Most registered voters, 59%, support a federal ban on transgender procedures such as puberty blockers and gender reassignment surgeries for minors, a new national poll found.
According to the poll, although both sexes favored a federal ban on transgender procedures for minors, men were more likely to favor it, with 63% in favor compared to 56% for women.
Among the ethnicities polled, “others” favored a ban the most at 63% compared to 61% for whites. Of black registered voters polled, 46% favored a ban, while 32% were opposed and 22% were not sure.
Among age demographics, the categories most in favor of a federal ban were 45-54 and 54-65, both of which polled at 61%, while 18-34 were the least in favor, albeit still at a 52% majority of them still supporting banning the procedures for minors.
Although voters with and without college degrees both favored a federal ban by more than 50%, those without degrees favored it more at 61%, while 55% of voters with a college degree supported a ban.
Voters with children supported a ban more than those without, at 61% to 52% respectively.
Geographically, rural voters favored a ban more than suburban or urban voters, at 64% compared to 57% and 58% respectively.
Regionally, the Northeast was least supportive of a federal ban, with 51% in favor. The South was the most supportive at 61%, while the Midwest favored it at 60%. Voters in the West favored a ban by 59%.
Transgender procedures on minors are now banned in 25 states, including states such as Ohio which, according to data from the nonprofit Do No Harm, was one of the top in the nation for procedures and procedures per capita. According to Do No Harm’s data, released last week, at least 13,994 transgender procedures were performed on minors across the U.S. between 2019-2023, The Center Square reported.
Do No Harm is a nonprofit group of physicians and other medical professionals that gets its name from the Hippocratic oath: “First, do no harm.” According to its website, Do No Harm is “fighting to curtail the unscientific and individually harmful practice of so-called ‘gender affirming care'” for children.
In an email to The Center Square, David Byler with Noble Predictive Insights, wrote that “on many issues surrounding trans rights and students or youth, the GOP has public opinion on their side. There’s a reason that, when you look at GOP ads, they are constantly hammering this and other related issues. And some prominent Democrats are pushing out moderate, rather than left, messages.”
He added that “Republicans know that trans issues are a strong social issue for them – and after getting hit hard on abortion so many times since Dobbs, they want to make sure they’re pushing back and finding social issues that work for them.”
Chair Lina Khan of the Federal Trade Commission is the subject of an inquiry by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, after she appeared at Democrat candidate campaign events in recent days.
Khan’s agency has taken a stance against the merger of Kroger-Albertsons, which impacts Fred Meyer and Carrs/Safeway stores in Alaska. Khan’s agency sued to block the proposed supermarket merger, alleging that the deal is anticompetitive, when, in fact, the two stores are trying to stay competitive in a market that has been dramatically changed by the world’s three largest retailers, Walmart, Amazon and Costco. Kroger is the fourth largest retailer in the world, but the FTC wants to keep it out of the top three. The merger agreement specifies that Alaska stores belonging to the companies will be sold, including all 11 Carrs locations in Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, and Wasilla.
Rep. Mary Peltola has pressed Khan to block the merger, which is opposed by her labor union supporters. In December, Khan met with Peltola, who told her not to allow the merger to go through, even though the Alaska stores would be sold off.
Now, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer has been investigating politicization of the FTC under Khan’s leadership.
In a letter to Chair Khan, Chairman Comer requested documents and communications about Khan’s partisan election activities and whether her standing alongside Democrat candidates, even while she is as the head of an independent, bipartisan federal commission, is a violation of the law.
Last week, Khan crisscrossed the country, appearing at campaign rallies and events with democratic-socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Democrats Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, and Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona. Gallego is running for Senate.
“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is continuing to investigate the politicization of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under your leadership. During this election season, you have engaged in partisan political activities with numerous Democrat congressional candidates, undermining the FTC’s independence and its mission to protect American consumers regardless of partisan affiliation,” wrote Congressman Comer. “Such activities further diminish the FTC’s reputation under your leadership and raise serious questions concerning whether you have complied with legal and ethical standards.”
