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David Boyle: Bye-bye, PFD. The schools ‘need’ them

By DAVID BOYLE

The Anchorage School District is working with Anchorage State Sen. Loki Tobin to steal your Permanent Fund dividend and give it to the school districts.

Sen. Tobin is supporting legislation to increase the Base Student Allocation by an astounding $1,963.  She says that’s to inflation proof the BSA since FY2011 and the schools need that increased funding to maintain their current excellence.  

Actually, Alaska’s public schools are losing thousands of students to homeschool parents who seek better education options for their children. The districts must compensate for this loss of students by increasing the per student state funding for the remaining students.

Legislative Finance calculates that for every $100 increase in the BSA, there is a $25.7 million increase in state funding.

That would increase state funding to K12 schools by more than $504,491,000. And that increase would continue year after year through the state’s funding formula. This would not be a one-time cost. 

In terms of last year’s dividend payout, that would be 359,000 PFDs.

But that’s not all. The Anchorage School District also wants the state to increase transportation funding due to its increased costs. Remember, the district increased its costs with a huge pay increase for bus drivers. 

The district wants to increase the current $481 per pupil funding by $324, which would be $805 per student. That would be more than $34 million in state funding for the Anchorage School District. 

Note that the ASD does not transport all its 42,431 students. It doesn’t provide transportation to any of its charter students, although it receives state funding for them.  

Approximately 15,000 students are transported by ASD. With the new funding of $805 per student, the district would receive more than $2,000 per transported student.

If the state’s transportation funding is increased to $805 per student, the total cost would be $102,984,455, using student numbers for 2023-24.  

That’s another 73,950 PFDs, based on the payout of $1,404.  

So, the BSA increase and the transportation increase would take the PFDs of 432,950 Alaskans.

It gets even more confusing. In the last legislative session Sen. Tobin sponsored SB52. which listed a BSA increase of only $1,000 for school year 2023-24.

In February, 2024 the Anchorage School District said it could get by with an increase of $110 in the BSA.

And the Alaska Association of School Boards said the BSA needed to be increased by $860 for school year 2023-24.

On Dec. 17, the Anchorage School Board passed a joint resolution stating the need for increased state funding.

The district hopes to get the Assembly to also support the joint resolution with a vote at its Jan. 7 meeting.  

What do you think?  Should the K-12 education industry take thousands of PFDs to pay for a mediocre system with no accountability for results?  

You can get your “3 minutes of freedom” at the next Assembly meeting, Jan. 7.

David Boyle is the education writer for Must Read Alaska.

Nick Begich III rolls out three bills for Alaska Natives as soon as he is sworn into Congress

Congressman Nick Begich III introduced three crucial Alaska-focused bills in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, immediately after being sworn in.

“Alaska deserves quick, decisive action,” said Congressman Begich. “By introducing these bills on my first day, I want Alaskans to know that my team and I are hitting the ground running to advocate for our state’s future—starting right now.”

The bills are:

  1. Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act (H.R. 2687 in the 118th)
    • The bill excludes settlement trust benefits for certain Alaska Natives—those who are blind, disabled, or age 65 and older—from being considered income when determining eligibility for means-tested federal benefits such as SSI, SNAP, and housing assistance. This is a bill similar to one that was introduced but never passed by former Rep. Mary Peltola.
    • It closes a longstanding gap in Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act provisions, so that elders and individuals with disabilities are not forced to choose between a settlement trust income and critical federal assistance.
    • Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act (H.R. 4748 in the 118th).
    • Also known as the “Landless Bill, it amends ANCSA to allow Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell — historically excluded Native communities — to form urban corporations and select 23,040 acres each from the Tongass National Forest. The bill restores land entitlements for these unrecognized communities while preserving existing rights-of-way, ensuring meaningful economic and cultural opportunities for Alaskans.
    • Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act (H.R. 6489 in the 118th)
    • The bill eliminates the requirement under ANCSA Section 14(c)(3) that Alaska Native Village Corporations convey land to the State to be held in trust for future municipalities. Instead, it returns undeveloped land to the original village corporations and empowers Alaska Native communities to develop and use their lands for housing, community expansion, and other economic ventures, alleviating decades of land-title uncertainties and unlocking long-term development potential.

