Posted by Jeanne Devon on April 5, 2018 · 2 Comments
It’s always fun when committee meetings become not mind-numbingly dull. For every bazillion hours that make you wish you were watching paint dry, there’s a precious moment of drama. And if you’re lucky, you even get crayon-breaking and a tantrum. Behold today’s Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, and its Chair, Senator John Coghill (R-North Pole). The omnibus crime bill (SB91) was passed a couple years ago, and since then all the inevitable bugs and problems found in a gigantic bill are being worked out. SB150 is one of those mechanisms meant to deal with the pre-trial portion of the bill. One…
Posted by Shannyn Moore on January 15, 2017 · 1 Comment
Well, my darling Alaskans, we’ve made it through the holiday season and now a real cause for celebration is upon us – the 2017 legislative session! I know, after so many “special sessions” it’s hard to really feel like this one will be special without the title, but we can all hope. I’m encouraged by the newly formed House bipartisan coalition. You know, the grown-ups in Juneau, working together to work for all of us. What a concept. In reading through the prefiled bills, I’m reminded of the old quote about paving roads with good intentions. Truth be told, with…
Category Headlines · Tags Alaska, costello, Daniel Inouye, GOP, hawaii, house bipartisanship, jason grenn, Joe Biden, Juneau, legislature, Mia Costello, senators, Ted Stevens
Posted by Jeanne Devon on April 13, 2014 · 8 Comments
Show me a political flyer in Alaska and I’ll show you a candidate whose only reason for living is supporting the Permanent Fund and education, and fighting “government waste.” There’s an old saying, “Don’t tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.” This week we got to see what the Republican majority in the Alaska Senate values. Rest assured, their budget, written by Sen. Pete Kelly, does not value birth control for irresponsible women. In fact, amendments to accept millions in federal funds for family planning — to actually reduce abortions —…
Category Alaska, Alaska Legislature, Alaska Politicos, Education, Ethics, Headlines, Health, Oil & Gas, Republicans, Resource Development, Strategery · Tags Alaska budget, Alaskalegislature, Mia Costello, Mike Hawker, Sean Parnell
Posted by Shannyn Moore on April 14, 2013 · 21 Comments
An old saying goes something like this, “We hate in others what we hate in ourselves.” I don’t think I’ve seen a better example of that than this 28th legislative session. I flew to Juneau to watch the last days of the session for myself. Home in Anchorage, I spend a remarkable amount of time watching Gavel to Gavel – I even Tivo it. But the cameras don’t show what’s really going on in the Capitol, restaurants and bars; they don’t show the lobbyists following lawmakers into the bathroom or to the smoking porch. (I have to wonder whether the…
Category Alaska, Alaska Legislature, Bang it, Education, Fish & Wildlife, Headlines, Health Care Reform, KABATA, LGBT, Oil & Gas, Oil Tax · Tags ACES Oil Tax, Alaska Legislature, Alaska oil taxes, ALEC, Bill Stoltze, Bob Lynn, Charisse Millet, Gabrielle LeDoux, Gavel to Gavel, Kevin Meyer, Lance Pruitt, Lindsey Holmes, Lynn Gattis, Mia Costello, Mike Chenault, sb21, Wes Keller
Posted by Jeanne Devon on October 30, 2012 · 21 Comments
This is really more like a bag of Halloween goodies than an oyster platter. Enjoy! Quote of the Week: “Please, I’m begging you. Go vote for this guy. He’s awesome!” ~Bob Lester of the Bob & Mark Show on KWHL about State Senate candidate Ron Devon. Party’s Over! Remember the breathless complaint that was filed against Senator Hollis French, and Putting Alaskans First? The Party Planner was all in a tizzy because they used the same APOC savvy bookkeeper, and the same production company to do their commercials. Ergo, they must be in cahoots and illegally coordinating the two campaigns,…
Category Alaska, Alaska Legislature, Alaska Politicos, APOC, Barack Obama, Election 2012, Elections, Headlines, Mitt Romney, Nation, Party Planner, Redistricting, Republicans, Strategery · Tags Alaska Hire, APOC, Barack Obama, Bettye Davis, Bob & Mark, Chris Christie, Hollis French, KWHL, Mia Costello, Michelle Scannell, Mitt Romney, NJ flooding
Posted by Jeanne Devon on October 20, 2012 · 23 Comments
It’s time for another chilled plate of delectable goodies from the week. Let’s start off with a true story that happened right after last week’s roundup. Picture me sitting on the couch on a Saturday afternoon, minding my own business, and drinking a cup of coffee. Let’s watch… Knock, Knock! Who’s there? The mailman with a certified letter from Austin McDaniel! Austin McDaniel, who? Austin McDaniel, Governor Sean Parnell’s social media coordinator sending a copy of an APOC complaint to senate candidate Ron Devon! Nope, not kidding. That was my Saturday. So, what’s up with that? When people donate to…
Category Alaska, Alaska Legislature, Alaska Politicos, Barack Obama, Election 2012, Elections, Headlines, Mitt Romney, Nation, Republicans · Tags Austin McDaniel, Barack Obama, Binders full of women game, Lesil McGuire, Mia Costello, Michelle Scannell, Mitt Romney, Salt Lake Tribune, Sean Parnell
Posted by Jeanne Devon on October 6, 2012 · 19 Comments
~Thick and fast they came at last, and more, and more and more! Happy Saturday, you gorgeous Mudflatters. Here’s a slurpy, brunchy, half-dozen bites for your weekend palate. Quote of the Week: On Mitt Romney’s plan to defund PBS, aka “Kill Big Bird.” “I like Big Bird… You can kill things and still like them – maybe to eat them.” ~Rick Santorum Naked Baker Charms Anchorage Press Pick Voters So, every year, hundreds of hardy souls vote for dozens of their favorite bakeries, auto shops, pizza joints, and of course – politicians. This year’s picks were… interesting…
Category Alaska, Barack Obama, Election 2012, Elections, Headlines, Mayor Dan Sullivan, Mitt Romney · Tags Dan Sullivan Sidewalk, Dutch tarantulas, Mia Costello, Michelle Scannell, Naked Baker
Posted by Jeanne Devon on August 3, 2012 · 15 Comments
In a joint, bipartisan press conference called this morning, challengers in House District 20, raised questions about the residency of incumbent Repubican Mia Costello. Michelle Scannell (D) and Tamara Von Gemmingen (R) said they both came to the independent conclusion, as they canvassed the neighborhood, that Costello did not in fact live in the house she claimed as her residence in the district when she filed for reelection. ~Mia Costello’s alleged residence on Yukon Drive in District 20 So, where is she? Her two challengers say her car is frequently spotted at another residence she owns at 2100 Esquire, which…
Posted by Thomas Dewar on February 1, 2012 · 16 Comments
By Thomas Dewar The end of democracy and the defeat of the American Revolution will occur when government falls into the hands of lending institutions and moneyed corporations. —Thomas Jefferson ALEC is a dating service for state legislators and corporations. —Ed Muir, AFT Who Is ALEC? If you really want to know who and what is behind something in government, follow the money. It’s not a coincidence that the recent assault on workers and their unions occurred simultaneously in different states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey and others. Or that, closer to home, there is now a war on Alaska’s public schools. Funded…
Category Uncategorized · Tags ALEC, ALEC Alaska, ALEC exposed, Anna Fairclough, Bob Lynn, Carl Gatto, Cathy Giessel, Cathy Munoz, Fred Dyson, John Coghill, Koch Brothers, Labor, Lesil McGuire, Mia Costello, Scott Walker, Thomas Dewar, Wes Keller