Comer’s letter is the latest in the Oversight Committee’s investigation into the politicization of the FTC under Khan. Since June 2023, the Oversight Committee has requested documents and communications from the FTC to understand concerns related to abuses of power, collusion with foreign officials and other improper conduct in the merger review process, and other matters.
“During your tenure as Chair, you have consistently demonstrated your disregard for ethical norms and willingness to serve as a political tool of the Biden-Harris Administration. As FTC Chair, you should be working to protect the American consumer instead of abusing taxpayer time and resources as an advocate for the Biden-Harris Administration and a campaign prop for Democrat congressional candidates,” Comer wrote.
On Oct. 10, the Chugiak Eagle River Chamber of Commerce held a State Senate Candidate Forum during lunch.
I couldn’t attend due to another engagement, but I did have the opportunity to watch several recorded videos.
In listening to the closing statements, I heard incumbent State Sen. Kelly Merrick, somewhat boldly state “I have an extremely conservative record”… “I challenge you please go look at my record.”
Challenge accepted.
Merrick was the Eagle River State House representative for two sessions from 2018 through to 2022. She shifted to the State Senate in 2022 and because of state reapportionment she only received a two-year term and is now running for that seat in Senate District L.
Merrick has raised over a combined approximate total of $391,000 in campaign cash for her entire incumbency. When examining her current Alaska Public Office Commission report, she received about $11,500 from supporters in Eagle River and Chugiak, but many of these local donors are either directly tied to Big Labor or are the beneficiaries of Big Labor.
Over 6% of her campaign donations are out of state from Big Labor and its affiliates. The majority balance of her 2024 campaign to date totaling over $131,000 comes from Big Labor and its affiliates.
A clear example of Kelly Merrick’s connection to Big Labor can be seen in her campaign’s use of paid union members to knock on doors and wave signs under collective bargaining agreements. This tactic creates a pretense of grassroots support while masking the reality that union influence is driving these efforts. What appears to be a conservative, community-led movement is orchestrated by labor groups, which some view as an exploitative strategy, undermining the authenticity of conservative campaigning.
This raises the question of who really would support her in her senate district if Big Labor did not participate?
Can Kelly Merrick, a sitting Alaska state senator, who claims to “have an extremely conservative record” and is campaigning in one of Alaska’s most conservative districts truly maintain that claim, especially when the majority of her campaign donations comes from Big Labor?
This raises questions about the consistency between her voting history and traditional conservative principles, which typically advocate for limited government, individual liberties, and less involvement in labor union-backed initiatives.
How does such support from typically non-conservative donors influence her stance on key issues?
Common sense tells me the undeniable truth that this is a recipe for influence, power and control.
Any politician backed by labor unions will support legislation that aligns with union interests, such as promoting higher wages, collective bargaining rights, protections for workers, and expanding the costs of government. These priorities often clash with traditional conservative positions that favor deregulation, smaller government, fiscal discipline, and less intervention in the labor market.
Moreover, campaign contributions from unions and their affiliates lead to a more moderate or even left-leaning voting record, particularly on economic policies and labor issues. This includes opposition to right-to-work laws, support for union-backed ballot measures, or votes against budget cuts to public sector jobs, which conservatives support to reduce government spending.
Lastly, receiving significant donations from Big Labor pushes a politician to form alliances with Democratic or more centrist legislators, especially with budgetary and economic policies. This often results in bipartisan coalitions that dilute conservative influence in the legislative process.
In discussing Item 1, Merrick’s alignment with labor unions is evident in several actions and legislative decisions that reflect union interests, particularly in promoting worker protections, higher wages, and public-sector support.
Merrick supports the 2024 Ballot Measure 1. Ballot Measure 1 will raise the state’s minimum wage over the next few years as well as require small employers to provide sick leave to employees. It prohibits employers from making their employees attend meetings about any perceived religious or political issues. Unions may also be exempt from this last requirement as it could impact collective bargaining.