Biden to award Medal of Freedom to George Soros, Hillary Clinton, David Rubenstein

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President Joe Biden will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 people on Saturday. It is the nation’s highest civilian honor, “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”

Among them are billionaire George Soros, whose vast wealth has been directed at creating a socialist system in America and electing Democrats, particularly Democrat prosecutors who allowed criminals to escape justice. He is the source of much of the dark money that flows through networks like the Arabella Advisors, which directs the money to causes and candidates that are unAmerican.

In 2024, for example, a nonprofit founded and funded by Soros donated $60 million to Democracy PAC, which then spread it between U.S. House and Senate campaigns and groups like Planned Parenthood.

In 2022, he gave $175 million to Democrat candidates, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

Soros also has contributed large amounts directly to campaigns of Alaska Democrats, as have his family members. The Alaska Center (for the Environment) and its political arm have been on the receiving end of Soros money multiple times, and the center’s political arm supports Democrats exclusively.

Soros made his billions by by massively shorting the British pound, leading to more than $1 billion in profits for him and weakening the United Kingdom’s central bank.

Also on the list is Hillary Clinton, one of the most notorious Democrats in modern times.

“Secretary Clinton made history many times over decades in public service, including as the first First Lady elected to the United States Senate. After serving as Secretary of State, she became the first woman nominated for president by a major United States political party.”

She also lied about what happened in 2012 in Benghazi, Libya, when she was Secretary of State for President Barack Obama, and was at the center of the coverup about that attack on the U.S. Special Mission that resulted in the death of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and U.S. citizens. During her congressional testimony, she famously blurted out, “What difference does it make???”

Clinton has been at the center of other unsolved mysteries such as Vince Foster’s death and the removal of boxes relating to the Whitewater and Travelgate scandals.

David Rubenstein will be honored. The co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group, he built one of the most successful global investment firms in history.

“He is renowned for his philanthropy and generous support for the restoration of historic landmarks and the country’s cultural institutions,” the White House said.

Rubenstein was in the Carter Administration, and then made his early fortune selling net operating losses for Alaska Native corporations. It was a tax loophole he exploited in Alaska that helped him create the basis for the wealth he now uses to support woke causes. His wife, Alice Rogoff, bought the Anchorage Daily News and ran it into bankruptcy, and his daughter was appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to the board of trustees for the Alaska Permanent Fund, resigning in 2024, when she came under scrutiny for meddling in the day-to-day decision making of the fund.

The others on the Biden list of medal recipients include:

José Andrés, a Spanish-American chef who popularized tapas in the United States. His World Central Kitchen provides large-scale relief to communities affected by natural disasters and conflict around the world.

Bono, frontman for rock band U2 and a pioneering activist against AIDS and poverty. He brought together politicians from opposing parties to create the United States PEPFAR AIDS program.

Ash Carter, who served as the 25th Secretary of Defense and devoted his career to making the nation safer for all. Throughout his career, he served under 11 Secretaries of Defense in both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Michael J. Fox, an actor who has won five Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. He is an advocate for Parkinson’s disease research and development.

Tim Gill, who works on LGBTQI rights and equality.

Dr. Jane Goodall, an ethologist and conservationist whose research focused on primates and human evolution.

Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer, who founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a retired basketball player who led the Los Angeles Lakers to five championships. Off the court, he is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who supports underserved communities through his Magic Johnson Foundation.

Robert Francis Kennedy will receive a posthumous award. He was “an Attorney General who fiercely combatted racial segregation, and as a United States Senator who sought to address poverty and inequality in the country.”

Ralph Lauren, a fashion designer.

Lionel Messi, is the most decorated player in the history of professional soccer.

Bill Nye, known as “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

George Romney, the 43rd Governor of Michigan and the 3rd Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

George Stevens, Jr., an award-winning writer, director, author, and playwright.

Denzel Washington, an actor.

Anna Wintour, fashion designer.

Begich announces more staff, opens office in D.C.

Today, Congressman Nick Begich announced the launch of his official Congressional Office in the Capitol.

