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Ketchikan: Alaska Electoral College To Cast Votes for President and Vice-President By MARY KAUFFMAN - On Monday, December 19, members of the United States Electoral College will cast their vote which ultimately elects the President and Vice-President of the United States. Each state gets a number of electors equal to its United States Congressional representation therefore Alaska has three electors.

Alaska’s electors will cast a vote for Donald J. Trump for President and Michael R. Pence for Vice President of the United States on December 19, 2016.
Photos courtesy commons.wikimedia.org

In Alaska, political parties select their electors and submit the names to the Division of Elections. The electors represent the political party of the Presidential candidate who won the popular vote in Alaska, which for 2016, is the Alaska Republican Party. Alaska’s electors are former Governor Sean Parnell, Jacqueline Tupou of Juneau and Carolyn Leman of Anchorage. Under state law, each elector must “pledge” that as an elector, the person will cast his or her electoral vote for the candidate of the party. For 2016, Alaska’s electors will cast a vote for Donald J. Trump for President and Michael R. Pence for Vice President of the United States.

In Alaska, Trump won over Clinton 53 to 38 percent. However, in a last ditch effort lawsuit was filed by Janice Park, a Hillary Clinton voter in Anchorage, against Alaska's electors claiming that because Clinton won 2.8 million more popular votes than Trump nationwide, the Alaska electors would be dening her her Fifth Amendment right of equal protection if the electors do not cast their vote for Clinton.

However, a federal judge in Alaska has thrown out the lawsuit brought by Park seeking to prevent the state’s three electoral college voters from casting votes for President-elect Donald Trump.

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess said the electoral college is spelled out in the U.S. Constitution. Burgess said in a written order that Janice Park’s remedy rested not with the courts but with the constitutional amendment process. - More...
Sunday AM - December 18, 2016

Alaska: Governor Releases Fiscal Year 2018 Budget: $4.2 Billion Operating Budget; $115 Million Capital Budget By MARY KAUFFMAN - Thursday, Governor Bill Walker’s fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018) budget was released which the administration says reduces state spending while supporting vital services and protecting the permanent fund dividend. The proposed $4.2 billion unrestricted general fund (UGF) operating budget is 23 percent lower than when Governor Walker took office two years ago. To lead by example, Governor Walker will be taking a one-third pay cut in his salary.

Once again, the Governor proposes to use some of the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund to pay for essential state services and Walker’s fiscal package also includes a proposed increase to the motor fuel tax. The proposed fiscal year 2018 budget highlights previous reductions in state spending, a reintroduction of previous legislation to use the Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve account to help fund state government, and a statewide motor fuels tax. The remaining $890 million gap is left to be addressed by the Alaska legislature during the upcoming legislative session.

“We have reduced state spending by more than $1.7 billion, and will continue to seek efficiencies and contain costs,” Governor Walker said. “We have closed dozens of state facilities across Alaska, impacting services Alaskans have grown accustomed to receiving. But Alaskans are increasingly looking for budget stability to protect Alaska’s economy. We can’t cut our way to prosperity. Since 2013, we have cut state spending by 44 percent. To fund services Alaskans rely on, it’s critical to discuss new revenue. We look forward to working with the legislature to pass a sustainable fiscal plan during the upcoming session.” - More...
Sunday AM - December 18, 2016

Alaska: Governor Selects No-Build Alternative for Juneau Road Access By MARY KAUFFMAN - With the release of his budget Thursday, Governor Walker announced his decision to select the “no build” alternative for the Juneau Access Road project planned to improve transportation between Juneau and the northern Lynn Canal communities of Haines and Skagway.

Governor Bill Walker and Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott announced Thursday the selection to not build the proposed 50-mile road extension from Juneau to a yet to be built ferry terminal; however, this does not preclude other transportation improvements in the northern Lynn Canal corridor.

Governor Walker acknowledged that many will be disappointed with this decision.

“I am a builder by background and understand the importance of construction projects, but I am very concerned with our current multi-billion dollar fiscal crisis and must prioritize the need for fiscal resolution,” Governor Walker said. “I’m grateful to the many great Alaskans who shared their knowledge and perspectives with me about this issue. I listened and learned from all of you. I flew the route and spoke with lots of folks equally divided on this project. I made this difficult decision after reviewing all litigation and all federal regulatory decisions on this project to date. Above all, I was reminded that Southeast Alaska communities are deeply interconnected, with or without roads, and I pledge to do what I can to support and strengthen those critical economic and social ties.”

