Viewpoints
Wasteful and Reckless Spending
By Robert D. Warner
May 05, 2006
Friday
It is beginning to look like the
current session of the Alaska Legislature will go down as the
most wasteful and reckless in the history of the State. While
there have been many warnings that increased revenues from current
high oil prices should be saved to cover future budget shortfalls,
most have been ignored. Most of the additional money will be
spent today and gone tomorrow!
Information and justifications for this spending spree are difficult
to understand because there has been so much secrecy during this
session of the Legislature. In addition, many citizens are confused
and discouraged because the Legislature refuses to take aggressive
approaches to increasing taxes on oil corporations. These are
the same corporations that are largely responsible for high fuel
prices we have to pay.
We cannot, however, blame the oil industry for all of these spending
issues. Why does the current Legislature want major budget increases
for schools and the university without clear understandings of
how the money will be spent? Does throwing money at education
solve the problems of our schools or just cover them up? Why
is there funding for "bridges to nowhere" when these
schemes resulted in a national outrage? The list goes on and
on.
Will these same legislators who are pushing this wasteful spending
be back shortly pressing for a dreaded state income tax? I certainly
hope not!
Robert D. Warner
Ketchikan, AK - USA
About: Ketchikan resident since 1972 and retired UAS faculty.
Note: Comments published
on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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