Tuck conspire to cover up Westlake complaint?

The 907

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December 13, 2017

Did Edgmon and Tuck conspire to cover up Westlake complaint?

What did they know and when did they know it?

Did the House Speaker and House Majority leader agree to keep a complaint of sexual harassment under wraps? Did the two ever plan to act?

Legislative Affairs is now investigating the original complaint of sexual harassment of a legislative aide by Rep. Dean Westlake. The complaint was made in March, and the agency’s Human Resource Director Skiff Lobaugh is in charge of the report.

But who is investigating why Speaker Bryce Edgmon and House Majority Leader Chris Tuck stuck the complaint letter in a drawer, and left a legislative aide fearing for her job? The aide eventually quit.

There is no investigation into what appears to be a cover-up of something that is, by Alaska Statute, a crime.

THE BACKGROUND

On March 13, legislative aide Olivia Garrett gave a letter to House Majority Leader Chris Tuck, detailing two incidents of harassment from Rep. Dean Westlake.

WHAT WAS TUCK’S ROLE?

Majority Leader Tuck had given Garrett specific guidance on how to write the letter, Garrett said. She followed his advice closely, fearing retaliation from Tuck, who is currently the second-most powerful person in the Alaska House, if she didn’t abide by his instructions, Garrett told KTUU.

Garrett said she especially heeded Tuck’s instructions to write that she wanted to “move forward in a professional manner,” and not “embarrass or damage” anyone.

In other words, Tuck helped her write the letter.

Tuck may or may not have shown the letter to Speaker Bryce Edgmon, although it was addressed to both of them. Edgmon has alternately said he didn’t know about the letter, and that he knew about it in March.

“I wrote the letter, gave Rep. Tuck a hard copy, and never heard from him again,” Garrett told KTUU. Garrett, who was a legislative aide for Rep. Scott Kawasaki during session, left legislative service in August. She has in recent days filed a Human Rights complaint against Westlake.

But did the House Speaker know, and for how long? Tuck isn’t saying what he did with the letter, but Edgmon is now admitting he saw it in March.

“In an interview earlier this week, Edgmon, a Democrat, said he became aware of the complaint in March and spoke with Westlake, a first-term lawmaker from Kotzebue,” the Associated Press reported.

Edgmon earlier said that if there are any substantiated claims of harassment, there should be consequences.

“When I say substantiated, I think it has to go through a full investigation process,” he told a reporter.

[Read: What Edgmon said when the harassment complaint became public.]

But complaints can’t be investigated and substantiated if those in power conspire to keep them secret.

Instead, once the complaint became public, Edgmon and House Democrats immediately called on Westlake to resign. So did the Alaska Democratic Party.

Now, neither Edgmon or Tuck will discuss anything about the case because they say it is now a confidential investigation.

Rep. Colleen Sullivan-Leonard has asked for an independent investigation into the entire matter.

WESTLAKE APOLOGIZES, WON’T QUIT YET

For his part, Rep. Westlake has issued a statement of contrition and apology:

I would have preferred to publicly respond to recent allegations, but I am still in recovery from heart surgery and must make a written statement only. These allegations have become a confidential personnel matter, and in respecting the process I cannot discuss the details. I very much wish that I could. However, I will say the following:

I want to once again apologize to any woman whom I have made uncomfortable with either my actions or words. I never intended to hurt anyone, but I understand now that I have. I am truly sorry for that, and I want to thank anyone who came forward. Doing so required strength and bravery.

In the midst of a national moment that has empowered many women to come forward with their painful experiences, I have found myself re-examining my own actions and thinking through how they have affected the women with whom I work and interact.

I, like many men, have learned a lot from the women who have shared their stories over the past few weeks. I used to think of certain actions as friendly or funny, but I have come to understand that they can be offensive and intrusive.

I am imperfect, and I know I have disappointed many people who trusted me to represent them. Let me be clear, I am committed to being better and to changing my behavior. I will learn from this experience, and I will be an ally and supporter of women moving forward.

