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Peltola and her chief of staff join major law practice as Alaska and federal experts

Suzanne Downing
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Peltola and her chief of staff join major law practice as Alaska and federal experts

Holland & Hart LLP announced today what many in political circles had been talking about for the past week: Former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola and her chief of staff Anton McParland joined the firm, which is primarily a law firm but also provides political and business consulting and has other non-attorneys on staff.

Peltola was named senior director of Alaska affairs, based in Anchorage. McParland will be senior director of federal affairs, based both in Washington, DC and in Anchorage.

Meanwhile, a progressive polling firm has been testing the waters in Alaska to see if Peltola is a viable candidate for representative or governor. The company doing the poll is likely Data for Progress. The national Democratic Party has targeted Alaska’s congressional seat with the aim of flipping it back to Democrat.

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The steady job at Holland & Hart may indicate that Peltola is stepping away from being in office for the time being. The pay is likely better and the hours will be less grueling than serving in Congress.

“Mary and Anton are great additions to our growing bipartisan team,” said Andrew Wheeler, partner and head of the firm’s Federal Affairs team. “They each bring experience working behind the scenes to cultivate stakeholder relationships and build coalitions among parties with shared interests to achieve approvals and outcomes.”

Jon Katchen, administrative partner of the Anchorage office, said, “Mary brings a unique understanding of Alaska’s distinct economic drivers and cultural landscapes that will benefit our local and regional clients. Anton has a deep understanding of congressional dynamics and an ability to craft and negotiate workable solutions based on legislators’ political and policy priorities.”

Signs and wonders: Election season is here in Anchorage and political payback is evident

Suzanne Downing
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Signs and wonders: Election season is here in Anchorage and political payback is evident

Anchorage municipal elections are the only ones in Alaska that are held in early April, and the campaign signs are an indicator that the ballots will be sent out in the mail soon to qualified voters in Alaska’s biggest city.

In Spenard, where one hotel gets millions of taxpayer dollars from the Assembly to house homeless people and vagrants during the winter, a sign for Assemblyman Kameron Perez-Verdia shows how it works. Perez-Verdia, a Democrat, signs off on the appropriation for the Alex Hotel and Suites. And the Alex allows the assemblyman to put up a large campaign sign.

The money doesn’t go directly to the Alex, but is appropriated to Henning, Inc. and MASH Property Management. That group has been paid over $6 million to operate the Alex as winter shelter for homeless since 2023.

Henning and MASH use a portion of the taxpayer money to pay for the hotel rooms, and the Alex is named in the contract with Anchorage to provide the rooms. Henning also provides these services at other hotels, such as Merrill Field Inn and Henry House.

Ballots will be mailed to voters on March 11 and the drop boxes for the ballots will be unlocked on March 12. Perez-Verdia has two challengers for his West Anchorage seat: Jonathan Duckworth and Amie Steen.

Anchorage Assemblyman Perez-Verdia calls for emergency order to shut down public process and pass compulsory mask law
Native Movement, Alaska Humanities Forum partner up to push Drag Queen Story Hour
Did assemblyman snore through meeting? Someone sure did, so they took a break

 

JBER base commander claims the base occupies Dena’ina land

Suzanne Downing
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JBER base commander claims the base occupies Dena’ina land

Colonel Lisa Mabbutt, the commander of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and the 673d Air Base Wing since July of 2024, told a legislative committee in Juneau last week that the base occupies Dena’ina land. 

Mabbutt was speaking to the House Military and Veterans’ Affairs Special Committee when she made a “land acknowledgment,” statement, both verbally and printed on her presentation.

Mabbutt was speaking on behalf of the US government when she essentially said that the government base occupies Native land.

JBER is not on Native land. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act finalized an agreement about what land is “Native” in Alaska, and those lands do not include JBER’s 64,213 acres. The largest land claims settlement act in world history, it resolved land claims and economic development issues for Alaska Natives.

Here are Mabbutt’s comments, which came near the beginning of her presentation:


The woke commander’s words were backed up by her slide presentation, which said JBER occupies Dena’ina land.

