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Senator Sullivan Works to Ensure Survivors of Abuse Receive Legal Support and Protection

Guest Writer
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Senator Sullivan Works to Ensure Survivors of Abuse Receive Legal Support and Protection

By U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan

Dear Alaskan,

One of my top priorities as a U.S. Senator is ending domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska.

I brag about Alaska all the time, but this is one area where there is nothing to boast about. Alaska has some of the highest rates of domestic violence and sexual assault in America, and those rates fall disproportionately on Alaska Native women. In 2020, Alaska Native women were killed by men at more than 3.5 times the rate of women statewide. These numbers are heartbreaking, unacceptable, and demand action.

This issue has been a priority of mine since my time as Alaska’s attorney general, when I led the governor’s rural sub-cabinet and traveled across our state listening to communities about their public safety challenges. Again and again, Alaskans told me about the devastating toll of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and the lack of public safety resources in too many communities.

Those conversations helped lead Governor Sean Parnell and me to launch Choose Respect— a statewide initiative to change our culture, bring domestic violence and sexual assault out of the shadows, and make clear that violence against women and children has no place in Alaska.

Choose Respect was about more than one program or one rally. We held events in villages and cities across the state. We worked with schools, law enforcement, faith leaders, Alaska Native leaders, advocates, and community organizations. We pushed for stronger laws. Most importantly, we encouraged Alaskans to speak openly about an issue that had too often been met with silence.

When I came to the Senate, I carried the work of Choose Respect with me. I authored the Choose Respect Act, which was signed into law in 2022, to continue building awareness around healthy relationships, safety, and respect in our homes, schools, and communities. Last year, the Senate unanimously passed my resolution recognizing October 1 as National Choose Respect Day— a national reminder that all of us have a role to play in ending domestic violence and sexual assault.

One of the first bills I introduced in the Senate was also rooted in the work we started in Alaska: the POWER Act, modeled after the pro bono legal summits I hosted throughout our state. Its goal is straightforward but powerful: to help create an army of lawyers providing free legal services to survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault, including in Indigenous communities.

And it matters. Legal help can be the difference between a survivor remaining trapped in a dangerous situation and being able to protect herself and her children. In one study, 83 percent of victims and survivors with an attorney were able to obtain a protective order compared to less than 30 percent without one.

Since its passage, the POWER Act has helped reach more than 80,000 lawyers and legal professionals across America to encourage free legal assistance and help break the cycle of violence. In districts that include tribal communities, the law also encourages partnerships with Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations so Native women have greater access to legal support and resources.

Public safety in our villages is another essential part of the solution. Too many rural communities still lack the law enforcement presence and resources they need. In 2019, I urged Attorney General William Barr to come to Alaska and see the rural public safety crisis firsthand. His visit led to an unprecedented investment from the Department of Justice in rural Alaska public safety–more than $62 million in grants supporting prosecutors and funding 39 law enforcement positions to help strengthen village law enforcement and victim services.

Village Public Safety Officers are often the first line of response in some of the most remote parts of our state. I commend Governor Dunleavy and the Alaska Legislature for making meaningful progress in rebuilding the VPSO program, with the number of VPSOs more than doubling from 42 in early 2020 to 87 by early 2025. That progress is crucial, but we need to keep going–strengthening recruitment and retention, improving training and support, and ensuring that village law enforcement has the resources they need.

We must also continue confronting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis, which is inseparable from the broader cycle of violence affecting too many families in Alaska. On May 5–the National Day of Awareness for MMIP–I hosted a roundtable at Cook Inlet Tribal Council with Alaska Native leaders, law enforcement, victim advocates, federal partners, and community organizations to discuss strengthening investigations, improving coordination, supporting victims’ families, and delivering justice to communities that have waited far too long for answers.

At the roundtable, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Billy Kirkland announced a new Department of the Interior effort to build on and reinvigorate Operation Lady Justice–the initiative launched during the first Trump administration under the leadership of Alaska’s own Tara Sweeney— which helped bring long-overdue federal focus to this crisis, elevate the voices of tribal leaders, families, and survivors, and improve coordination and accountability in MMIP cases.