Many people in the past few days have called for me to resign. I have thought seriously about it, and I have asked for counsel from friends, family, native leaders, Elders, and God. I have decided not to.

I am proud to represent House District 40, which is not a Republican or Democrat district- it is an Alaskan district. I will continue to work on behalf of the people of my district and of Alaska more broadly.

I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this time. These stories do not reflect who I am, and I am determined to make it right.

Power play: House members set up own harassment reporting system

Power play: House members set up own harassment reporting system

Politics

Suzanne Downing

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December 13, 2017

1

Power play: House members set up own harassment reporting system

REP. MILLETT SAYS MEMBERS NOW DON’T TRUST SPEAKER, DUE TO INACTION

House Minority Leader Charisse Millett today announced that because Speaker Bryce Edgmon and House Majority Leader Chris Tuck have shown an inability to properly handle accusations of sexual harassment, she has assigned two members of her caucus as “Harassment Resource Officers.” Call it a safety net, if you will, just in case this ever happens again.

*House Minority Leader Rep. Charisse Millett*

“In light of the recent deficiencies displayed in our current policies regarding reporting procedures and process, I am designating Representatives [Jennifer] Johnston and [Dave] Talerico inside our caucus as ‘Harassment Resource Officers”.- Rep. Charisse Millett

Reps. Johnston and Talerico will get training in how to handle reports of harassment, and Millett said.

The “displayed incompetence of the current Speaker of House, his leadership group, including the Majority Leader and Rules Chair,” have resulted in a lack of trust by their fellow lawmakers and legislative employees, who learned through the media that a report of sexual harassment was kept secret by Edgmon and Tuck for nine months.

On March 13, the two were notified by former legislative aide Olivia Garrett of sexual harassment she endured from Rep. Dean Westlake. The letter to the two was never acted on, and the aide, who quit working for the House in August, finally made the letter public through KTVA this month after she went public with her accusations in front of a “truth and reconciliation” meeting of the Alaska Democratic Party.

Speaker Edgmon has told the media he cannot speak about the matter because it is private, and he has not revealed what action, if any, he took once informed of the harassment.

“This is a confidential personnel issue and I am not able to comment on details of the incident or the complaint,” he said in a statement. “Unwanted sexual advances and other forms of harassment are unacceptable and hinder the work of the Alaska Legislature to do the people’s business. Any victim who comes forward must be respected and should know their concerns will be heard, investigated, and addressed with fairness and transparency. Our priority is to ensure a safe and respectful work environment where no one feels threatened. We strongly encourage anyone who has been subjected to sexual harassment, assault, or aggravation in or related to their place of work to come forward. We want them to feel confident that their personnel matters will remain confidential and private, and that the Legislature will listen and follow through.”

However, the Associated Press is reporting that Edgmon knew of the letter from the aide back in March.

Tuck has remained silent about why he didn’t act on the letter he was given on March 13, which detailed the harassment accusations. Rules Chair Gabrielle LeDoux has also remained mum on the matter, and is believed to be in Cuba.

LEGISLATIVE STAFFERS OFFER THEORY

Several legislative staff members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have offered the theory that Edgmon, Tuck and LeDoux were using the letter as a form of blackmail against Westlake, to ensure he voted for higher tax rates on oil companies. Westlake comes from a district that depends on oil for its economy and ran on a pro-oil platform. But in early April, his behavior changed and he began acting “paranoid.” He suddenly had a change of heart on oil taxes and on April 10 voted with the Democrats on HB 111. That bill passed the House 21-19 along party lines. Westlake’s vote was essential to its passage.

A call to Westlake for comment was not returned. He is said to be recovering from a surgical procedure on his heart and not available. But he has issued a statement saying that he does not plan to resign his position, even though House Democrats and the Alaska Democratic Party have called on him to resign.

PARALLEL REPORTING STRUCTURE CREATED

*Reps. Jennifer Johnston and Dave Talerico*

Rep. Johnston and Talerico “will be empowered to receive reports and assist in referring concerns and incidents to the Legislative Affairs Agency’s Personnel Office and Human Resources Manager. They are both committed to taking all reports seriously, without partisan or personal biases,” Millett said in a statement. “These officer positions are not meant to take the place of any existing reporting tools or channels, simply to supplement the Legislature’s current policies, and add to any forthcoming revisions to those policies.”