As chair of the Senate Revenue Committee, a Finance Committee subcommittee, Finance Committee member and Labor & Commerce Committee member, Merrick has been involved in budget negotiations which continue to increase the size of the state bureaucracy. The state budget has grown, and Merrick has participated in that growth since her election to the House in 2018.
Alaska’s public sector has a strong union presence, and these wage increases align with union goals of protecting and expanding worker pay. Conservatives, on the other hand, often argue for reducing government spending and limiting wage increases to address budget shortfalls.
Merrick’s decision to join a Democrat dominated coalition in the Alaska State Senate, which included Democrats and moderate Republicans, was supported by unions. This coalition supported a Leftist agenda that included protecting public sector jobs and government programs. Such coalition-building contrasts with conservative calls for smaller government and deregulation.
Her actions demonstrate a pattern where Merrick’s legislative priorities have aligned with union interests, which diverge from traditional conservative values of reducing government size, cutting spending, and favoring free-market solutions over regulation.
In discussing item 2, while conservatives often advocate for smaller government and budget cuts, Merrick has opposed cuts that reduces the state bureaucracy, particularly those related to education and state services. These positions align with union.
This is also demonstrated in her continual obstruction of full Alaska Permanent Dividend annual payments to Alaskans. She has also voted against any legislative efforts to pay eligible Alaskans the outstanding balance owed since her election in 2018.
Merrick supports maintaining Alaska’s controversial ranked-choice voting system, a position unpopular with many conservatives who see it as a confusing and undemocratic method. This aligns her with left-leaning groups that favor ranked-choice voting.
Merrick has been criticized for not supporting stronger restrictions on abortion in Alaska. While she may not have voted for expansive abortion rights, her failure to advocate for stricter regulations has disappointed pro-life groups who expect more conservative leadership on the issue.
Merrick’s consistent support for increasing public education funding highlights a clear departure from traditional fiscal conservatism. Her vote to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a Democrat-backed education bill further emphasizes her alignment with Left-leaning priorities. Crucially, her backing of this funding increase came with no provisions for accountability, despite Alaska’s persistently poor educational outcomes.
Instead of advocating for conservative solutions like school choice or voucher programs, which promote parental control and fiscal responsibility, Merrick has favored union-driven policies that focus on spending more without reforming the failing system. Her voting record reflects a pattern of siding with labor interests over conservative principles, prioritizing more government spending at the expense of meaningful educational reforms.
Merrick supported the reinstatement of defined benefit pensions for state employees, seen by conservatives as a bureaucracy-expansion move that increases long-term unfunded liabilities. With Alaska’s unfunded pension liabilities in the billions already such a move would not only produce increased long term unfunded liabilities but impact all participating local governments and school districts with potential non-ending retirement costs.
Merrick’s support for expanding Medicaid coverage to postpartum mothers, though presented as a benefit for low-income families, is seen by some conservatives as growing government dependency and increasing Alaska’s budget strain. More critically, it is viewed by some as a veiled way to maintain state-sponsored abortions, indirectly supporting policies at odds with pro-life values. Rather than advocating for reduced government intervention, Merrick’s backing of this expansion aligns her with Leftist priorities, distancing her from conservative fiscal principles focused on cutting government spending and limiting entitlements.
Throughout her tenure, Merrick has been involved in budgets that have contributed to government expansion rather than efforts to cut spending and reduce Alaska’s deficit. This is particularly a point of contention among fiscal conservatives who prioritize reducing the size of the state government
In discussing item 3, one of the most significant actions Merrick took was joining a Democrat coalition in the Alaska State Senate. While in the State House, she also aligned with a left-leaning coalition. These moves helped shift control of the House and the Senate away from a Republican-led majority and gave more power to Democrats and moderates. By doing this, in the Senate, Merrick marginalized conservatives such as Senators Mike Shower, Robb Myers and Shelley Hughes, who have been vocal about their disapproval of her decision to collaborate with Democrats
As part of the Democrat coalition, Merrick has accepted roles in key committees, including the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the state budget. This coalition-based approach deliberately dilutes conservative influence, as the power is shared with Democratic legislators who have different priorities, particularly on issues like government spending, taxes, and social programs.