These efforts are all connected. Through Choose Respect, the Choose Respect Act, the POWER Act, and continued efforts to strengthen public safety and address the MMIP crisis, I will keep working to ensure survivors of abuse and the families of those unjustly taken receive the legal support, protection, and justice they deserve.

Sincerely,
Dan Sullivan
United States Senator

Alaskan-owned HEX Expands Beyond Cook Inlet with Coastal Plain Leases

Natalie Spaulding
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Alaskan-owned HEX Expands Beyond Cook Inlet with Coastal Plain Leases

HEX Energy LLC has acquired oil and gas lease tracts 82 and 112 in Alaska’s Coastal Plain through the Bureau of Land Management’s 2026 lease sale. HEX Energy appreciates the work of the President of the United States, the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management, and the many federal and state professionals who support a transparent and orderly leasing process in Alaska. HEX is grateful to local community members who affirmed at the recent Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) Board Meeting that responsible development can support long-term stability while respecting subsistence resources and traditional ways of life.

“This acquisition reflects our long-term confidence in Alaska and our commitment to developing energy opportunities with discipline, local knowledge, and respect for the regulatory process,” said John Hendrix, President and CEO of HEX Energy. “HEX Energy brings together a team with deep Alaska roots, North Slope experience, and international oil and gas expertise. I’m excited to be back working on the North Slope and to apply that experience to this important new opportunity for Alaska. This opportunity allows HEX Energy to commence diversifying and expanding its role in the dynamic energy industry of Alaska.”

HEX Energy is a subsidiary of HEX LLC, Alaska’s only locally owned oil and gas company and operator of strategic assets and critical infrastructure in the Cook Inlet. This lease acquisition marks a significant step in its strategy to expand beyond Cook Inlet’s natural gas operations, while maintaining the company’s focus on responsible, Alaska-based energy development. Additional operations in the Coastal Plain has the potential for HEX Energy to strengthen America’s energy and national security while creating jobs for Alaskans and new
opportunities for local suppliers and service providers.

Press release provided by HEX LLC.

Service to My Country: Josh Church, Marine Special Ops

Guest Writer
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Service to My Country: Josh Church, Marine Special Ops

By Josh Church

I served in the United States Marine Corps for nine years. During that time, I served with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion and later Marine Special Operations. I deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, worked alongside partner nation forces on multiple continents, and helped oversee projects ranging from military training facilities to operational logistics in combat environments.

Military service was not unusual in my family, going back to at least the Civil War, and likely much further. Serving was simply something honorable men in the family had done for generations.

I chose the Marine Corps because it had the reputation for being the hardest branch. At twenty, that mattered to me. I wanted to test myself. I wanted to do hard things, big things. The Marines did not promise comfort, status, or an easy life.

Like many young men who join the military, I thought I understood hardship before I enlisted. I did not. The Marines and war have a way of stripping life down to the essentials very quickly. Fatigue, discomfort, fear, responsibility, and teamwork stop being abstract concepts.

I faced challenges and overcame some of them by the skin of my teeth. From days spent in hundred plus degree weather without water while studying the enemy, to miles upon miles of movement with more than a hundred pounds on your back. Nights of sheer exhaustion when bushes and rocks come alive like some bad dream.

The harder challenges came when the stakes were high and the consequences were permanent. Combat forces you to make decisions under stress while exhausted and uncertain. There are moments where hesitation can get people hurt and moments where overconfidence can do the same.

One lesson that stayed with me long after I left the military is that confidence is earned through competence, not talk. In reconnaissance and special operations communities, people generally care very little about titles or appearances. They care whether you can perform when things become difficult. Can you stay calm? Can you solve problems? Can people rely on you? That mindset shaped the rest of my life after the military.

The greatest challenge of my time in the Corps was giving it everything I had and learning to live with the knowledge that sometimes it was not enough. Sometimes, no matter how clear headed you are, how fast, or how strong, you cannot bring them all home.