“All members and staff deserve to feel safe coming to work, and to feel that their reports will prompt action – not fall on deaf ears. Please contact my office, along with Representatives Johnston and Talerico, with any questions about this policy addition,” Millett said.

Governor’s climate change advisor makes as much as he does

Politics

Suzanne Downing

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December 13, 2017

22

AND SHE COMMUTES FROM SEATTLE, RECORDS SHOW

Governor Bill Walker hired a senior climate change advisor who earns $145,000 a year, which is the same as his salary. And she has been commuting by jet from Seattle to Alaska, at State expense, since signing on with the administration. She racked up over 11,000 airline miles in her commute during a three-month period.

The Governor’s Office has been paying for the airline tickets, cab rides, hotels, and other travel-related expenses for Cayenne “Nikoosh” Carlo, according to travel documents obtained through a public records request.

Dr. Carlo, who has a PhD in neuroscience and who is deeply involved in arctic and climate change issues, is on contract to work 130 hours per month, or about 33 hours per week.

Her job description is to work on “services as directed by the Governor or his designee.” In this case, the governor’s designee is Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, who is his lead person on all things climate related for the administration.

CARLO’S CARBON FOOTPRINT

Must Read Alaska asked for and received travel records for Carlo, through October.

Carlo’s travel authorization reports show she is assigned to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and traveled between Seattle and Juneau several times, beginning in July.

Carlo flew from Seattle to Juneau between July 31 and Aug. 3, and again from Seattle to Juneau and Anchorage between Sept. 6-20.

She flew from Seattle to Juneau again between Oct. 3-5., and between Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.

Oct. 16-22 she flew roundtrip from Seattle to Anchorage for AFN.

The carbon footprint for those trips is over one metric ton of CO2e, or carbon dioxide equivalent, according to the Carbon Footprint Calculator, which offers suggestions on how to offset your carbon footprint. In this case, Carlo could plant trees in Kenya, the web site offers.

Two months after Carlo’s hire, Walker signed Administrative Order 289, creating a “Alaska Climate Change Strategy and Climate Action for Alaska Leadership Team.”

“The Strategy creates a flexible and long-lasting framework for Alaskans to build a strategic response to climate change informed by the best available science, integration of indigenous and local knowledge, and consideration of Alaska’s economic interests. The order also calls for State departments to review their previous work on climate change, and identify immediate adaptation and response actions they can take.”

NEW CLIMATE CHANGE TEAM ANNOUNCED

On Tuesday, Walker announced the members of that team, with Lt. Bryon Mallott as the leader:

Ralph Andersen of Dillingham. Anderson is the President and CEO of Bristol Bay Native Association and a member of Clarks Point Tribal Council. Ralph is also Chairman of the Bristol Bay Partnership and the Western Alaska Salmon Coalition, and is former Co-Chairman of the Alaska Federation of Natives.

Linda Behnken of Sitka. Behnken is the Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) and has 34 years of experience as a commercial fisherman. Linda is a Commissioner of the International Pacific Halibut Commission and has previously served on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council.

Lisa Busch of Sitka. Busch is the Executive Director of the non-profit Sitka Sound Science Center, where she is responsible for operations and organizational development and health. Lisa has prior career experience as a radio producer and environmental journalist, and has worked extensively in providing communication training for scientists.

Luke Hopkins of Fairbanks. Hopkins is former Mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough and has previously served on the Borough Assembly and the Board of Directors of the Alaska Municipal League. Luke was a member of the Immediate Action Work Group of the former Sub-Cabinet on Climate Change, where he helped to develop policies to protect coastal communities imminently threatened by climate change.

John Hopson, Jr. of Wainwright. Hopson, Jr. is Mayor of the City of Wainwright, President of the North Slope Borough Assembly, Chairman of the Eskimo Whaling Commission and Vice Chairman of the Voice of the Arctic Inupiat. John has been engaged as both a community and corporate leader on the North Slope for over a decade.

