Wow, I had barely recommended repealing the laws that restrict U.S. oil exports as part of an overall ramping up of competition in global oil markets when news hit that the Saudis were cutting the price of oil shipped to the U.S. The price of oil has been zigzagging downward since then—much to the benefit […]
Dear Alaska Native News As we wait for the final ballots to be counted, Byron and I have been overwhelmed by the widespread support and endorsements we have received from Alaskans all over the state. This race is not yet over, but we remain optimistic that we will maintain our lead as absentee votes are counted in […]
A few weeks ago, I dropped in on Russ Post, an 89-year-old war veteran who happens to live on my street. What followed was a memorable Saturday afternoon, as Russ took my teenage son and I on a roller coaster ride from his youth in Western Pennsylvania to the Pacific theater to Korea. John Russell […]
It sounds reasonable enough to tax and regulate the production, sale and use of marijuana. After all, many Alaskans produce, sell and use it already – why not make it legal and capitalize on it? If only it were that simple. It may seem counterintuitive for a Chamber of Commerce to oppose the commercialization of […]
Alaska Natives need know about U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan’s deeply troubling record of waging a war against Alaska Natives when he was supposed to be protecting us as Attorney General. When Dan Sullivan was Alaska’s Attorney General, he wasted an opportunity to make a real difference for Alaska Natives. Instead he added to Alaska’s […]
We have come a long way towards making sure all Alaska Natives have access to high-quality, affordable health care. We still have plenty of work ahead of us, but we should be proud of the progress we’ve made. It is thanks to leaders like Senator Mark Begich that we are where we are today. As […]
Dan Sullivan claims to be a fighter in several of his ads, and even says he’ll be warrior for Alaska in one. Last time I checked, being a warrior meant having the courage to show up to a fight and look your opponent square in the eye. So why does Sullivan keep declining invitations to […]
In April I challenged the Parnell administration to explain to the public the steps it has taken to fix Alaska’s Medicaid reimbursement system. (“Alaska Needs to Fix its Medicaid repayment mess” April 22, 2014 Alaska Dispatch). This system compensates health care providers (i.e., hospitals, clinics, physicians, therapists, etc.) for the services they provide to the […]
OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY, FRANCE — U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders paid tribute to World War II veterans at a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion that led to the defeat of Nazi Germany. In a speech at Omaha Beach on the coast of Normandy, France, Obama hailed the troops who […]