In her presentation, Mabbutt also made a pitch for the Legislature to increase the base student allocation for school funding, one of the hottest issues in the legislative session. This could be seen as a violation of the Hatch Act, because she used her official position to try to influence funding legislation.

During her presentation, she was asked by Reps. Jamie Allard and Dan Saddler about the large encampments on the base land known as Davis Park and also Arctic Valley. Mabbutt said JBER has some kind of agreement with the Municipality and indicated that the homeless occupying the base (which she believes occupies Native land) is not a security threat.

Watch her presentation at this link:

House Military & Veterans’ Affairs Special Committee

In her role, Col. Mabbutt oversees operations of the 673rd wing’s four groups, and maintains the joint base for air sovereignty, combat training, force staging, and operations in support of worldwide contingencies.

“Five of the seven command experiences at the Mabbutt-Zuhlsdorf household have been at joint bases,” said Mabbut last July when she took over as commander. “The reputation for partnership and support that you and your organizations provide, the JBER Arctic Warriors, families and mission, tops them all. I cannot wait to meet, learn from, and work side by side with each of you.”

Mabbutt previously served as commander of the 633d Mission Support Group at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

Although Mabbutt does not list her pronouns on her official military biography, she lists herself as a “she/her” on her LinkedIn bio.

DOGE Alaska: How much did Assemblywoman Zaletel get for her Anchorage homelessness coalition?

Drue Pearce: Prioritizing energy means prioritizing infrastructure

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
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Drue Pearce: Prioritizing energy means prioritizing infrastructure

By DRUE PEARCE

In the early 1980s, I was a bank manager in Kotzebue, Alaska, 33 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Those were the days of handwritten checks, paper records, and hand-updated documents. When broadband brought high-speed internet to Alaska, all that paper went digital, and residents never looked back—until last month, when an act of nature took them offline again. 

A subsea fiber system from Prudhoe Bay to Nome began service in 2017, bringing high-speed internet service to North Slope and Northwest Arctic communities, US military assets, and Alaska’s North Slope oil fields. The system, owned by the private global communications corporation Quintillion, carries traffic for retail internet providers and government communications systems. 

In the last few years, however, two ice-scouring events have sliced the cable buried in the Beaufort Sea, knocking out service to the Northern and Western coasts of Alaska, including Kotzebue and the entire Northwest Arctic region. In June 2023, an iceberg – something only those living in the Arctic region of the US deal with – dragging along the seabed severed the broadband fiber cable that kept many parts of Alaska connected. It was thought to be a “once in a lifetime” cut, but then last month, it happened again.  

To their credit, Quintillion began working with scientific experts to better understand the unexpected offshore ice scouring in the Beaufort Sea immediately after the 2023 cable fault. At the time, they completed a challenging subsea repair to restore service, but the need for a resilient, redundant system in the future was clear. 

They determined that the most expedient alternative solution, should there be a future issue with the subsea cable, would be to build a terrestrial “land bridge” onshore across State of Alaska lands and the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A), from Utqiagvik to Prudhoe Bay, and create a “loop.” This would provide the imperative redundancy needed to protect the system’s operational efficiency.

Over a year ago, Quintillion started working with the Inupiat Community of the Arctic to apply for a FEMA Building Resilience in Communities grant to assist in funding the construction of the land bridge. BRIC grants are specifically for supporting communities as they build capacity and capability to reduce hazard risks.

Given Alaska’s role in our national defense, as home to the largest oil field in North America, and its significant energy production, a government investment in the system’s resiliency seems like a no-brainer. However, the window for awarding grants came and went last fall, and in a seemingly last kick to Alaska before he left office, the Biden administration identified the application for further review but then did nothing with it. 

President Biden’s war on Alaska began as soon as he took office. He sought to continuously lock up lands, shut down resource development — the lifeblood of the state’s economy — and restrict access to opportunity. In his final few days in office, Biden’s administration rolled out yet another swath of NPR-A regulations designed to create a wilderness area in a place specifically set aside for development and force his ideologies on Alaskans without considering how they would affect the state and its residents. And for that, the funding needed to bring resilient high-speed internet access back to North and Western Alaska sits in a holding pattern.