Nicole Kanayurak of Barrow (Utqiaġvik). Kanayurak is a 2017 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow working in the NOAA Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, focusing on international fisheries legislation and negotiations. Nicole is currently the youth representative to the Inuit Circumpolar Council and former representative to Future Arctic Leaders, and has held a variety of positions working for the North Slope Borough.

Mara Kimmel of Anchorage. Kimmel is married to Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and is adjunct faculty at the Institute of Social and Economic Research at UAA. Mara’s doctoral research focused on the relationship between land rights, governance and human development in Arctic and sub-Arctic communities.

Meera Kohler of Anchorage. Kohler is the President and CEO of Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC), a non-profit electric utility owned by the residents of 58 communities throughout Alaska. Meera was a member of the former Alaska Climate Change Sub- Cabinet.

Michael LeVine of Juneau. LeVine is the Senior Arctic Fellow at Ocean Conservancy. Michael’s work focuses on sustainable management and stewardship of ocean resources, as well as the creation of economic opportunity in the face of changing ocean conditions.

Mark Masteller of Palmer. Masteller is an Assistant Professor at University of Alaska where he teaches classes on energy efficiency and renewable energy as part of the sustainable energy program. Mark serves as the Alaska Director for the Cascadia Green Building Council and as a board member for the Matanuska Electric Association. He has over 20 years of experience in wildlife research and management as a wildlife biologist.

Molly McCamon of Anchorage. McCammon is the Executive Director of the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS). As part of her work, Molly leads the Alaska Ocean Acidification Network and co-leads the Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Network and the Alaska Integrated Water Level Observing Network.

Denise Michels of Nome. Michels is a former Mayor of Nome and recently joined DOWL as a Senior Project Manager and will work with Newtok. Previously, while at Kawerak, Denise helped Shishmaref with their relocation efforts. Denise is a former member of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the Alaska Arctic Council Host Committee, the Northern Waters Task Force, and the Adaptation Advisory Group of the former Sub-Cabinet on Climate Change.

Chris Rose of Anchorage. Rose is the founder and Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP), which is dedicated to increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency throughout Alaska. Chris was a member of the Mitigation Advisory Group of the former Climate Change Sub-Cabinet, and has previously served as the Commissioner of the Mat-Su Borough Planning Commission.

Isaac Vanderburg of Anchorage. Vanderburg is the Executive Director of Launch Alaska, Alaska’s first energy accelerator. Launch Alaska is focused on building companies in the energy sector who are working on climate solutions in the sectors of food, water, energy and transportation.

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS

Janet Weiss of Anchorage. Weiss is the President of BP Alaska Region and has worked in the energy industry for over 30 years, with experience in Alaska, Wyoming and the Gulf of Mexico. Janet is a member of the Alaska Oil and Gas Advisory Board and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Advisory Board.

Duncan Fields of Kodiak. Fields is a technical advisor to the Gulf of Alaska Coastal Communities Coalition and the owner of Shoreside Consulting, a natural resources consulting firm based in Kodiak, Alaska. Duncan is an attorney and fisheries advocate, former member of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council and former president of the Kodiak Island Borough School District.

Jim Johnsen of Fairbanks and Anchorage. Johnson is the current President of the University of Alaska, as well as a commissioner on the Denali Commission and a member of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation Board. Jim’s many executive roles in higher education have included statewide academic initiatives to align primary and secondary education sectors and to achieve higher attainment levels throughout Alaska.

Reginald (“Reggie”) Joule of Kotzebue. Joule is a former state legislator in the Alaska House of Representatives and former Mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough, as well as a member of the UK-based Polar Research and Policy Initiative. While serving as Mayor, Reggie was appointed by President Obama to the President’s State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience.

Sam Schimmel of Kenai Peninsula and St. Lawrence Island. Schimmel is a student and alumni of the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) Champions for Change Program. Sam has worked on numerous legislative and executive initiatives for Native youth, including a 2016 bill establishing the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children and a roundtable discussion with Alaska’s congressional delegation and Governor at the 2017 Alaska Federation of Natives conference.

