“Destroying a wild salmon stream to sell coal to China is about the worst idea in Alaska’s proud history of salmon protection. We’ve always promoted responsible mines. But this one is irresponsible,” said Representative Les Gara, of state plans allowing dredging of eleven miles of the Chuitna River’s tributaries to keep moving forward.
Things are really starting to roll as the holidays are approaching. The next legislative session is just around the corner, and the Interior Delegation has been meeting with constituent groups of the Fairbanks North Star Borough on their legislative priorities and funding requests.
While Alaska remains one of the only states in the nation to have a positive financial outlook, it is still impossible to fund everything brought before the Legislature. As a resource state, we have to consider the volatile nature of our cash reserves and look into solutions that plan for a sustainable future. This is the advice we give to organizations requesting support from the state, and this is advice the Alaska Legislature should heed itself.
