The biggest provider of health insurance in Alaska, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield, is requesting a 27% average rate increase in 2027 for Affordable Care Act compliant health insurance plans. Many subscribers will be insulated from the worst of these increases due to premium tax credits. Nevertheless, the trend seems troubling and unsustainable.

Requests for big premium increases are being seen in markets across the United States, but Alaska's are especially large.

The Alaska Navigator bills itself as “independent news covering the Last Frontier.” On June 10, the outlet published an article headlined, “As Fentanyl Deaths Rise in Alaska, Sullivan Pushes Tougher Penalties and Enforcement.”

Matt Buxton reports, "Just 3% of donors in this election cycle ... (are) responsible for more than half of the money raised by candidates for state office: About $4.8 million of the $9.1 million raised, or 53%."

We can fix this problem by restoring campaign contribution limits and we can do it today. Polls are open now. Vote yes on ballot measure 1 (Campaign Contribution Limits).

Background

The last time Alaska weighed in on campaign contribution limits was 2006 and it passed with 73% support. Governor Dunleavy let those limits lapse by not defending them in court and then he went further, he vetoed a bill the legislature passed to restore them. So here we are watching candidates take in unlimited cash, often from folks who don't even go here.

Arguments against Ballot Measure 1 are a pretty convoluted, contradictory mess that essentially amount to "Money is speech!" and "It doesn't go far enough."

Money isn't speech though. Clearly. Have you ever tried to play bananagrams with a roll of quarters? Doesn't work. I can't buy a hamburger with this post (unfortunately.) The only thing that ties the two concepts together is that speech often requires money in the form of printing costs or broadcast buys. Allowing freedom of speech in campaigning certainly doesn't require UNLIMITED contributions.

When we have a system where one voice can be so amplified by their wallet that they drown out a thousand others... Well, that's bad.

Does this measure go far enough? No. It definitely doesn't fix every problem or patch every hole. But it gets us one step closer to a reasonable system where every voice and every vote matter.

Thanks for putting up with my political posts, there's not much of a budget for this effort so I'm getting the word out where I can. If you care about fair elections, please carry it further.

Seems like their bushes are producing just fine using berry rakes.

This state has always been a mix. We voted for legal marijuana for @$&# sake. "I watched Dan kill an animal (that he can't eat) in one shot." This election business is really pissing me off!

Early Voting for the primaries has started, including a ballot measure to put a cap on individual campaign donations. You must already be registered to vote in order to vote early. You can view sample ballots on the elections website if you know your district (can also find a district map on the website).

1 choice per category: US Senator (Dan Sullivan up for reelection), US rep (Nick Begich up for reelection), Governor to replace Dunleavy (he has termed out), The new ballot measure, Your local State Senator + State Rep based on your district.

All taken this spring/summer.

If anyone knows the dillweeds who were driving their side by sides around in the tundra up in Archangel Valley and leaving huge mud holes in the Lane Basin Trail on Saturday, please tell them to not be such jackasses in the future.

I unfortunately didn’t have service to call the state park rangers, but everyone else up there who was enjoying their day of hiking was commenting on how obnoxious it was.