Fran Ulmer of Anchorage. Ulmer is Chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission and former Lieutenant Governor of Alaska. Fran is a member of the Global Board of the Nature Conservancy and the Board of the National Parks Conservation Commission, and was appointed to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.

Snapshot: Revenue forecast shows gov’s tax plan (still) not needed

Politics

Suzanne Downing

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December 13, 2017

3

Snapshot: Revenue forecast shows gov’s tax plan (still) not needed

Revenues to the State of Alaska are on the upswing, due to higher oil prices and more robust oil production.

The Alaska Fall 2017 Revenues Sources Book was released by the Alaska Department of Revenue on Wednesday, two days in advance of the governor’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that will begin in June.

Walker’s budget will be debated and passed in some form in the coming legislative session, starting Jan. 16.

The Governor and the Democrats may make another run for an income tax, although that is unlikely during an election year.

The Revenues Sources Book shows that an income tax would indeed be a tough sell, considering these points:

For 2018, (the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2018), general fund unrestricted revenues are expected to be $750 million higher than they were for 2017: $2.1 billion is anticipated for this year.
That is a jump of $247 million more than the state’s draft report six weeks ago.
For 2019, the department projects revenue of $2.0 billion.
Last year, the Revenue Department predicted $9.9 billion in revenue, but instead received $12 billion.
Last year’s forecast also said Trans Alaska Pipeline System would move 490,300 barrels for FY 17, and 455,600 barrels for FY 18. Instead, TAPS averaged 526,500 barrels in 2017.
Revenue now projects 533,400 barrels per day in FY18 and 525,700 barrels in FY19.
The difference between what it projected last year for 2018 and what it’s projecting now is 77,800 barrels per day. That’s a 17 percent swing.
The Permanent Fund returned over 12 percent, and Revenue says it expects total revenue of $10.3 billion in FY18, and $11 billion in FY19.
Revenue forecasts an annual average price for North Slope crude at $56-57 per barrel for the next two fiscal years. Of all the predictions, this is perhaps the most difficult one to make. Today’s price is over $63, but it has been as low as $48 during the past year.
Revenue projects prices will stabilize around $60 per barrel and increase to $75 per barrel during the next 10 years.

DATA POINTS FOR ARMCHAIR BUDGETERS

The Permanent Fund has $63.2 billion, as of last week.
The Earnings Reserve Account holds $14 billion of the Permanent Fund balance.
The Constitutional Budget Reserve has $3 billion, which is not part of the Permanent Fund balance.

WHAT GOV. WALKER SAID IN 2016

Gov. Walker has made a hard push for taxes since taking office in 2014.

In 2016, he said that without taxes and restructuring how the Permanent Fund helps pay for government operations, the state budget would need to be cut to $1.5 billion.

“The CBR will be completely depleted by 2018,” his office said in a dire statement in 2016. “After that, Alaska’s current revenue structure will produce approximately $1.5 billion in unrestricted general funds (UGF), assuming oil price returns to $55/bbl. Petroleum based tax and royalty at $55/bbl produce about $950 million and all other taxes; corporate, excise, fees, and investment income, are $550 million.”

Read the 2016 Office of Management and Budget prediction here.

Legislators are up against the wall with the budget this year, and will likely need to use the Percent of Market Value method in using the Earnings Reserve Account to help pay for services. Cuts to the operating budget, according to many Republicans, are also overdue. Some Republicans believe that trimming state operations by $250-500 million is an essential first step.

Gov. Walker has been unable to reduce operating costs in government. In December, 2016, he offered a $4.2 billion operating budget, but by June, 2017 he signed off on $4.9 billion in spending, with no vetoes.

In June of 2015, he signed a $4.95 billion operating budget for the year that ended June 30, 2016.

The vetoes he has made were to Alaskans’ Permanent Fund dividends and to the small oil producers who are owed tax credits for coming north to help Alaska goose more production out of the North Slope.