Congressman Begich Appointments for the 119th Congress include:

  • Michael G. Horanburg, Chief of Staff
  • Kevin Swanson, Deputy Chief of Staff/Legislative Director
  • Bre Klayum, Director of Operations  
  • Silver J. Prout, Director of Communications/Alaska Fish Liaison 
  • JC Garrett, Senior Advisor
  • Joshua Walton, Legislative Assistant
  • Ashley Smith, Legislative Correspondent
  • Jackson Williams, Staff Assistant

Additionally, Congressman Begich’s team in Alaska includes:

  • Rick Whitbeck, State Director
  • Portia Babcock Samuels, Anchorage Regional Director
  • Leslie Hajdukovich, Fairbanks Regional Director

“As we begin the 119th Congress, I could not be more proud to work alongside a team of dedicated individuals who are committed to serving the great state of Alaska. We are a team that is focused and ready to tackle issues that matter most to Alaskans – unleashing Alaska’s vast natural resources, building infrastructure that fosters growth, and championing policies that put Alaskans and Americans First”, said Begich. 

Begich’s congressional office is located in Cannon House Office Building, Room 153.

Democrats devolve into mayhem in U.S. House trying to block Speaker election, but they fail

House Democrats trying to force the House to allow non-voting members from the various U.S. territories to cast ballots on the election of the House Speaker, became unruly on Friday, interrupting the proceedings by standing and yelling, when they were told no by the acting House clerk.

If they had been allowed to vote, against the rules of the body, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries would have been elected House Speaker. The yelling went on for a half-minute and the clerk of the House banged his gavel to attempt to restore order.

After they finally settled down, the voting continued, with Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, not getting the votes needed on the first round to remain as the Speaker of the House. Johnson was able to get the required 218 votes on the second round of voting, however.

Congressman Nick Begich III voted for Johnson for speaker, and Johnson has the support of President Donald Trump. It is likely that if Rep. Mary Peltola had been elected to represent Alaska, the vote for Johnson would have fallen one vote short, at 217; Peltola had voted 18 times in 2022 for Rep. Jeffries to be speaker. She would have voted for Jeffries again this time, at a time when Republicans have a very narrow majority.

Surgeon General issues cancer warning on alcohol consumption

The U.S. Surgeon General on Friday issued an advisory and recommended new advisory warnings on alcohol.

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s warning said there’s a direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk, and that alcohol use is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity. It’s a preventable cause for seven types of cancer.

“Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States – greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. – yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” Murthy said. “This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”

The recommendation can be read below:

Suspect in New Orleans terror attack had been stationed in Anchorage during Army service

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man who rammed his truck through a crowd in New Orleans on New Year’s morning, killing 15, had been stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage when he was in the U.S. Army. He also served in Afghanistan as an IT specialist in 2009 and 2010, about the era he was stationed in Alaska.

Jabbar, 42, according to the FBI, had been radicalized by the Islamic State — ISIS. His rented truck was flying a black ISIS flag.

Jabbar had also been stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina during his years of service. At the time of his death, he lived in a mobile home in a largely Muslim community on the outskirts of Houston, Texas.

Must Read Alaska will be updating this story as it develops.

FBI releases new footage Jan. 6, 2021’s Washington, D.C. bomber

The FBI Washington Field Office on Thursday released film footage and more information about the suspect who placed pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021.

The FBI posted on its Seeking Information webpage previously unreleased video of the suspect placing one of the bombs near the DNC and announced that it estimates the suspect to be approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall.

“Four years into the investigation, identifying the perpetrator of this attempted attack remains a priority for WFO; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Washington Field Division; the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD); and the U.S. Capitol Police Department (USCP),” the FBI said in a statement.

But questions are being asked about why the FBI issued this additional information just days before the 2024 presidential election is to be certified by a joint session of Congress. More questions are being asked about why the FBI has held onto this footage for so long. Every year since the bombing, the FBI has put out a call for information and announced its bounty, but has not released this particular footage.

The suspect placed pipe bombs in a Capitol Hill neighborhood near the RNC, located at 310 First St. SE, and the DNC, which is at 430 South Capitol St. SE, #3, on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, between approximately 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., “the night before the riots at the U.S. Capitol,” the FBI said.

“Although these bombs did not detonate, the suspect walked along residential and commercial areas in Capitol Hill just blocks from the U.S. Capitol with viable pipe bombs that could have seriously injured or killed innocent bystanders,” the statement said.

“Over the past four years, a dedicated team of FBI agents, analysts, data scientists, and law enforcement partners has visited more than 1,200 residences and businesses, conducted more than 1,000 interviews, reviewed approximately 39,000 video files, and assessed more than 600 tips about who may have placed pipe bombs on Capitol Hill in January 2021,” said David Sundberg, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office.

