Category Archives: Immediate Reactions

Thursday of this week Alaska Republican Party (ARP) Vice Chair Rick Whitbeck joined me for an “Alaska GOP Update” while I sat in as guest host of KBYRAM 700‘s The Michael Dukes Show.

Political commentator Casey Reynolds already has hi-lited one part of my discussion with Rick in this week’s edition of Reynolds’ regular “Friday in the Sun” column in his The Midnight Sun blog.

Who Isn’t On The List? — Alaska Republican Party Vice-Chairman Rick Whitbeck said yesterday on the Michael Dukes Show that he has a list of 46 Republicans who “are either interested in running or people are trying to draft them into running” for Governor in 2018.

That is a pretty good indication of just how vulnerable Republicans think Gov. Bill Walker is at this point.

Whitbeck went on to say the Alaska Republican Party’s challenge is to keep the number of entrants in the Republican primary from ballooning to the point the Party’s message gets lost. That is pretty clearly code for saying the Party doesn’t want more than 3-4 people in the primary because that would give more moderate or labor-supported candidates like Sen. Click Bishop or a candidate with a track record of opposing resource development like richy-rich Bob Gillam a realistic chance of winning.

Of far greater interest to us, however, were Whitbeck’s comments on the PFD.  After Rick argued that cutting the PFD is an economic mistake, I asked him to reconcile that view at the Party level with the boots on the ground action by the Republican-led Senate last session in passing SB 128, a bill which would have permanently cut the PFD immediately in half, and more as time went on.

To his credit, rather than dodging the issue Rick addressed it head on, wrapping up by saying “I hope there is a different approach this [coming] year.”

The following is the full podcast of our discussion with Rick; for those interested in the discussion on the PFD, you can fast forward to the part of the discussion beginning around 8:55.

Each Tuesday morning at 7:20 am Alaska, I join KBYR AM700‘s The Michael Dukes Show to discuss the latest in Alaska oil and fiscal issues. This week Michael and I take a deep dive into the Governor’s proposed FY 2018 budget. My summary? Governor Walker is ignoring the fact that he is the Governor for all Alaskans, not just those tied to the Government economy. Here’s why and, at the end, how I would do it differently. I join Michael at 15:00 into the segment.

Listen here or at the widget below for this week’s show.  For past episodes, go here.

Each Tuesday morning at 7:20 am Alaska, I join KBYR AM700‘s The Michael Dukes Show to discuss the latest in Alaska oil and fiscal issues. This week Michael and I discuss what to look for in Governor’s proposed FY 2018 budget due to be released by Thursday, and take a first look at how the Trump Cabinet picks are likely impact Alaska.  I join Michael at 23:10 into the segment. (Note: At the time of the broadcast Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington was rumored to be the likely pick for Secretary of the Interior. Later in the day, however, the transition announced Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana as the pick. While there are some differences in the positions the two have taken over the years, none of them relate to the development of Alaska’s resources. Thus, the expectations I outlined under Rep. Rodgers remain the same under Rep. Zinke.)

Listen here or at the widget below and for past episodes, go here.

Each Tuesday morning at 7:20 am Alaska, I join KBYR AM700‘s The Michael Dukes Show to discuss the latest in Alaska oil and fiscal issues. This week Michael and I discuss the renewed battle over oil taxes coming to the #AKLeg this session and why there are no more excuses preventing the implementation of Governor Hammond’s 50/50 Fiscal Plan and preserving the PFD, as is.  I join Michael at 14:15 into the segment.

Listen here or at the widget below and for past episodes, go here.

Each Tuesday morning at 7:20 am Alaska, I join KBYR AM700‘s The Michael Dukes Show to discuss the latest in Alaska oil and fiscal issues. This week Michael and I discuss a couple of issues likely to play a prominent role in the upcoming #AKleg session. Oil credits and how they relate to efforts to cut the PFD, and Governor Walker’s efforts to enlist local governments to lobby with him on his fiscal plan.

I join Michael at 15:45 into the segment. (Note: I did not have a good phone connection this week so there are some gaps in this discussion. If you are interested, stay with it, I return, until the last one at the end of the segment.)

Listen here or at the widget below and for past episodes, go here.