War is not something to glorify. After nearly a decade in the military, my view is that we need serious leaders with the wisdom, intelligence, and courage to avoid unnecessary wars whenever possible, because the costs are real and they are carried by ordinary people for the rest of their lives.

If I could say one thing to Americans between eighteen and twenty five years old, it would be this: do hard things voluntarily.

Modern society often encourages comfort, convenience, and avoidance of discomfort. But growth rarely happens in comfort. Some of the most meaningful experiences in my life came from situations I initially did not think I could handle.

Service can take many forms. Young people benefit tremendously from experiences that force responsibility, accountability, discipline, and teamwork. Challenge yourself physically. Learn useful skills. Put yourself in environments where performance matters and excuses do not.

You will discover strengths you did not know you had. You will also discover weaknesses, and that is equally important.

Josh Church is a 2026 candidate for Lieutenant Governor running with Dave Bronson.

More in Series

Service to My Country: Dr. Michael Hanifen, United States Air Force Veteran

Want to Submit Your Story?

We hope to keep this series going all the way to Veterans Day! If you are a veteran or active duty service member, please consider sharing your military story and/or encourage friends and family to submit their stories! We will be publishing submissions in the order they are received, every Monday at 9am.

A recent op-ed by Army veteran Paul A. Bauer inspired this series. Bauer writes: “The problem is not gratitude itself. The problem is shallow gratitude. Many veterans do not need strangers to perform respect with a slogan. They often prefer real curiosity, human recognition, and informed conversation.”

Opinion: Making “Thank You for Your Service” More Meaningful

We invite veterans and active-duty service members to send us articles sharing your story. You can use the questions below as inspiration. You do not have to respond to all the questions, and you are not limited to them. Please include the branch you served in and how many years you served.

Guiding Questions

What did/ do you do in the military?
How long did you serve?
Did anyone else in your family serve?
Why did you choose the service branch that you did?
What was the greatest challenge you faced during your service and how did you overcome it?
What was the most significant lesson you learned during your service?
If you could say one thing to young Americans aged 18-25, what would you say?

Requirements

Please follow these requirements for your submission:

  1. Word limit: 1,000 words
  2. Must be written in first person
  3. Must be published with original author’s legal name (no pennames/ ghostwriting)
  4. No foul language
  5. All direct quotes and data points must be cited (a link to source is sufficient)
  6. Have fun! Be creative!

Submit your story to [email protected].

Must Read Alaska says thank you to all our amazing veterans!

The Cross is the Scale Where Justice and Mercy Meet 

Deacon Dez
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The Cross is the Scale Where Justice and Mercy Meet 

In the recesses of the human heart lies deception. We see ourselves, our imperfect views and perverse desires and actions, though rose-colored glasses. Proverbs 21:2, lays bare this blunt truth: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord ponders the heart. 

We have become the masters of justification and able designers of excuses. We explain away our sin, minimize our failings, and even more sadly, we compare ourselves to others to feel better about our own failings.  

I have been there, just like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11. I made a similar statement to my wife: “At least I am not like other men.” She quickly shut me down.  

That was a tough pill to swallow, especially when I believed I was above “those” other men. She told me she did not care what other men were doing with their lives. It was me, my soul, my salvation she was worried about. Everyone needs that “someone” in their lives who is not afraid of telling you like it is. But I digress. 

We talk ourselves into thinking our motives are pure, our intentions are the noblest, all the while, our actions oppose the very principles we claim to live by. 

God cannot be fooled. He sees right through our carefully crafted excuses, and the self-righteous anger we cling to with our very lives. He sees the darkness that skulks within us, the hidden motives, the twisted desires that ignite the fuel of our actions.

Our own scales are rigged, because we rig them to lean our way. God’s scales are perfectly balanced. He weighs our hearts, not just our actions. He observes our motives, our thoughts, the very core of who we are, and His judgement, truly unlike our own, is always accurate, always just, always true. 

This is a chilling vision for those who cling to their self-righteousness. It is a wake-up call, or at least it should be, for those who believe they can dupe God with their outward displays of piety, all the while, their hearts remain cold and unchanged.