Report appears to exonerate Sen. Wilson

Top News

Suzanne Downing

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December 12, 2017

5

READ THE REPORT HERE

A report completed by the Legislative Affairs Agency in November backs up what Sen. David Wilson has been saying for months: The dispute between him and a legislative aide working for House Speaker Bryce Edgmon did not amount to sexual harassment or even a hostile work environment.

That report was released by the Senate Rules Committee today.

“In conclusion, this event did not fit the definition of hostile work environment sexual harassment. Senator Wilson’s conduct did not violate the Legislative Council Policy on Sexual and Other Workplace Harassment.”

“While my investigation did not find a violation of the Legislative Council Policy on Sexual and Other Workplace Harassment, this was nevertheless an uncomfortable situation, and one that was made more uncomfortable for HSE because of the unequal status, in the legislative workplace, of legislative staff and legislators.”

The dispute in question arose in June when the staffer asked Sen. Wilson to leave the hallway in front of the Speaker’s Chambers. He challenged her authority to order him from the area. The media became involved when KTVA reporter Liz Raines stated that Wilson put a cell phone between the staffer’s legs, an account that he disputes.

In fact, the report states the cell phone was never closer than one to two feet from the aide, something that Wilson has asserted for weeks.

Wilson was quickly accused by Speaker Edgmon and Rules Chair Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux of sexual harassment, but neither has retracted their statements.

Senate Leadership issued the following statement:

“The Alaska State Senate will responsibly and transparently investigate all issues that potentially compromise a safe and respectful workplace. The Senate takes very seriously the protection of all legislative employees.

“Further, Senate Leadership has heard House Speaker Bryce Edgmon’s concerns of potential retaliatory actions in this matter. We also take allegations of retaliation very seriously, and are in the process of investigating to determine if additional action is necessary.”

The Senate Leadership is referring to a press release from Rep. Edgmon, which accused Wilson of castigating people who came forward. He felt the press conference held by Wilson last week violated the harassment policy.

“Senator Wilson crossed the line of appropriate behavior by using a press conference to chastise individuals who came forward as witnesses to an alleged incident of harassment. I believe this is a violation of the legislature’s harassment policy and warrants a serious investigation by the Senate,” Speaker Edgmon said on Dec. 7.

“I’m happy the report came and I’m requesting the video be released as well to show clear and convincing evidence,” Wilson said. “I disagree with some of the statements, but I’ll leave it be for right now.”

Alaskan joins Trump administration in FEMA role

Politics

Suzanne Downing

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December 11, 2017

1

Joining the Trump Administration in a capacity that directly impacts Alaska is Mike O’Hare, who has been employed by the State of Alaska since 1996, most recently as the director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

O’Hare yesterday was named Administrator for Region 10, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He will oversee disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation across four states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Other Alaskans tapped to join the Trump Administration include Joe Balash, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Interior; Drue Pearce, Deputy Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation; Tara Sweeney, head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and Chris Hladick, who heads up Region 10 for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Devon out, Hanson in for Senate Dems press secretary

Anchorage Daily Planet

Suzanne Downing

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December 11, 2017

0

Jeanne Devon has given notice that after two years she’s leaving as the Alaska Senate Democratic Minority press secretary. Long-time legislative aide Noah Hanson, a confidante of Sen. Berta Gardner, will be taking her place.

A press release from the Democrats said Devon will return to “new opportunities in her writing career.”

Devon, whose actual name is Jeanne Chilton, is the founder of The Mudflats, a liberal opinion blog that was anonymously written for years, and which has been maintained by Anchorage Daily News columnist and Devon friend Shannyn Moore for the past two years, while Devon worked for Senate Democrats.

Devon is also the coauthor of the memoir “Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin,” by Frank Bailey. She also co-wrote Blood of Patriots, with Bill Fulton.

“It has been a joy to work with Jeanne for the past two years,” said Sen. Gardner. “She has brought a unique and valuable political perspective and message that have supported our caucus well. We are very sad to see her leave, but wish her all the best in her new endeavors.”

Hanson will be transitioning into the new job in January. Hanson has been Sen. Gardner’s Chief of Staff for 10 years, and caucus staff for the past three.