Governor Walker will take steps to ensure that the $38 million in remaining state funds for the project will be available for other transportation and capital projects in the area. Governor Walker committed to working with Juneau and the surrounding regional communities to determine the best use of those dollars. Federal construction dollars have not been appropriated for the project.

"I participated in many of the dozens of Juneau Access meetings initiated by Governor Walker,” said Lt. Governor Byron Mallott, a long-time Southeast resident. “The review was exhaustive and thorough. Alaska's need for fiscal certainty loomed large throughout and in that light the correct decision was made."

The state is working closely with federal highway officials and does not anticipate having to repay any federal funds spent to date on the project. The studies and work done to date will be available for future use.

According to Rep. Sam Kito (D-Juneau), Governor Walker originally paused the project in January of 2015 but allowed the completion of the Record of Decision, a federal decision document, in order to assure reimbursement for the work done to date.

"I think the Governor has made the right decision given our current fiscal situation, especially because the increased operational costs would have been added to the Department of Transportation’s budget if one of the build options had been selected,” said Rep. Sam Kito (D-Juneau). “My experience as an engineer has taught me to look closely at promises and pitfalls of any situation and, in balance, the Juneau Access project raised more red flags than green for me.”

The cost of constructing the Juneau Access Road has been estimated at $574 million, with an additional $5 million in annual operating and maintenance costs. In announcing the decision to not build the road, Governor Walker cited the ongoing fiscal crisis in Alaska and the need to send available funding to the highest-priority projects.

“By stopping this project the state can reallocate $38.6 million to the region’s other pressing transportation infrastructure needs,” said Rep. Kito. “I support the Governor’s effort to consult with stakeholders in the region to determine the best use of that money.”

Senator Dennis Egan (D) reacted angrily Thursday to Governor Walker’s decision to stop progress on the Juneau Access project. “I’ve supported this project since statehood. I’m very disappointed my three largest communities will lose the benefit from improved transportation, commerce and tourism,” Egan said. The project, to build 50 miles of highway from Juneau toward Skagway and the continental road system, came to a halt with Walker’s announcement that he selected the ‘no build’ alternative said Egan. - More...
Sunday AM - December 18, 2016

Ketchikan: Two Ketchikan Men Convicted of Drug Trafficking - Thursday, a Ketchikan jury found 54 year old William Riggs and 59 year old Charles Woolsey guilty of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance – i.e., possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Superior Court Judge Trevor Stephens presided over the three day trial.

The convictions stem from a June 13, 2016 incident where Ketchikan Police Department Officers found nearly seven ounces of methamphetamine in a garage controlled by both Riggs and Woolsey. Testimony at trial demonstrated that the street-level value of the methamphetamine exceeded $90,000. Evidence at trial showed that the defendants’ intended to distribute the methamphetamine in the Ketchikan area. - More...
Sunday AM - December 18, 2016

Fish Factor: Sea Share: $1 donation = 8 seafood servings for hungry Americans By LAINE WELCH - Giving to the less fortunate is the true meaning of the Christmas season, and giving Alaska seafood has never been easier.

A single dollar donated to Sea Share translates to eight seafood dinners for hungry Americans from the nation’s food bank network.

For 22 years, fish taken as bycatch in Alaska fisheries has been donated to hunger relief programs via Sea Share instead of being thrown overboard as required by law. During that time, the Seattle-based nonprofit has built a growing nationwide network of fishermen, processors, freight, storage, packaging companies and financial donors to get the fish to the needy. More than 120 Alaska boats are part of the program - including every boat in the Bering Sea pollock fishery and more than half of the Gulf trawl fleet.

“People can participate in many ways–by supplying seafood or services, or by helping to fund those programs. Our partnerships are pretty unique. We take raw fish and turn it into finished meals. There is no other entity doing that in the U.S.,” said, Jim Harmon, director of what is now one of the largest protein donors in the nation – 220 million seafood servings and counting.

Today, bycatch makes up only about 20 percent of the seafood donations; the rest is donated by seafood companies which so far this year totals nearly two million pounds of halibut, salmon, pollock, canned fish and more. Over 1.7 million pounds have gone to 28 states in the Lower 48 and nearly 200,000 pounds have gone to hungry Alaskans.

“With the help of the Coast Guard and some other imaginative measures we’ve reached 36 different communities in Alaska,” Harmon said. “That’s expensive, so we’re having an end of year fund raiser to try to generate more income. A lot of nonprofits, including ours, historically get about 40 percent of their income in the last six weeks of the year.”- More...
Sunday AM - December 18, 2016