Merrick has voted with Democrats on several key issues, such resisting Permanent Fund dividend restoration at higher levels, increasing education funding, and endorsing union-backed measures like Ballot Measure 1, which many conservatives view as harmful to small businesses. Her deliberate resistance against the full PFD was especially egregious during Covid.
Merrick has also received endorsements and campaign support from groups traditionally aligned with Democrats, such as the AFL-CIO and the NEA. These endorsements signal that she is seen as a crossover candidate by some on the left, further fueling conservative frustration.
Merrick’s defenders argue that her coalition-building with Democrats is a pragmatic approach to governance, especially in a state with a diverse political landscape. She claims that such alliances allow for more effective policymaking on issues like infrastructure and the state budget. However, many conservatives see this pragmatism as a betrayal of core conservative values as well as an excuse to grow more government in a time when the size of the state bureaucracy should be reduced.
In my opinion, her record shows that she doesn’t have “an extremely conservative record. Indeed, her statement at the Chugiak Eagle River Chamber Lunch was more than an embellishment, it was a prevarication designed to deceive Chugiak-Eagle River voters.
Michael Tavoliero resides in Eagle River and writes for Must Read Alaska.
Twenty-five Republican governors, including Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, want to know how many illegal foreign nationals have been flown into their states by a Biden-Harris administration plan they argue is burdening their residents and creating an unsafe environment.
Those being flown in have arrived through more than a dozen parole programs created by U.S. Department of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The governors only inquired about one: the CHNV parole program, created to fast track previously inadmissible citizens of Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela moving into the country.
According to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, 530,000 CHNV parolees were released into the country in the past year, in addition to 813,000 foreign nationals processed into the country from all over the world through a CBP One app.
Attorneys general from multiple states sued to stop them, arguing they are illegal. The U.S. House impeached Mayorkas for them and other actions they argue created the border crisis.
The 1.3 million inadmissables released into the country are among nearly 14 million illegal border crossers reported since fiscal 2021, the greatest number under any administration in U.S. history.
In a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the 25 governors described how the CHNV parole program negatively impacted their communities and expressed bewilderment over no communication provided about their “arrival times, duration of residency, legal status, and location.”
The influx and lack of communication “has created considerable confusion and alarm among local officials and the general public. In the absence of direction from DHS, law enforcement and municipal leaders have often been left to rely upon news reports and social media posts to determine size and location of incoming migrant populations in order to assess what impact they may have on already limited government services including local public schools,” they said.
“The apparent dumping of migrants into our cities and small towns with no advance notice has not only sowed mistrust and fear among the public, but it has also placed the migrants themselves at potential of physical harm. After being met with understandable skepticism from the communities in which they are now living, migrants have become fearful to interact with the public. This isolation has created a ripe environment for their exploitation and abuse.”
The governors requested the information they said to best protect illegal foreign nationals who might be targeted for abuse by cartel operatives or are already victims of human smuggling and trafficking, and to protect their citizens.
“Without information about the migrants’ sponsors or the location and employment status of migrants, state and local law enforcement are extremely limited in their abilities to investigate potential exploitation of migrants and the possibility of their victimization from human trafficking,” they said.
“As chief executives of our states directly responsible for the safety of our citizens and those who reside within our borders,” they said, they are demanding “a full accounting from the Biden-Harris Administration and DHS.” They requested information about the location of each parolee in their state, the vetting process conducted for each parolee, the name and location for each sponsor granted guardianship of parolees, and the system in place to monitor them.
The request came after the DHS Office of Inspector General issued multiple reports detailing the administration’s repeated failure to vet them and inability to monitor them after their release. The OIG also expressed alarm that federal agencies were flying illegal foreign nationals on domestic flights who hadn’t been properly vetted and have no identification. It also came after U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, demanded answers about how many were being flown and housed in airports, raising concerns about terrorist threats.