How shall we, with our self-indulgent lives and unexamined conscience, face the judgement-seat of Christ? 

When God’s pure light shines into the darkness of our hearts, the weight of our sin can feel unbearable. It is a crushing realization that we are not as upright as we thought we were, that our motives, more often than not, are extremely selfish, and we fall far short of His perfect standard. 

Nil desperandum my brothers and sisters, nil desperandum. Across the desert lies the promised land; it is an invitation to repentance. It is a chance to lay down our pride, to confess our sins, and to seek forgiveness from the One who alone can cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

If we do not love penance for its own sake, let us love it on account of our sins; for you should “work out your own salvation in fear and trembling; for God is at work in you…” Phil 2:12-13.

When we surrender our will to God’s judgment, we open ourselves up to His transformative power. He does not just condemn us, as many might think; He offers us a new heart, a new spirit, a new life (Ezekiel 36:26). 

This, by no means is this a quick fix or an easy solution. It is a process, a lifetime of purification and sanctification, of allowing the Holy Spirit to mold us into the image of Christ. It is a journey of constant repentance, of recognizing our own sinfulness and clinging to the grace that saves us. 

“To know how to submit ourselves with our whole soul, is to know how to imitate Christ.” – St. Basil the Great 

So, how do you believe your heart will fare on God’s scales? Are you willing to let Him examine your motives, your thoughts, your deepest desires? Are you ready to surrender your self-righteousness and embrace the very painful but necessary process of repentance? 

Endeavor to act as you would wish to have acted when you stand before your Judge. This is the rule of the Saints, and the only rule for all. 

The choice is always yours, as God has given to you free will. The one thing that you should never forget: God’s judgment is inevitable. There is no escaping it. No lawyers, no character witnesses. Just you and Jesus. 

God’s justice is always joined to (and fulfilled through) mercy, and God’s mercy never cancels truth. In a word: God’s justice is not only retribution; it is the love that restores right order. 

Humble yourself before Him now, while there is still time to turn away from the ways of the world and find forgiveness in the Lamb of God, who shed His blood for you on Calvary. For it is only then that you will truly find the peace, joy, and freedom that come from a heart aligned with His perfect will. 

Put this to memory: “God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” St. Augustine of Hippo 

Live your life worthy of HIS Sacrifice + 
God Love You + 
Deacon Dez

Anchorage Expands Relationship with Tyler Technologies to Modernize Payment Process for Muni Services

Natalie Spaulding
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Anchorage Expands Relationship with Tyler Technologies to Modernize Payment Process for Muni Services

The Municipality of Anchorage recently selected the enterprise Payments platform provided by Tyler Technologies, Inc to streamline and manage the municipality’s entire payments life cycle, from billing to presentment, revenue collection, fund settlement, financial reconciliation, and reporting.

The cloud-based platform will enable Anchorage to centralize revenue collection operations, improve financial visibility, and deliver a modern, user-friendly payment experience for residents and businesses.

“We are committed to enhancing the way residents interact with our services while improving efficiency across the municipality,” said Lance Wilbur, chief fiscal officer, Municipality of Anchorage. “Expanding our relationship with Tyler to include enterprise Payments allows us to offer a more convenient, accessible, and seamless payment experience for our community.”

With Tyler’s Payments solution, Anchorage will provide residents with flexible, secure payment options, self-service capabilities, and real-time account updates, while equipping staff with tools to increase accuracy, transparency, and operational efficiency.

Key benefits of the solution include:

  • Multiple convenient payment channels, including online, mobile, and in-person
  • Real-time payment processing and resident account updates
  • Enhanced security and compliance through a trusted, scalable platform
  • Streamlined financial reconciliation and comprehensive reporting capabilities
  • Anchorage currently uses Tyler’s Enterprise Assessment & Tax, Property Access, and SmartFile solutions. Officially incorporated in 1920, the Municipality of Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city and home to nearly 40% of the state’s population. The municipality remains focused on modernizing operations and delivering high-quality services to its diverse community.