“The tips the FBI has received so far have helped us advance the investigation, but they have not led us to identify the suspect. Today, we are releasing additional information about the suspect—including that we estimate the person to be approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall—to encourage the public to take a fresh look at the Seeking Information webpage and contact the FBI if they recognize or have information about the suspect,” Sundberg said.

The website includes a new video with updated maps of the route the suspect walked the night the bombs were placed; previously unreleased footage of the suspect placing one of the bombs near the DNC; and closeup images of the distinctive Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes the suspect wore.

“We urge anyone who may have previously hesitated to come forward, or who may not have realized they had important information, to contact the FBI. A reward of up to $500,000 is available for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for this dangerous attempt to harm our community,” Sundberg said.

David Blackmon: 10 things Trump can do in the first 100 days for energy independence

By DAVID BLACKMON | DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION

President-elect Donald Trump has a big job ahead of him in restoring common sense and sanity to federal energy policy when he takes office on January 20. The last four years in this realm can more accurately be characterized as a series of ill-considered, irrational scams than as any sort of coherent, productive set of policies. It has been four years of bad policies — largely based on crass crony capitalism principles — that has done severe damage to America’s level of energy security.

There is no doubt that cleaning up this mess left behind by President Joe Biden and his appointees will take the full four years of Trump’s second term. But the new president will be able to take some fast actions to jump-start the process as part of his first 100 days agenda.

With respect, here is a list of 10 quick common-sense actions Trump can take to begin to restore America’s energy security:

1 — Rescind Biden’s ridiculous permitting “pause” on LNG export infrastructure. Of all the Biden energy policy scams, this was perhaps the most heinous and unjustified of all. Terminate it immediately and get this American growth industry back on track.

2 — Terminate U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement and in any future annual COP conferences sponsored by the United Nations. Halt the spending of federal dollars related to any and all goals and commitments related to either of these wasteful processes.

3 — Terminate the office of Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, aka “the Climate Envoy,” currently occupied by John Podesta and eliminate its budget.

4 — Turnabout being fair play, Trump should invoke a “pause” of his own related to permits and subsidies going to Biden’s pet offshore wind boondoggle. The pause would be justified by the need to conduct a truly thorough study on the potential impacts of those massive developments on marine mammals, seabirds, and the commercial fishing industry. Invoke the “precautionary principle” that has been ignored by Biden regulators related to these costly and possibly deadly projects.

5 — Order the Interior Department to immediately and aggressively restart the moribund oil-and-gas leasing program on federal lands and waters. Direct the Interior Department Inspector General to investigate the Biden-era manipulations of these programs for potential criminal violations.

6 — Form an interagency task force to recommend ways the executive branch of government can act to streamline permitting processes for energy projects that do not require congressional action. Congress has proven several times now that it is incapable of passing legislation in this arena.

7 — Place an immediate hold on all green energy subsidies pending a full compliance review. This should include any and all subsidy programs that were part of the IRA or the 2021 Infrastructure law. This review should also include suggested reforms to qualification requirements for these subsidy programs in light of the high percentage of bankruptcy filings by unsustainable companies that have benefited from these subsidies.

8 — In light of the Supreme Court’s recent recission of the Chevron Deference, order the Environmental Protection Agency to review the rationale for regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide, aka “plant food,” as a pollutant under the provisions of the Clean Air Act.

9 — Order an interagency review of the U.S. power grid and transmission infrastructure as they relate to national security concerns. Include a special focus on the current, growing trend of major tech firms locking up power generation assets for their own specific needs (AI, data centers, etc.) which might deny generation capacity that would otherwise be dedicated to the public grid.

10 — In light of recent reports of Biden regulators steering billions of dollars of IRA and other green energy funds to NGOs to provide funding for anti-fossil fuel propaganda, lawfare, and other abuses of the legal system, order an immediate freeze on all such spending pending a formal review.

In reality, this list could consist of hundreds of high priority items for the new administration to undertake. Such is the level of damage that has been wrought on American energy security by the outgoing administration.

But executing these ten items in the early days of his second term would represent a good start and place the country on a path to recovery. We wish Trump and his appointees the best of luck in restoring U.S. energy security.

David Blackmon is an energy writer and consultant based in Texas. He spent 40 years in the oil and gas business, where he specialized in public policy and communications.