An unknown number of illegal foreign nationals arriving in their states “potentially in need of state and local services” was done “without our consent, any advance notice or resources,” the governors said. “Accordingly, we request your administration furnish our states complete information about the location and status of migrants being directed to our communities.”
Those demanding answers include Govs. Kay Ivey (AL), Mike Dunleavy (AK), Sarah Sanders (AR), Ron DeSantis (FL), Brian Kemp (GA), Brad Little (ID), Eric Holcomb (IN), Kim Reynolds (IA), Jeff Landry (LA), Tate Reeves (MS), Mike Parson (MO), Greg Gianforte (MT), Jim Pillen (NE), Joe Lombardo (NV), Chris Sununu (NH), Doug Burgum (ND), Kevin Stitt (OK), Henry McMaster (SC), Kristi Noem (SD), Bill Lee (TN), Greg Abbott (TX), Spencer Cox (UT), Glenn Youngkin (VA), Jim Justice (WV), and Mark Gordon (WY).
Boeing will cut 10% of its workforce in coming weeks and had called a halt to its 767 freighter program. It announced the changes on Friday, as the company deals with a strike called last month by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
About 33,000 union members walked off the job in mid-September, after having rejected a four-year contract. The company says the union had made “unreasonable demands,” and this week filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the union of bad faith bargaining and using with a campaign of misinformation to sabotage negotiations, actions that have harmed the company and its workers.
Included in the job cuts are workers at every level, from executives to factory workers. CEO Kelly Ortberg said the layoffs will take place over the “coming months” and will be worldwide.
Boeing employs about 170,000 workers; about 150,000 of the workers are in the United States and the company supports 1.6 million direct and indirect jobs, and $79 billion in economic benefit to the country. It has major plants in Everett and Renton, Washington, in South Carolina and Missouri. Everett’s Boeing plant is the world’s largest manufacturing building.
The striking portion of the workforce equals more than 19% of the company’s employees that are refusing to work.
“We need to be clear-eyed about the work we face and realistic about the time it will take to achieve key milestones on the path to recovery. We also need to focus our resources on performing and innovating in the areas that are core to who we are, rather than spreading ourselves across too many efforts that can often result in underperformance and underinvestment,” the email said.
The strike has frozen production of Boeing 737 Max, which impacts Alaska Airlines more than any other customer. Alaska Airlines had been expecting to take delivery of 14 737 Maxes from September through December, 2024.
Boeing will finish deliver the 29 remaining 767 model freighters that customers have ordered, but then end that program in 2027. Those models are built in Everett, Wash. The 767 freighters are much favored by Amazon, UPS, and FedEx, which fly them through Anchorage frequently.
The company will, however, continue to produce the KC-46A tanker, also built in Everett.
Otberg’s email said there will also be a delivery delay of the 777X airplane until 2026. The 777X program, like the 737, is located in Everett.
Thursday’s Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce candidate forum was intended to be a chance for statewide legislative candidates to tell voters where they stand on issues and why they are the best candidates for the job.
The House candidates couldn’t make it, so it ended up being a forum for the Senate District L candidates, which is just as well, as that is the race to watch in Chugiak-Eagle River.
The panel included Democrat Lee Hammermeister, conservative Republican Jared Goecker, and registered Republican Kelly Merrick, who is the incumbent.
Hammermeister described himself as a moderate Democrat, but recent ads placed by Merrick and her allies accuse him of being a “fake Democrat” who has endorsed Rep. Jamie Allard of District 23.
It is particularly rich for someone who has abandoned her own party to accuse someone else of being a fake party member, but such is the political campaign logic. More about that at the end of this piece.
Goecker is running for elected office for the first time. In 2022, he ran a successful campaign to elect Republican Stanley Wright to the House in what is a purplish-blue district in Anchorage. His motivation to run for this Senate seat comes from a desire to reform and strengthen the criminal justice system following his brother’s murder last year at the hands of a career criminal, and because he feels the conservative Chugiak-Eagle River community deserves an equally conservative Senator to resolve the many issues in our state.