“I have appreciated Noah and his dedication for the past ten years,” said Sen. Gardner. “He has been an integral part of my team, our caucus, and its messaging. He will continue to do an excellent job with that in his new role.”

The press secretary before Devon was Frank Ameduri, who lasted six months and dropped a blistering letter onto the Democrats upon his departure, accusing them of mealy-mouthed complacency and cowardice. Ameduri said the job was more suited for an entry-level employee.

The Alaska Senate Democratic Caucus consists of Senators Berta Gardner (D-Anchorage), Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Donny Olson (D-Golovin), Dennis Egan (D-Juneau) and Tom Begich (D-Anchorage).

In other opinion-writer news, Dermot Cole has launched his own opinion blog, dermotcole.com, where he wasted no time criticizing Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan for helping the cruise ship industry avoid higher taxes.

Sullivan-Leonard: ‘Independent investigator needed’

Politics

Suzanne Downing

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December 11, 2017

1

Rep. Colleen Sullivan-Leonard of Wasilla is asking for a formal and independent investigation of all harassment claims in the Legislature. In a letter to Rep. Sam Kito III, the Juneau-based Democratic chair of the Legislative Council, Sullivan-Leonard says it’s evident the House Majority is not capable of taking appropriate action:

“It has become clear that the Alaska House Majority Coalition and its Leaders have ignored or not properly processed sexual harassment reports to bring protection and ultimate relief to the victim,” she said in a statement. “Although we may be encouraged to have Legislative Council look at updating policies and procedures now, this provides very little relief for those that filed claims of harassment prior to this. No more hiding behind poor policy or processes that have not provided swift and thorough relief for the victim. Those in authority should be held accountable for their lack of action to protect those that have been harassed and not felt safe or protected in the workplace. It’s time for an external investigation.

“Therefore, I ask for a formal, independent investigation by an external legal firm with personnel expertise to look at complaints from January 1, 2017 to December 11, 2017 to see if proper protocol was followed and for those that ignored it, to be held accountable. I ask for Legislative Council to take immediate action on this matter.

“This approach takes away the stigma from employees who may believe that they will not get a fair and impartial review from those in political power who report to HR and HR in turn reports back to the person in political power. It is an unfair position for the employee and legislator to be in,” Sullivan-Leonard wrote.

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY TAKES ACTION — REMOVES WESTLAKE FROM GROUP PHOTO

House Democrats told Westlake to hit the road. They quickly changed their Facebook cover photo to a pic that excludes him. Westlake told KTVA he will hold a press conference on Monday.

One of the allegations against Westlake involves a dirty note about an aide that he wrote last spring and passed to another legislator. That legislator is pictured above.

Casey Steinau, the chair of the Alaska Democratic Party, said Rep. Dean Westlake must quit, (ignoring the even-worse harassment record of her own Alaska Democratic Party Executive Director, Jay Parmley.)

Senate Democrats were not to be outdone. They issued a statement applauding the House Democrats’ decisive leadership, while ignoring the sexual impropriety record of one of their own members with various aides over the years.

The Senate Democrats also used the opportunity double down on Sen. David Wilson, a Republican and the only African-American in the Senate (or House):

“Senate leadership should follow in the courageous footsteps of the House, and hold its members accountable. It was with terrible disappointment that we watched yesterday as Senator Wilson blamed everyone but himself for his actions, equivocated, evaded, and called the multiple eyewitnesses to his latest incident of harassment liars, including a respected journalist and the victim herself.”

Except for one thing: There is no victim. No report has been filed in the incident referred to by the Senate Democrats.

Speaker Bryce Edgmon did not file a report about the dispute between his legislative aide and Sen. David Wilson, which happened in June when Edgmon’s aide decided to tell Sen. Wilson to vacate a public hallway, and he had the nerve to talk back to her.

With the negligence of Majority Leader Rep. Chris Tuck and Speaker Bryce Edgmon, how can any staff member feel safe in the halls of the Capitol?