“After successfully using Tyler’s products for more than eight years, expanding Anchorage’s use of Tyler solutions enhances how residents interact with government,” said Ryan O’Connor, chief transactions officer. “By implementing enterprise Payments, Anchorage will gain greater control and visibility over its revenue processes while delivering a modern, frictionless payment experience for its residents.”

About Tyler Technologies, Inc.

Tyler Technologies is a leading provider of technology solutions purpose-built exclusively for the public sector. Tyler’s end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate efficiently and transparently with residents and each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler’s solutions strengthen the core operations of government and help agencies turn insight into action for their communities. With nearly 47,000 successful installations across 15,000 locations, Tyler serves clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. Tyler has been recognized numerous times for growth and innovation, including on Government Technology’s GovTech 100 list. More information about Tyler Technologies, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at tylertech.com.

Press release provided by Business Wire, May 26, 2026.

Leadership Institute Hosts “Get Out The Vote” Training Saturday, June 13

Natalie Spaulding
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Leadership Institute Hosts “Get Out The Vote” Training Saturday, June 13

For $10 a seat, motivated conservatives can enjoy lunch and a 3-hour training session on how to Get Out The Vote (GOTV) this November. Hosted by Leadership Institute, the training will help attendees identify and reach the right voters, build and organize volunteer teams, develop effective voter contact and outreach strategies, and learn grassroots tactics that help campaigns succeed.

Where: 500 West Third Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
When: Saturday, June 13, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

This is a excellent opportunity for conservatives who want to help motivate Alaskans to go vote in this year’s midterms. According to Leadership Institute, “Participants will gain insight into how to prioritize efforts in the final days to maximize impact and turnout.”

The Leadership Institute’s mission is “to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. The Institute identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media.”

The Alaska Republican Party encourages registered Republicans to attend, stating, “Whether you’re a volunteer, activist, district leader, campaign staffer, or future candidate, this event is a great way to sharpen your skills and connect with fellow conservatives.”

Register here: Anchorage GOTV Training | Leadership Institute | Leadership Institute

Alaska Fish & Game Seeks Public Comment on Delta Junction Bison Range

Natalie Spaulding
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Alaska Fish & Game Seeks Public Comment on Delta Junction Bison Range

Delta Junction— The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), in partnership with the Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District (SDSWCD) is initiating an Environmental Assessment (EA) process for proposed improvements to bison habitat and forage on the Delta Junction Bison Range (DJBR).

The DJBR, located east of Delta Junction and south of the Alaska Highway, was established in 1979 with primary purposes of perpetuating free-ranging bison, providing winter habitat, and altering seasonal movements of bison to diminish damage done to agricultural lands. In the 1980s, approximately 3,000 acres of land was cleared, tilled, and planted to bison forage. The DJBR has since been managed by ADF&G to provide forage attractive to bison by fertilizing, tilling, planting crops, prescribed burns, and other management actions with goals of delaying bison migration onto agricultural lands as late into the fall as possible and to provide opportunity for hunters to hunt bison on state land.

Over time, some of the fields have experienced reduced productivity of bison forage. The purpose of this project is to improve bison habitat and increase forage available to bison on the DJBR. Proposed activities include improvement and ongoing maintenance of existing bison range fields as well as clearing, tilling, and planting bison forage on new ground that is currently forested. Activities proposed on existing fields include tilling, planting, fertilizing, burning, and herbicide use. We propose to drill wells and install additional water sources for bison. Finally, we propose clearing approximately 1,000 acres of forested land within the DJBR for conversion to new fields. 

This project is being funded with Wildlife Restoration Act grant funds that are apportioned to eligible states through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and matched by State of Alaska legislatively appropriated funds. Due to the use of federal funds for the proposed project, the USFWS has determined an EA is required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

We are in the early stages of preparing the EA where we determine the scope of issues for analysis, including identifying substantive issues that will meaningfully inform the consideration of effects on the human environment and the resulting decision. 

We encourage you to provide information and assist in identifying substantive issues for analysis. For more information on the project, please contact Clint Cooper, ADF&G Wildlife Biologist, at telephone (907) 459-7223 or email [email protected]. To provide written input related to the scope of analysis of issues for the proposed project, please email the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Conservation Investment at [email protected] by July 15, 2026.