Merrick is the registered Republican who joined Democrats to give them control of the House of Representatives from 2021-2022, and then again in the Senate from 2023-2024. In February 2021, Republicans in her own district censured her for breaking her campaign promise not to caucus with the Democrats.
Yet, she was able to shrug off this controversy and win election to the Senate in 2022, defeating House colleague – and more conservative Republican – Ken McCarty, who was attempting to make the same move from to the Senate.
The incumbent’s reward for ditching her party of registration for a coalition led by left-leaning moderates – and outright leftists – has been leadership positions in prized committees, giving her power and seemingly emboldening her and her union backers. Merrick’s husband, Joey, is the Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for Laborer’s Local 341, a position that brings with it considerable sway with union members; and she is friends with Democrat Rep. Zack Fields, who also happens to be an organizer for Local 341 and a subordinate employee of Joey Merrick.
The national organization to which Local 341 belongs – the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA), – is unabashedly endorsing Kamala Harris for President, which isn’t surprising since it previously endorsed President Biden (despite his obvious cognitive decline) and Hillary Clinton for the same office.
LiUNA Local 341 hasn’t publicly endorsed a presidential candidate, and neither has Sen. Merrick. During Thursday’s forum in Eagle River, this writer asked the panelists if they were supporting their party’s national-level candidates for President and House of Representatives.
First to answer was “fake Democrat” Hammermeister, who further emboldened his fake status by endorsing Kamala Harris almost as enthusiastically as the LiUNA national office does. Lee didn’t comment on the Begich-Peltola House race.
Merrick answered next, saying she votes for Republicans but does not endorse other candidates, which is a somewhat strange position since one of her campaign mailers proudly announce the various labor unions that have endorsed her.
Last to answer was Goecker, who interpreted Merrick’s terse, noncommittal answer to mean the incumbent was not going to vote for Donald Trump. Goecker then went on to confidently announce that he was supporting Donald Trump over Kamala Harris for President, and Nick Begich to replace Mary Peltola in the House.
While Merrick and Goecker traded barbs, the forum was rather cordial and respectful. When given time to conclude their remarks, Merrick found it necessary to try and assert that she was not only a Republican but a conservative, and she challenged anyone to look at her voting record and see something different. Goecker noted that Merrick was part of an elected majority of Republican Senators but opted to side with Democrats and give power to the most liberal of legislators, such as Loki Tobin and Forrest Dunbar.
Goecker proudly announced he has received the endorsements of the state Republican Party and Governor Dunleavy, and pointed out that 70 percent of his campaign funds come from within his community, while Merrick can only claim that 12 percent of her donations come from the community. Goecker also assessed provided his assessment that Alaska is heading in the wrong direction on almost every front, while Merrick claimed that Alaska is overall in pretty good shape.
August’s jungle primary vote was very close, with Merrick edging out Goecker 33.1% to 33.8%, a numerical margin of 43 votes. Hammermeister garnered 14.2% of the vote, while conservative Republicans Ken McCarty and Sharon Jackson combined to win 18.8% of the vote.
Both McCarty and Jackson then endorsed Goecker, with McCarty dropping out of the race even though his fourth place finish qualified him to still be on the ballot. If the conservatives who voted for McCarty and Jackson turn out in November, it appears that Goecker has a very good chance of winning the seat.
What, then, of the Merrick accusations of fakery regarding Hammermeister’s status as a Democrat?
It could be some type of ranked-choice voting strategy for her. More likely, it’s a scheme to get the outnumbered but ideologically aligned Democrats in the District to vote for the “Republican who sides with Democrats,” instead of actually voting for the actual Democrat.
Tim Barto is a regular contributor to Must Read Alaska, and a 32 year resident of Eagle River. He is also Vice President of the faith-based policy advocacy organization, Alaska Family Council.