To the contrary, President Trump made it clear from day one that he understands the importance of Alaska to our country’s energy security and national security and has prioritized economic movement and development. In the three short weeks since his inauguration, he has gotten more done for the good of this country and the state I call home than in all of Biden’s four years. President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are now in the position to move the FEMA BRIC grant forward and ensure the systems needed for energy development, national defense systems, and quality of life can be quickly brought back online and made resilient for the future.  

Mother Nature makes the Arctic a hard enough place to do business without having to worry about Uncle Sam’s hoops and red tape. We should encourage investment and welcome those who continue to innovate, drive progress, and create opportunities for Alaska and for the good of the country.

Drue Pearce served as deputy administrator of the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration at the U.S Department of Transportation, as a senior adviser to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretaries Gale Norton and Dirk Kempthorne, and as the federal coordinator at the Office of Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. She also served twice as the Alaska State Senate president and is now with Holland and Hart.

Michael Tavoliero: The 2025 Ukraine peace sabotage by Democrats. A pattern of US foreign policy failures

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Michael Tavoliero: The 2025 Ukraine peace sabotage by Democrats. A pattern of US foreign policy failures

By MICHAEL TAVOLIERO

A defining moment for diplomacy was within reach. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walked into the White House, expected to finalize a mineral agreement with President Donald Trump—a deal that, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was already agreed upon and was widely seen as a step toward a potential ceasefire with Russia.

Yet, instead of peace, the meeting collapsed into chaos, ensuring no deal, no ceasefire, and no end to the war.

Now, explosive details suggest this wasn’t just a diplomatic failure—it was deliberate political sabotage.

The shadow meeting that changed everything

Just hours before the White House meeting, Zelenskyy quietly and without notice to the president, met with anti-Trump Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

What was said? What pressure was exerted?

Less than an hour after Murphy’s cryptic post on X, where he hinted at Zelenskyy’s changed stance, the Ukrainian leader clashed with Trump in front of the press, and the deal was dead.

“Just finished a meeting with President Zelensky here in Washington. He confirmed that the Ukrainian people will not support a fake peace agreement where Putin gets everything he wants and there are no security arrangements for Ukraine.”

Does this fit the pattern of historical US war manipulation

This wouldn’t be the first time US leadership prolonged a war for political or financial gain. Let’s compare:

1. Iraq War (2003) – built on lies

Like Iraq, deception was used to prolong war.
Like Iraq, defense contractors profited from continued conflict.
Like Iraq, the biggest winners were political elites—not civilians caught in the crossfire.

The Bush Administration falsely claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction to justify an invasion. No WMDs were found, but the war lasted over a decade.
Who benefited? Defense giants like Halliburton (linked to Cheney), Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon.

Comparison to Ukraine (2025):

  • In Iraq, false intelligence was used to start a war.
  • In Ukraine (2025), peace was allegedly sabotaged to continue a war.

2. Libya (2011) – ‘Humanitarian’ regime change left a country in ruins

Like Libya, US intervention led to prolonged instability.
Like Libya, Western interests benefited while civilians suffered.
Like Libya, war was prolonged under the illusion of “helping.”

The Obama Administration led a NATO-backed war in Libya, claiming to prevent humanitarian atrocities.
Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown, but Libya collapsed into chaos, terrorism, and open-air slave markets.
Leaked Hillary Clinton emails suggest the real goal was to block Gaddafi’s plan for a gold-backed currency that would rival Western banking systems.

Comparison to Ukraine (2025):

  • Libya’s war continued despite U.S. claims of “stabilization.”
  • Ukraine’s war allegedly continued despite an opportunity for peace.

3. Rwanda (1994) – Political considerations overruled human lives

Like Rwanda, US political calculations came before stopping mass death.
Like Rwanda, the decision to let the conflict continue was intentional.
Like Rwanda, the real victims were civilians—not politicians.