Press release provided by Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Wildlife Conservation.

SB 2001 Analysis: Not Just a Tax Abatement, a Tax Replacement 

Natalie Spaulding
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SB 2001 Analysis: Not Just a Tax Abatement, a Tax Replacement 

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on 6/8/2026 to correct a calculation error.

The Alaska LNG project is the star of the show during the legislature’s current 30-day special session. The second regular session of the 34th Legislature saw a simple 7-page bill introduced to the Senate by Governor Dunleavy transformed into a colossal 52-page mess that proposed four different taxes on the oil and gas industry. 

Now, the Senate is restarting with a new 22-page bill introduced by the Governor at the start of the special session. According to Dunleavy, this bill — SB 2001 — “builds on the bill transmitted earlier this year and reflects the most recent negotiated framework developed during the regular session.”

Dunleavy continues: “It preserves the central purpose of the original proposal: replacing a property-tax structure that creates front-end costs and uncertainty with a volume-based tax structure that is tied to project performance, whole adding provisions intended to address local community impacts, revenue allocation, labor stability, and in-state energy access.” 

AVT’s Significance in the Property Tax Discussion

Currently, the discussion is focused on whether or not the project’s producers should pay property taxes. When the property tax abatement is looked at on its own, the debate polarizes between those who think a property tax abatement unfairly advantages corporate oil and gas companies versus those who think maintaining the current property tax structure burdens the oil and gas companies to the point of making the project uninvestable. 

Nicholas Fulford, Senior Director at GaffneyCline, the Senate’s hired LNG consultant, testified in a House Finance Committee meeting, May 26, that a property tax abatement is critical for attracting investors. Some disagree with Fulford’s claim, arguing that the abatement request reflects corporate greed rather than honest negotiating. 

However, the bill does not propose only a property tax abatement, but it also proposes a new alternative volumetric tax (AVT). The intention is not to abate taxes to the sole benefit of corporate producers; the intention is to replace the current tax structure with a tax structure that pushes the project forward so that it can benefit Alaskans. 

Furthermore, despite Senator Bill Wielechowski’s claim that the Governor “demanded these tax breaks be forever,” the property tax abatement provided in SB 2001 (which was introduced by the Governor) has a clear cut off. SB 2001 currently states that the abatement will end either when the project achieves a throughput of 500,000,000 cubic feet of natural gas a day, calculated as a rolling average over a consecutive 30-day period, or after five years of the project’s commencement (whichever happens first). Considering ENSTAR’s current natural gas demand averages 260,000,000 cubic feet on a winter’s day, the project is more likely to hit the five-year sunset than the production sunset. This means that after the first five years, the producers will be required to pay property taxes according to the current tax structure. 

In addition to the resumed property taxes, producers will be required to pay AVT, which starts as soon as production starts. According to SB 2001, the AVT tax rate would be $0.06 for a gas pipeline component, $0.12 for a gas treatment plant and carbon capture facility component, and $0.12 for a liquefied natural gas plant component. A unit of component throughput is defined as 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas. 

Within the first five years, the property tax would not kick in until a daily production of 500 million cubic feet of natural gas. However, the AVT kicks in immediately upon the first 1,000 cubic feet produced. This means producers would still pay up to approximately $60,000 per day ($21.9 million per year) in taxes during the property tax abatement period. 

However, unlike property tax, AVT is directly tied to the project’s actual performance. If the project produces less, it will be taxed less. If it produces more, it will be taxed more. 

Corporate producers make money through production, so they will be working to produce as much as possible. With AVT, the more they produce, the more Alaska benefits. 

Analysis: Senators Giessel, Wielechowski’s “Good Corporate Citizen” Claim Reveals Socialist Agenda

Natalie Spaulding
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Analysis: Senators Giessel, Wielechowski’s “Good Corporate Citizen” Claim Reveals Socialist Agenda

During discussions regarding the taxation of S-corps involved as passthrough companies in the AK LNG project, Senators Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) and Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) referred to corporations who pay State income taxes as “good corporate citizens.”

