In a rare public rebuke, Sen. Rob Yundt of Wasilla took aim at Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday, criticizing him on the Senate floor and blaming his administration for Alaska’s ongoing budget woes.
Yundt, a Republican who made waves by introducing a state income tax proposal shortly after taking office, accused Dunleavy of presenting an unbalanced operating budget.
“Your budget reflects your priorities,” Yundt said during his speech. “A billion and a half dollars upside down. It shouldn’t even be legal.”
Yundt didn’t stop at budgetary critique — he also turned to the looming 2026 election, warning the two Republican candidates already in the race for governor to take note of the fiscal challenges.
While Dunleavy’s proposed budget does rely on $1.5 billion in reserve funds, the authority over state spending rests with the Legislature as the appropriating body. All Dunleavy can do now is veto spending — he cannot add it back at this stage.
Under current law, a full Permanent Fund dividend (PFD) is required, and Dunleavy has continued to budget accordingly. The Legislature, however, has resisted changing the statute — a point of tension since 2016, when Gov. Bill Walker vetoed half of the dividend.
Earlier this week, Dunleavy sent a letter to the Finance committees of the House and Senate, removing all but two of his budget amendments for the year, in order to take pressure off the budget.
Yundt, while critical of the governor, has not offered legislation to repair the broken dividend law that the Legislature has refused to follow since 2017. Nor has he suggested cuts to spending.
The Yundt floor speech comes after he has developed a reputation in Juneau as an ally of the Democrat-led majority, spending hours with the Democrat leaders, both during daytime and after hours, and burning bridges of trust with his fellow Republicans.
He attacked this writer earlier this session, with this statement:
Now, Yundt has attacked the de facto head of the Alaska Republican Party — the sitting governor– throwing political punches right and left as he expresses his “frustration.”
Simply said the guy is lame.
Is Yundt’s head really that pointy?
Yundt has chosen to align with the corrupt union democrats and making it 8 traitorous rino’s. The AK GOP is dead, the poor leadership ended our trust in the republican party. Alaska First Party
Complain, complain.
It is easy to complain. Is it too hard to work within the party you supposedly represent? Where is your workable and fair (for all Alaskans) solution?
Yundt unseated David Wilson last Nov. because David was working with the democrat gang. Yundt was not elected to repeat that course , and never hinted that he would. Three and a half years to vet a Republican for District 28 and get some representation.
Good to hear some intelligent push back to the nonsense we’ve been getting from Dunleavy. We give our oil away, AND we had out billions in welfare as Alaskans get hosed to subsidize this theft of our resources. A family of four has now lost $60,000 in lower dividends as a result.
We can’t make a go of it as a state if we don’t get a fair return for our oil. Our state is too big, and the population is too small.
Yup, it’s well past time to cut government spending to sustainable levels instead of spending down our reserves and then spending the PFD’s of every Alaskan man, woman, and child. Shame on those who continue to promote unsustainable government spending at the expense of everything.
Ok, what are we cutting from the budget? Are we cutting education funding? What about police? Road maintenance? Government jobs?
Please give me examples of where to cut. Not “10% from each department,” specifics please.
First place I’d go to save us some money would be to make the Mat Su pay for their own police. You know that 1/3 of the state trooper budget is allocated to the Mat Su Borough?
Next place I’d go for more revenue would be to eliminate the per barrel tax credit for oil companies.
Next would be the department of corrections. You know we pay $73,730 per inmate? And we only pay $20,200 per student.
Truly though, the best way to fix this issue of our budget woes is to find new revenue streams. No more socialist PFDs and a broad based income tax for all workers in the state. There is a large contingent of workers who only spend money at the airport when they fly in or out of our state. Everything else is covered when they arrive at their workplace.
I always enjoy those who put precondition on what and where I’m allowed to want government spending cuts. You want specifics, I’d specifically cut from each and every budget. You want a specific amount, 5.328% to start, the next month 6.719%, the next month 6.424%, the next month 3.597%, the next month 9.274%…do you get how absurd whatever point you are trying to make is? Yes, I’d cut it all. What percentage, well that depends, some departments 100%, some 50% others 5%, some might even get and increase.
We more than tripled spending in a few short years when oil prices were at record highs along with oil taxation and government spending never had a commensurate drop when oil prices and taxation dropped, you simply cannot address that fact because it doesn’t suit your narrative…you just want more revenue since the reserves weren’t enough and the PFD isn’t enough, the beast must be fed. More revenue more spending, which requires more revenue for more spending…ad nauseam.
Yup, no specifics.
So you are fine with 10% less funding for police? For fire? For road maintenance?
Where is your line?
Try to read what I wrote one more time, but try to think about the words that you are reading and not what your response is going to be. If you do that you give yourself a much better chance at understanding the words that I wrote.