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Charisse Millett has called for policy and due process for Westlake or whomever else is accused of impropriety. Millett says everyone is entitled to be heard — victims but also the accused. She is not satisfied that the process adequately protects victims and she may suggest remedies.

The Republican Party of Alaska has not asked for Westlake’s resignation, but for due process.

“The real problem is that a woman complained in March, and the Democratic leadership has done nothing about it. It’s inexcusable. How many other people have suffered because nothing was done?” said Tuckerman Babcock, chairman of the Alaska Republican Party.

The quest for more taxes, bigger government

Columns

Suzanne Downing

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December 10, 2017

9

The quest for more taxes, bigger government

HAVEN’T WE CUT ENOUGH? ISN’T IT TIME TO PONY UP TAXES?

BY SEN. SHELLEY HUGHES
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

Calling on all Alaskans! If you don’t read anything else political between now and the next legislative session in January, please bear through the numbers and read this piece. You will be shocked, but you also will be well-equipped to answer the questions above.

What does it all mean? If we’ve really cut 44 percent (we haven’t), then we must be down to bare bones (no, we aren’t).

Consider this: Although our state has unique challenges, it is larger than the state of Idaho, has fewer local governments chipping in, and yet our per capita spending is four times that of Idaho. You read that right: four times.

The truth is, we can still make reductions without sacrificing excellent, essential services and in doing so, avoid asking Alaskans to pull hard-earned dollars from their wallets to pay for inefficiencies and nice, but unnecessary programs.

So back to that 44 percent.

The governor has touted that 44 percent has been cut, but you should know that this claim doesn’t at all tell the true story. It just refers to one category of funding (unrestricted general funds or UGF), doesn’t account for increases in other funding categories, includes capital dollars (that were extremely generous a few years ago) and also includes a one-time $3 billion payment into the retirement system.

Obviously, the 44 percent claim is very misleading.

What most of us care about is the year-after-year operating budget – the total annual cost of the daily operations of all the departments. Perhaps you’ve heard another claim of the governor: that “total state spending on the operating budget has been cut $1.9 billion since fiscal year 2015 – a 27 percent decrease in three years.” Let’s look at this closely. Twenty-seven percent sure sounds like a lot.

What makes up that $1.9 billion in cuts, that 27 percent? Operational dollars to programs and to the departments? Hardly.

According to Legislative Finance, $582 million out of the $1.9 billion is due to the reduction to Alaskans’ PFD checks last year.

$508.6 million is due to the reduction in what we’re paying to small companies, the little guys, for oil tax credits owed to them by the state.

Those two items totaling about $1.1 billion were not hardcore reductions to programs and departments, but were actually cutbacks to Alaskans and to small businesses. Not a penny of the $1.1 billion required any belt-tightening in state offices or to state services.

So what makes up the difference between the $1.1 and the $1.9 billion? On the surface, it sounds like a solid $790.6 million decrease in spending for agency operations over three years. Is there a catch? I’m afraid there is.

The truth is that this $790.6 million less in UGF spending is offset by an increase of $450.6 million in spending in other funding categories (federal, designated and other) in the operating budget.

So the real decrease in agency operations spending over those three years? $340 million. Let that sink in. Not $1.9 billion. $340 million.

This equates to less than a three percent reduction* in the overall state budget over three years. Not 44 percent, not 27 percent — just 3 percent.

Now let that sink in too. Less than three percent over three years.

We need honesty and transparency, not spin, when we talk about the budget.

Here’s some straight talk: Politicians who lead the public to think programs and departments have been cut to bare bones are simply trying to convince you that we can’t cut anymore, that it’s time to tax you, time also to take half your PFD this year and a greater share of it in the future. Please know that I’m not one of them.

I’ll be #telling_it_like_it_is every chance I get for your benefit.

*The $340 million is a 2.9 percent reduction to the total state budget (operating and capital). It is 3.4 percent reduction to the operating budget.

* * *

Senator Shelley Hughes, District F represents Chugiak, Peters Creek, Eklutna, Fairview Loop, Butte, Lazy Mountain, Gateway and Palmer.

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