Clinton’s administration ignored clear intelligence warning of genocide in Rwanda.
800,000 people were slaughtered while the US blocked United Nations peacekeepers from intervening.
Years later, Clinton admitted failure but the damage was done.

Comparison to Ukraine (2025):

  • In Rwanda, peacekeepers were blocked, and mass killings continued.
  • In Ukraine, peace was allegedly blocked, and war raged on.

4. Ukraine Coup (2014) – The US helped ignite the war it later prolonged

Like 2014, US officials allegedly interfered in Ukraine’s leadership.
Like 2014, US actions escalated conflict rather than resolving it.
Like 2014, billions in US aid flooded the country, benefitting war profiteers.

The Obama-Biden administration backed the 2014 coup, replacing Ukraine’s elected government with a US-approved regime.
Leaked calls showed U.S. officials handpicking Ukraine’s new leadership before Yanukovych was even removed.
The coup triggered Russia’s annexation of Crimea and led directly to the current war.

Comparison to Ukraine (2025):

  • In 2014, the US helped create the war.
  • In 2025, the US allegedly blocked peace to keep the war going.

Who Benefited from sabotaging peace?

If peace was rejected, who gained?

Political operatives who want to deny Trump a victory

  • If Trump had secured peace, it would have been a huge win for him ahead of the 2024 election.
  • By blocking peace, Ukraine remained a political tool instead of a diplomatic success.

The military industrial complex

  • Every day this war continues, billions flow into defense contractors.
  • Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Dynamics have seen record profits.
  • The same companies profited from Iraq, Libya, and now Ukraine.

Lockheed Martin stock surged over 40% since the war began.
Raytheon received $3 billion in military orders for Ukraine war stock replenishment.
General Dynamics’ combat vehicle production revenue increased by 25%.

Global power players & energy interests

  • The longer Ukraine remains unstable, the more leverage financial elites have.
  • European energy markets remain disrupted, ensuring US dominance.
  • Global financiers profit from war-related economic shifts.

Was this illegal? The case for investigation

If Democratic lawmakers deliberately obstructed a foreign policy agreement outside official government channels, federal laws may have been violated. For example:

Logan Act (18 U.S.C. § 953) – Unauthorized Negotiation with Foreign Leaders: If Murphy and others influenced Zelenskyy to reject peace, they could have violated the Logan Act.

Conspiracy Against the U.S. (18 U.S.C. § 371): If U.S. officials coordinated behind closed doors to block diplomacy, it could qualify as obstruction.

Ethics violations & abuse of office

  • If classified intelligence was used to pressure Zelenskyy, it could be an abuse of office.

What needs to happen now?

Congressional Committees (Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, Ethics) must investigate whether Zelenskyy was pressured.
The Department of Justice must examine whether officials violated the Logan Act.
Independent watchdogs must track financial connections—who profited from blocking peace?

Final question: How many more must die for political power?

Final final, question, oops two more after this one… Without a Republican victory in 2026—or worse, a Republican win that’s been co-opted by the Left—will this entire scandal be quietly buried and erased from memory, another forgotten casualty of Beltway politics?

Was peace sabotaged because it wasn’t politically convenient?
Did war continue because the right people stood to gain?

If history has taught us anything, this is what Washington does.

Until the full truth is exposed, we are doomed to repeat it.

Michael Tavoliero is a writer at Must Read Alaska.

New Dept. of Education portal allows parents to report DEI discrimination, indoctrination in schools

Suzanne Downing
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5
New Dept. of Education portal allows parents to report DEI discrimination, indoctrination in schools

The US Department of Education launched EndDEI.Ed.Gov last week. It is a public portal for parents, students, teachers, and community members to report instances of discrimination based on race or sex in publicly-funded K-12 schools. This secure platform allows users to submit detailed accounts of concerning practices, including the name of the student’s school or district and an email address for follow-up. The department intends to catalog these submissions to identify potential areas for investigation. 

This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent executive actions aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within federal agencies and educational institutions. The administration and most Americans believe that such programs can lead to discriminatory practices against certain groups, including white individuals and white men. 

Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, expressed support for the portal, stating, “For years, parents have been begging schools to focus on teaching their kids practical skills like reading, writing, and math, instead of pushing critical theory, rogue sex education, and divisive ideologies—but their concerns have been brushed off, mocked, or shut down.”

The webpage demonstrates that Trump’s Department of Education is putting power back in the hands of parents, she said.

The launch of EndDEI.Ed.Gov is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reshape educational policies and ensure federal funding is not allocated to institutions perceived to engage in discriminatory practices under the guise of DEI initiatives. The administration has warned that schools and universities continuing such programs risk losing federal funding.

Anecdotal evidence suggests many education institutions, including programs in Alaska, will simply change the descriptions of their DEI programs to replace the words “diversity, equity, and inclusion” with synonyms or like terms.

Visit EndDEI.Ed.Gov to report your school’s indoctrination programs.

U.S. Education: DEI is civil rights violation, noncompliant schools may lose funding
Will Anchorage School District comply with federal demand to ditch DEI programs or will it increase funding for them?
University Board of Regents votes to end campus DEI
Kendal Kruse: A case for education reform

Kendal Kruse: A case for education reform

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
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Kendal Kruse: A case for education reform

By KENDAL KRUSE

Education is the cornerstone of a thriving society, and in Alaska, our education system is at a critical juncture. The need for comprehensive reform is not just a policy discussion; it’s necessary for our future. Despite generous funding per student compared to many states, Alaska continues to lag in outcomes. We must have reforms.

Recent reports and studies have highlighted that Alaska’s public school charter schools achieve some of the best results in the nation. Our charter school success is a beacon, showing that with the right reforms, we can achieve remarkable results. Parents know that charter schools offer their students something that many neighborhood schools cannot, and the growing number of students on waitlists is evidence of that.

Gov. Dunleavy recognizes that parents are demanding a variety of education models for their children and is advocating for policies that expand educational choice. Sadly, his proposals have met with resistance from special interests, who seem more interested in funding a system than meeting the demands of parents and students.

In addition to the creation of more charter schools, increased funding for public homeschool correspondence programs is also a pressing need. These programs have seen a significant rise in enrollment, with over 23,000 students participating last year — about 18% of all Alaska’s students. Currently, families only receive about $2,700 every year for the most common correspondence programs, compared to a statewide average of $21,058 per student. This amount hasn’t kept pace with educational costs, the needs of students in remote areas or those choosing homeschooling for personalized education. It also raises serious questions about equity.

The current correspondence funding calculation also creates a financial burden for school districts that have correspondence programs. Dunleavy’s proposal to calculate funding differently would increase the amount of funding for school districts and could empower more families to tailor education to their children’s unique needs, especially in regions where traditional schooling is logistically challenging.

Another critical aspect to education reform must be the alignment of education with workforce needs. Alaska’s economy is unique, with significant opportunities in fields like skilled labor, resource management, health care and technology. Alaska’s business community supports the governor’s efforts to expand career and technical education (CTE) opportunities for students. His proposed changes will provide more options for CTE training and will better prepare students for real-world jobs that are available in our state.

Finally, the most important reforms could be those that support our teachers and the collaboration between public educators and the people they serve — Alaska’s parents and students. Teachers are the heart of education, and without supported and motivated teachers, no amount of reform will succeed. The implementation of cellphone-free policies during instructional times, as proposed in some legislative bills, could be one way to enhance classroom focus and teacher effectiveness. School district policies must also limit the amount of disruption that occurs in classrooms.

The involvement of parents and communities in educational reforms cannot be overstated. The current system often lacks transparency and accountability, which has led to a disconnect between what Alaskans want for their children’s education and what is currently delivered. Educators must include parents in policy decisions and parents need to be actively engaged in helping their children to be more successful. Everyone should recognize that we must do something different if we want different results.