Steve-O, Exactly right, how long has it been since State Government actually took an accounting of their spending? !987? It’s been that long I’m sure. Why are we always led to believe that the problem is a lack of revenue, and never an over haul of programs?
Yundt seems like a nice young fellow, full of energy, however straddled with an equal measure of hubris. A decidedly bad combination. Regrettably Robbie hasn’t had an opportunity or had the inclination to be schooled in classical republicanism or even basic American Civics. This lack of education has hindered him, because properly targeted I believe Robbie has the tools to be an agent for much good.
Yundt has been corrupted by the ruling junta and now is merely just another Rabid Red Fox politician. That is the worst part of this story.
I wish him the best, Alaska needs young vibrant leaders, I hope he takes the cure changes course and leads, Alaska is quickly running out of time…
Where do you think the billions in welfare came from N ?
Yundt is a Dunce.
He is the absolute definition of a RINO NeoCon.
Can’t even make it up.
In actuality he is a LIAR.
Seems funny that someone that lies by running as a Republican works only with the Democrats. His comments hold no weight because of his betrayal.
Dunleavy should have been thrown out of the Republican Party before the end of the first 4 years. The guy is all about fraud, waste and abuse.
Punt Yundt.
I could very easily show him what a real body-slam is, Yundt is Rino Trash
The Juneau Thieves just can’t get enough of OUR Permanent Fund Dividend! These Cucks will steal it all if we let them. It’s quite obvious that our State and Federal Governments are broken. The Graft and Corruption is running rampant throughout the entire system from Politicians to Judges. The rip off and ridiculous crap will continue until WE THE PEOPLE stop it.
There simply arent enough clown suits to go around.
He has obviously let the Democrats twist his ear flaps around enough for him to make a fool of himself.
Running around Juneau with a wolfpack one is likely to end up with rabies.
He is a poor excuse of a representative.
Fetterman has more credibility than this clown.
Yundt reminds me of the quaint old southernism about letting his alligator mouth overload his hummingbird backside. There was another word used for backside, but you get the idea, and so does Yundt. Cheers –
Yundt is a 1 and done representative.
New blood next round
Shelley Hughes for Governor!
Absent lobbyists for municipalities and public employee unions the state operating budget could be reduced by $1 billion without the producing component of the private sector even taking notice. That would be healthy for the Alaska economy, likely reducing use of SNAP and fentanyl in the bargain. Truth be told the amount that should come out of the annual spend is more like $1.5 billion.
Yundt isn’t exactly the shining star of the Republicans. He isn’t even a reliable Republican. He’s rude, He’s crude. I think would just be itching for a fight no matter what the governor proposed if it wasn’t what Robbie wanted. While I agree with the looming Alaska fiscal crisis (that, in truth, has been looming since 1986) he could find better, more productive ways to get his point across. He’s about as smooth as Cathy Giessel. Please, Mr. Yundt, run on the state income tax during the next election. I beg you.
Actually he is the only person that is being realistic. The truth is the Mike’s budget was total nonsense and he was the only person who was brave enough to say it. Except for killing education I have not seen a republican advocate for any cuts, instead, they advocate to spend stae dollars to help foriegn companies, example west susitna road. Lets put the facts where they are. I am embarassed to be conservative in this state where our conservative leadership is anything but. Good job Rob! You doing things the right way and not the lock step way like the rest of these nuts.
Yet again, it is spotlighted why the state capitol is in Juneau and not where the population center of the state is. These clowns are separated from reality with this RINO clown Yundt very close to the front. Hopefully Dunleavy stands strong against the liberal cabal and the mental disease they spread now affecting the sad list of RINO’s. Not ont of these clowns could run their personal finances like they try to run the government, they would be bankrupt in weeks. This should automatically disqualify them.
““Your budget reflects your priorities,” Yundt said during his speech. “A billion and a half dollars upside down. It shouldn’t even be legal.”” Says the lawbreaker.
If you cannot legitimize your election by your accomplishments bullsh*t your voters with one media flap after another even when your bucket’s dry.
“Portrait of a Classic Statesman”?
.
Fetterman Lookalike First Prize?
.
The Giessel’s lapdog/boytoy?
.
New and Improved Alaska Man Inflatable Doll?
.
Living proof drag queens need day jobs?
.
Batteries included …where’s the remote, how do you shut the damn thing off?
Well, I suspect this will
Be a one and done elected Republican. Disappointed!
1. Anyone interested in starting a recall of Yundt?
2. This is what happens when the Executive is nothing more than an empty suit from the legislature. We need a BUSINESS leader of large ir diverse organizations.
3. Anyone want to form a citizens group to sue the state for stealing our NON SOCIALISM oil dividend per the business agreement?