(20+) The pressure campaign is mounting to… – Senator Bill Wielechowski | Facebook

Assuming the words to have more than a rhetorical purpose, Giessel and Wielechowski are making two major philosophical claims that have dangerous political consequences: 1) that a corporation as a whole is a kind of citizen, and 2) that a good citizen pays State income tax.

The first claim that a corporation is a citizen is either political nonsense or it is the attempted creation of a new class of citizens.

First, a citizen is a person belonging to a country, not a state. Alaskans are citizens of the United States of America and residents of the State of Alaska. Currently, a corporation cannot claim citizenship status in the United States of America. The individuals that are part of the corporation may claim citizenship, but not the corporation as a whole. But, what if a corporation could?

Let’s take Giessel and Wielechowski’s claim that a corporation is a citizen to be true. Their next claim is where it gets dangerous. They say that a “good corporate citizen” pays State income tax. Now, here is what that does: it either sets the ground for the argument that a good Alaskan pays State income tax, or it creates a new class of citizens subject to unequal treatment.

If we acquiesce that a good corporate citizen pays State income tax, and if we wish to maintain the equal treatment of all citizens, then a good individual citizen also pays State income tax.

However, if a good corporate citizen pays State income tax, but a good individual citizen does not have to pay State income tax, then we have created a system where one class of citizens is considered lesser than another class of citizens. In this philosophical framework, the corporate citizen is lesser than the individual citizen, so the State may take from the corporate citizen via an income tax and redistribute the wealth, supposedly to the benefit of the individual citizen. This is not a new philosophical framework. This is socialism.

So, what do Giessel and Wielechowski want? Do they want to argue for a State income tax on all Alaskans? Do they want a socialistic system that redistributes corporate wealth? Or are they simply using a rhetorical phrase to convince Alaskans that an income tax on S-corps is a good thing?

Thankfully, no Senator has the power to create a new class of citizens. As discussed earlier, citizenship is a federal matter, not a state matter. A corporation is simply not a citizen, no matter how much Giessel and Wielechowski would like them to be.

Giessel and Wielechowski may very well be trying out a heavy-on-rhetoric, light-on-logic strategy to make their S-corp income tax policy appealing to Alaskans. But if they mean what they say, a far more insidious plot is revealed.

The plot thickens when researching this strange concept of “corporate citizenship.” Corporate citizenship is a term decisively tied to left-wing politics that push ESG (Environment, Social, Governance), which is “a shorthand for a growing movement of corporations committing to environmental, social justice, and governance standards as a part of their business practices, and of investors increasingly holding corporations accountable not only for shareholder profits but also for the way they treat employees, customers, and the communities where they do business.”

In the article “What Does It Mean to Be a Corporate Citizen?” published in Harvard Magazine, ESG is openly identified with left-wing idealogy: “The growing threat of climate change is perhaps the biggest and best-known driver of the rise in ESG investing, but the movement encompasses a vast range of real-world concerns, including LGBTQ and women’s rights, workplace diversity, racial injustice, pollution, and environmental injustice.”

The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance also published an article on “corporate citizenship,” but attempted a more ideologically balanced approach. In the article are several examples of good corporate citizenship that the author believes can be agreed upon by the right and the left. Among the examples is “paying expected taxes and refusing to engage in tax arbitrage to avoid school and other taxes as a condition to keeping or locating operations.” However, the article does not say that a corporation should be forced to pay a new income tax specifically targeting that corporation’s industry, which is what Giessel and Wielechowski are trying to do with the S-corp tax.

Here is another article exploring what it means to be a “good corporate citizen:” Corporate Citizenship: How to be a good corporate citizen and contribute to the common good – FasterCapital. This article claims good corporate citizenship is all about corporate ethics, but the stated ethics focus heavily on leftist ideas regarding environmental justice and social justice.

The idea of corporate citizenship is not logical. It is not conservative. It is not new. It is simply another way of rebranding socialism and selling left-wing ideology that impedes industry, raises the cost of living, and generates State revenue to grow government.

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