Alaska has many great educators and local districts have made some good policy changes, but the overall system is crying out for reform. With Alaska’s dubious status of being 51st out of 53 in NAEP scores and over half of our students below basic proficiency in core subject areas, despite spending an average of more than $21,000 per student annually, the evidence for needed change is clear.

We must address the increasing demand for correspondence schooling by boosting funding, alleviating the pressure on charter schools by streamlining their expansion and better supporting our teachers. A multifaceted approach that includes accountability, innovation in teaching methods, strategic funding and community engagement is not just beneficial but essential. The future of our children depends on our ability to reform education now.

It’s not just about funding; it’s about rethinking and restructuring how we educate the next generation of Alaskans.

Kendal Kruse is mother of four young Alaskans and serving on the Mat Su School Board. The opinions expressed here are her own.

Michael Tavoliero: Alaska Education Freedom and Local Control Act would establish parent education accounts and more
Win Gruening: Alaskans must decide what’s more important — unchecked school funding or improved student achievement
Governor’s bill provides path out of darkness for Alaska schools via open enrollment, charter schools

Reason Foundation disputes Democrats’ claim that a pension will retain state workers

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Reason Foundation disputes Democrats’ claim that a pension will retain state workers

By DAN FAGAN

In 2006, Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski signed a law ending the state’s generous pension based retirement plans for state employees.

The law instead shifted state workers to a 401(k)-type retirement mirroring plans offered to the vast majority of employees in the private sector. These are often referred to as defined contribution benefits.

The Murkowski-signed legislation passed with the help of Senate President Ben Stevens and House Speaker John Harris. At the time, conservatives described the legislation as a rare fiscally common sense moment for Alaska politicians.  

The cost of pension-based retirements are not only more expensive, they are also considerably more risky to the state. If there were to be a downturn in the stock market or other investments, the state of Alaska would be on the hook to make up the difference for retired state employees. With 401(k) plans, the retiree takes more of the risk and benefit amounts are not guaranteed.

Even though the state shifted to a 401(k) retirement plan in 2006, Alaska is still $7 billion behind in funding the remaining pension obligations. This, despite contributing billions already to the pension fund and the market having done quite well since 2006.

If Frank Murkowski had not ended the pension plan that year, the state’s $7 billion debt would be considerably higher today.

The Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank, estimates the state returning to a pension plan will grow that $7 billion debt by at least another $11 billion over the next 10 years. That number could be much higher if there is a downturn in the stock market or politicians don’t have the political will to fund the pension obligation account. 

Republican Sen. Cathy Giessel and Rep. Chuck Kopp are pushing hard for Alaska to bring back pensions for state employees. They claim the generous, expensive and risky plan is necessary to help retain state employees. 

But the data doesn’t back that up.

Mariana Trujillo, a policy analyst with the Reason Foundation says Alaska does not have a retention problem for state employees. 

“Official turnover data does not show Alaska has ever encountered a unique retention crisis,” writes Trujillo.  “Alaska’s public employee turnover is actually quite typical, lower than that of many states offering pensions today, which is surprising given Alaska’s reputation as a state with high employee turnover in the private sector.”

Alaska’s turnover rate for state employees is less than 18%. That’s lower than Utah at 28%, and Texas and Kansas at 23%. These three states all offer state employees pension retirement plans. 

Alaska’s lower-than-average turnover rate for state employees is extraordinary considering the state’s overall turnover rate for all workers. Alaska has the highest overall workforce turnover rate in the nation, in part due to our cyclical private sector of fisheries, oil, and mining.

“In contrast to Alaska’s public employee turnover rate of 17.5% in 2022, Alaska’s total statewide workforce turnover, which includes both private and public sector employment, was 78%,” reports Trujillo. 

Alaska leads the nation with a 60% higher turnover rate for private sector workers compared to state government employees. 

Compare that to Kansas with only a 21% higher turnover rate for private sector workers compared to state employees. 

“If public sector jobs in Alaska were highly unattractive, one would expect a smaller difference or even a higher public employee turnover rate relative to the general workforce and to other states,” writes Trujillo. 

