policy

Walker’s DHSS Medicaid Failure

All we can say is, “we told you so.” When the discussions on Medicaid Expansion began in earnest in 2013, we brought the facts to light over the next couple of years. There […]

Alaska’s Budget Deficit: Have we really cut enough?

In a large statewide poll conducted by Hellenthal and Associates in the spring of 2017, Alaskan voters agreed with the following statement by a two-to-one margin: “The state budget needs to be drastically […]

Leading Tax Experts to Alaska Legislature: Whatever You Tax, You Get Less Of

The Tax Foundation, the nation’s leading independent tax policy nonprofit organization has published their take on the governor’s tax proposal. Highlights: “When Alaska’s legislature convenes in the year’s fourth special session on Monday, […]

State health care exchanges of 2014

(NCPA) With examples from Massachusetts’ “Commonwealth Connector” law and California’s proposed health care exchange, NCPA explains one of the new health care law’s requirements and what it means to you.

Chief Actuary of Medicare rejects Trustees’ report

The Medicare Chief Actuary has published his own Medicare projections report, calling the official Trustees’ report “unreasonable” and “implausible.” The Trustees’ report is based on current law, and not inclusive of changes caused by the resent healthcare overhaul.

Alaska Watchdog:Boroughs to end financial disclosure laws

An often overlooked provision in Alaska statute allows cities to exempt themselves from campaign financial disclosure requirements, and several Alaskan boroughs have made the move to include the exemptions on the upcoming October ballots.

Unfunded pension liabilities drastically underestimated

(NCAP) Recent reports state that due to over-estimated discount rates, the public employee retirement pension liabilities of many state and local governments have been under-estimated by 75-86 percent.

Welfare: Road to Ruin

The U.S. welfare program will see a 42 percent increase from FY2008 by FY2011, something The Heritage Foundation calls unsustainable and a path to bankruptcy.

Indiana Legislators push for Transparency Website

GOP legislators voice favoritism for a state transparency website being constructed without legislative approval, citing benefits it would bring such as cost savings.

Signatories of petitions now subject to rules of Open Government

Supreme Court rules that petition signatures are a matter of public record and should be made available as such.

Union bail-out has Republican supporters

(Michigan Capitol Confidential) Nine Republicans co-sponsor legislation that would put $165 million toward unfunded union pension liabilities, after each of them received union campaign contributions.

Ohio Senate moves to improve school-age obesity

The Ohio Senate approved a bill that mandates a 30 minute exercise period in schools, among other nutritional requirements. Ohio, with one in three children obese, aims to monitor and control each student’s body weight.

Anchorage VA clinic: $76mil, 184,000 square feet

(KTUU) Patients and staffers at Anchorage’s veterans’ clinic have waited two years for this day: the opening of their new building on North Muldoon Road. Less than seven miles from the site of the new crime lab, the new clinic measures 184,000 square feet, but with a price tag that should make Alaska policymakers take notice.