Wednesday's Drive By Shoutings...

             Quick and random thoughts about recent news...

Negative ghost rider, the pattern is full

One of the most difficult things about campaigning against an incumbent is raising money. So consider the horrifying story of mayoral candidate Paul Honeman and his fundraising fiasco.

Honeman, who is challenging current Mayor Dan Sullivan, called profligate political contributor Bill Sheffield back in October and asked for a little scratch. Sheffield ignored the request as anyone, especially Honeman, should have expected. As the Port Director, Sheffield serves at the pleasure of the current mayor.

Unfortunately Honeman compounded his miscalculation by beginning to publicly criticize Sheffield due to the costly overruns with the port expansion and calling for his resignation...only after being rebuffed.

Here's the part of this tale that bothers me; the significant cost overruns and the calls for Sheffields resignation started over a year ago. Last January Lisa Demer ran a front page story in the Anchorage Daily News detailing the major problems with the port expansion. I also wrote a piece about the issue.

The revelations published by the ADN became a huge public relations headache for assembly members (which Honeman is one) as they scrambled to find someone to blame for the mismanagement. 

Honeman knew about these management problems and the growing controversy engulfing Sheffield's tenure as the port director last year.

So to ask for Sheffield's support...then after being rebuffed, turn around and criticize Sheffield about the same port problems he knew about a year earlier...raises serious questions about Honeman's thought process.  

Too much time on my hands...

Last session, Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) pushed a bill through the senate on a 12-5 vote that would extend the voter imposed ninety day legislative session back to 120 days.

Yesterday, State Rep. Craig Johnson (R-Anchorage) said the House Majority opposes the the bill and prefers to leave the length of the session as is.

What's depressing about the 12 senators who supported Stevens' bill last April, is collectively they have already spent way too much time on the taxpayer's dime.

Combined, all twelve lawmakers who voted to extend the legislative session have spent an average of 11.6 years in the legislature.

These aren't newbies struggling to grasp the legislative process, these are political veterans demanding more time for the same job they've had for over a decade. It seems the longer you serve in the state senate the less efficient and more expensive you become.

From the mouths of babes...

The Conference of Young Alaskans wrapped up their event in Juneau last week but not before passing a resolution supporting the current oil tax structure (ACES).

“Except for slight modifications based on research and knowledge, Alaska should maintain its current oil tax structure,” the delegates said.

They also supported investing in the development of Alaska’s Arctic infrastructure, boosting manufacturing, promoting Alaska hire, increasing access and reducing the cost of electricity and Internet availability in rural Alaska and increasing education funding.

Two interesting ideas:

Number one, lets keep the current tax regime, even though it's been driving away investment, accelerating the decline in oil production and driving us closer to the day when we'll be forced to use savings.

Number two, after we successfully strangle the only revenue stream of any consequence for state government, lets go out and spend money we no longer have.

Fortunately for these young Alaskan voices, the state senate is on course to turn their resolutions into reality.

Andrew recommends...

It's been a long time since I recommended a movie to my readers, but over the holidays I realized my all-time favorite Federico Fellini film can be streamed instantly on Netflix.

This is a true Fellini masterpiece.

The French connection...

I hate political whispers so I think it's time to address them.

Due to redistricting, Hollis French (D-Anchorage) is now my new state senator in a district that is heavily Republican.

After being lobbied by friends along with strong polling results, I'm considering the opportunity.

The good Lord knows I've spent the last several years chronicling French's one man assault on Alaska's economy. A campaign might be a logical next step. But then again, one man's logic is another man's absurdity.

To quote the above mentioned Fellini film, sometimes it is better to destroy an idea than create what is unnecessary.