Alaska’s premier outdoor organization has voted to end, for now, its affiliation with the National Rifle Association. The Alaska Outdoor Council issued the statement on Saturday, saying differences over the NRA’s controversial endorsement of Rep. Mary Peltola was at the heart of the decision.
The Alaska Outdoor Council has endorsed Nick Begich.
The outdoor group will review its decision about being associated with the NRA at its next annual business meeting in 2025.
“On Oct 5th at the Alaska Outdoorsman Banquet in Anchorage AOC proudly announced its support for Nick Begich for U.S. Congress. The Board of Directors for AOC felt Nick Begich is the best candidate as his beliefs and platform are aligned with AOC Bylaws and Policies. NRA’s continued endorsement of candidate Mary Peltola for Congress is not in the AOC membership’s best interest,” the Alaska-based group announced on Saturday.
Many saw the endorsement of Peltola as a purely political chess move by the NRA, which has been embattled by various organizational controversies. The NRA was trying to look like it is bipartisan and could not find any other Democrat in the country to endorse, thus settled on Peltola as its choice for Alaska.
Alaska members of the NRA contacted Must Read Alaska and said they were withdrawing their membership from that organization and joining Gun Owners of America, a group that is seen as stronger on the Second Amendment.
Alaska Outdoor Council is a federation of 50 member clubs with the common interest of access Alaska’s natural resources through hunting, fishing, trapping, public access, or just enjoying a day out in the wilderness. Organizations belonging to the Alaska Outdoor Council stretch from Southeast Alaska to Fairbanks.
The Anchorage Assembly and Mayor Suzanne LaFrance this week awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to Catholic Social Services to run the 200-cot mass homeless shelter on 56th Ave., situated in a building that once housed the some of the city’s Solid Waste Services functions. Mass shelter was moved to that location after former Mayor Dave Bronson returned the Sullivan Arena to its intended use as an event venue.
Henning, which had the contract to run the mass shelter, fell out of favor after some out-of-context text messages between Henning personnel and Bronson’s homeless coordinator were leaked to the Assembly and were seen as inappropriate, putting yet another knife into the effort by former Mayor Dave Bronson to reduce homelessness across the city. Henning did not submit a new bid for this year after the Assembly took a harsh stance toward it and members said it should not get another award.
As of Sunday, Oct. 12, the contract for that “low-barrier” shelter, where some of the most dangerous and difficult of the homeless can stay, will switch to the new management of Catholic Social Services, which already runs another low-barrier shelter, Brother Francis, as well as a network of safety-net programs, including a food pantry, refugee resettlement and assistance, Clare House shelter for women and children, and a homeless navigation center, where people can get referrals for various services.
Nighttime temperatures in Anchorage have dropped into the 30s, and next week will be in the low 20s, and the winter weather will only get colder, posing grave danger to those who are living in the rough.
The 56th Ave. shelter award is worth around $3.6 million for Catholic Social Service, which will have the contract through winter until April. That pencils out to about $18,000 per homeless person sleeping there this winter, rather than being in a tent or otherwise exposed to the elements in parks, greenbelts, on sidewalks and in doorways of Anchorage businesses. The people staying in the low-barrier shelters are not screened for drug and alcohol use or criminal background; many of them do poorly with structured situations and rules.
Henning was started after the March 2019 death of 25-year-old Shannon Henning, who died after being struck by a vehicle while she was trying to cross Third Ave. in Anchorage. Henning was chronically homeless and suffered from mental health problems and substance abuse. Henning Inc. was founded by Shawn Hays in 2020 to tackle chronic homelessness.
But because Henning had the support of former Mayor Bronson, the Assembly took an oppositional stance, and when the text messages between the city official and a Henning employee were leaked to the Assembly, some were horrified that staff were apparently joking about using cigarettes or bus passes to incentivize homeless clients to go vote. Assemblyman Daniel Volland expressed his opinion that Henning should never again be awarded a contract.