National data from exit interviews of state employees show retirement plans are not a top priority for job applicants. Why? Today’s workforce is more mobile and less likely to stick around long enough to become vested in a pension plan. 

“It’s not pensions driving decisions, but rather salary, work-life balance, and workplace conditions that are the main factors influencing job decisions,” writes Trujillo. 

It’s curious that public employee union bosses and their puppet legislators like Giessel and Kopp are pushing for the return of a highly risky and costly pension retirement plan for state employees. This is especially curious in light of Giessel claiming recently that the state’s financial troubles are so dire we need an income tax. She’s also worried if the state doesn’t get more money it could lead to people killing themselves.

Sen. Giessel says an income tax on Alaskans is inevitable, ‘without question’

“Alaska’s public employee turnover data does not indicate a crisis,” said Trujillo. “In fact, the state’s public sector remains one of the most stable employment sectors in Alaska, with turnover rates that are significantly lower than both statewide and national private-sector averages and lower than most other states offering pension plans across the country. In context, Alaska’s public employee turnover rate might be among the best.”  

Even though bringing back pensions for state employees could end in economic disaster for Alaska, sources say there are currently enough votes in the Democrat controlled Legislature to pass the legislation. 

Gov. Michael Dunleavy is expected to veto it, but public employee union bosses are a powerful bunch in Juneau and will pressure uncooperative legislators to join in on an override veto vote.      

Dan Fagan hosts a morning drive radio talk show weekdays on KVNT found at 1020AM 92.5FM and 104.5FM. The broadcast is also streamed on 1020KVNT.com.

House Democrats introduce a pension plan for government workers, and it has lots of moving parts
House Finance hears pros and cons of returning state workers to an expensive defined pension plan
Rep. McCabe: What’s the fuss about defined benefits and defined contributions? Here’s what you need to know

Speaker Johnson sides with Trump, says Zelenskyy must come to the table for peace

Suzanne Downing
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Speaker Johnson sides with Trump, says Zelenskyy must come to the table for peace

On NBC’s Meet the Press show on Sunday, US House Speaker Mike Johnson said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy needs come back to the bargaining table or face his possible replacement.

Zelenskyy “needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude or someone else needs to lead the country to do that. It’s up to the Ukrainians to figure that out,” Johnson said, commenting on the meeting that the Ukrainian president had with President Donald Trump and Vic e President JD Vance, which was broadcast to the world on Friday. The meeting ended on a heated note, and Zelenskyy was shown the door to the White House and told to leave and not come back until he was ready to talk peace.

“I’ve attended many bilateral meetings with heads of state and dignitaries, but I’ve never seen anything like President Zelenskyy’s behavior in the Oval Office.  He berated and interrupted his hosts. He should apologize and accept the mineral rights deal,” Johnson said.

Pollster Frank Luntz said on Saturday it appears the majority of Americans agree that Zelenskyy was wrong.

“I can tell you, we are reverting to peace through strength. President Trump has brought back strength to the White House,” Speaker Johnson said. “We knew that this moment would come, we worked hard for it to come, and now it’s here. But we need these parties to go along with this, and we need President Zelenskyy to do what is necessary. This war has drug on far too long. He’s lost hundreds of thousands of people, including women and children. We’ve got to bring an end to it, and I think our European allies are hoping that’s the case and we are as well.”

On Sunday, the Prime Minister of Great Britain said European countries will increase their military support for Ukraine. To date, the United States has been the primary funder of the Ukraine side of the war, with Congress appropriating over $183 billion for the Ukrainians. The European countries have chipped in millions.

“We are at a crossroads in history,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain said. ““One thing our history tells us is that if there is conflict in Europe, it will wash up on our shores.”

His comments came after Starmer and Zelenskyy met at 10 Downing Street in London on Saturday, following Zelenskyy’s disastrous meeting at the White House Friday.

Trump is likely to speak more about the war in Ukraine and his administration’s position on it during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday before a joint session of Congress.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she was sick to her stomach over President Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict. Read her point of view in this story:

Murkowski wades into war, takes Zelenskyy’s side against Trump
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