In addition, Henning upset the existing regime of the homeless industrial complex. The Anchorage Coalition to End Homeless is run by Anchorage Assembly Vice Chair Meg Zaletel and that consortium already has its planetary system of nonprofits that work in the homelessness field. Henning was a newcomer and had cut into the business and grant-based income of the existing nonprofits competing for government contracts. It was largely shunned by the coalition as a usurper.
Henning still runs the supportive housing shelter at the former Golden Lion hotel on 36th Ave. That contract last year passed on a 10-1 vote, with Assemblywoman Zaletel the only “no” vote.
If Henning faced local political storms, Catholic Charities has troubles that stretch all the way to Congress. Catholic Charities USA and its partners and subsidiary groups receive tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer dollars and use some of it to assist illegal immigrants get from the border to cities and towns across the country.
In Texas, that has been controversial. Catholic Charities of San Antonio was accused by lawmakers of using FEMA funds to transport illegals via commercial air carriers, while Catholic Charities argues that it’s within FEMA’s rules associated with the federal agency’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
“Accusations that the Church is betraying the United States, violating its tax-exempt status, or seeking new members through its ministries serving newcomers are nothing new,” says a statement from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Anti-Catholic bias, political motivations, and misinformation have long undergirded these claims. Assisting newcomers, however, is one of the corporal works of mercy and integral to Catholic identity.”
In today’s political climate, social security often comes to the forefront of our political discussions and candidates are highly scrutinized for their positions on this all-important program. Rightfully so.
Alaska seniors have a reason to be concerned about social security. The latest estimates from the Social Security Administration and the Congressional Budget Office show that without improvements, the program will be unable to meet its promised obligations within 10-15 years. Elected officials must understand that protecting social security and ensuring we meet the needs of Alaskan seniors is crucial.
For me, Social Security is deeply personal. I grew up with my grandparents and great-grandmother. At the time, my great-grandmother relied on Social Security as a vital part of her income. Today, my grandfather relies on his Social Security as well his own FAA retirement to support himself in Alaska. I have witnessed firsthand why the promises that we make to each generation are important to keep, and Social Security is one of the most important that is made.
It has always been my goal to put action behind promises. However, elected officials are often not held to account for the promises they themselves make in their campaigns. Our current representative has talked about the importance of social security but has done little to address the program’s looming funding crisis.
Over the past year and a half, I have traveled across our state and developed a strong understanding of the challenges and needs of our communities, in particular our senior population. I have engaged in numerous discussions focused on social security and have expressed to Alaskans my dedication to protecting social security.
Social Security is often a lifeline for Alaskans and many rely on social security to meet everyday needs. This is even more true in Alaska’s more rural communities. A secure retirement program ensures our parents and grandparents can remain in the state they love, close to children and grandchildren. By strengthening social security and providing a stable income for our senior population, we are supporting the local economy, reducing strain on other social programs, and keeping Alaskan families together.
My message to Alaskans is clear: Social Security must be preserved for both current and future retirees. It’s time for the games that continue to jeopardize this program to end. Earnings paid into Social Security belong to the people, not to the government for general funding purposes.
In Congress, you have my commitment to:
Support measures that preserve social security and enhance the sustainability of social security without compromising benefits.
Advocate for policies that ensure social security is adequately funded and separated from other government spending.
Advocate for a consistent retirement age.
Alaskans know the path to a more prosperous future will not come from rolling the dice once again on Rep. Mary Peltola. She has failed Alaskans on every important issue that matters to us.
As a business owner in Alaska who has signed paychecks for hardworking Alaskans and who has helped create thousands of jobs across our nation, I plan to take a pragmatic and business-minded approach to Washington.
It’s time that someone stands up for Alaskan values. I hear it everyday from Alaskans around the state who are fed up with the status quo and feel overlooked and ignored. It’s why I am more committed than ever to fight for Alaskans and our way of life.
As your next Congressman, I will fight relentlessly for Alaska seniors, protect your Social Security, and put Alaskans first.
Nick Begich is a Republican candidate for Congress.
