The Weekly Top 3

Welcome to the inaugural edition of our Weekly Top 3, a quick, 15 minute review of the three biggest issues on which we are focusing as we pivot from the prior week to the one upcoming. This week we discuss Sen. Pete Kelly's odd claim that the Alaska Senate R's refuse "to get to yes on a plan that takes money out of the private sector" (when that is what they already have agreed to the last two ye...

This week Michael and I dive into the Governor’s proposed FY 2019 budget: what are the real proposed spending levels & our thoughts on the proposed oil tax credit bonds and the “Alaska Economic Recovery Act.”

This week Michael and I discuss whether the worst of the current Alaska recession is behind us and yet another fiscal issue facing Alaska government (this one is about $8 billion). For those following, the Michael Dukes Show is now broadcasting daily from 6-9am Alaska both on Facebook Live at The Michael Dukes Show Facebook page, and audio via Livestream, linked through https://www.michaeldukessho...

This week Michael and I discuss what the oil industry and it allies are overlooking when they talk about Alaska tax policy & the effect of the US Senate #TaxReform bill on Alaskans.

This week Michael and I discuss the good and bad of #AKLNG as the Administration releases more details, and why the current federal tax debate increasingly sounds similar to the Alaska fiscal debate.

This week Michael and I discuss how the federal tax debate over the impact of various proposals on middle income families reveals the hypocrisy of both Alaska R's and D's at the state level, and while the RDC conference last week was optimistic, whether that translates to Alaska's fiscal situation.

This week Michael and I discuss the recent announcement regarding the #AKLNG project and China, and the most stunning fiscal news to come out of the latest special session and what it means for the 2018 regular session and beyond to the election.

This week Michael and I discuss what the Oil Search acquisition says about Alaska oil & the Alaska Senate R's disingenuous defense of the their fiscal plan ("we won't vote for taxes ... except the one we voted for.")

This week Michael and I talk about the current #AKleg session, the surprises in DOR's new preliminary revenue forecast & what effect they should have on state fiscal policy.

Former Senate President and current candidate for Governor Charlie Huggins joined us for a couple of segments Thursday while we sat in as guest host on The Tom Anderson Show. For those interested, Sen. Huggins platform is available here, https://goo.gl/F4QdCo. During our conversation we took the opportunity for a deeper dive on his positions on the PFD and #AKbudget reform. He had some very intere...

Our comments on the Administration's Preliminary Fall 2017 Revenue Forecast issued Wednesday and why we think it shows that the full statutory PFD can be maintained. (The comments are excerpted from the opening and close of the show.) The forecast is available here, https://goo.gl/kEFWzN.

This week Michael and I discuss how the Administration misunderstands the cause of Alaska's recession and as a consequence, the solution, and an update on the good and not as good news from the Alaska oil patch.

This week Michael and I discuss former Governor Murkowski's recent piece on oil tax credits (what I have called the worst fiscal policy idea ever) and why a flat tax is the best approach among the new revenue options for restraining spending (the commentary we discuss is here: https://goo.gl/izo5hM)

This week Michael and I discuss whether a permanent PFD cut is a "done deal" (we don't think so but time is running short on changing the outcome) and whether Alaskans are being played by the Top 20% and Senate R's.

This week Michael and I discuss additional problems building on the horizon for revenues and costs, and, if we need to go there (and it increasingly appears we do) why a flat tax is the best way to approach new revenues.

I sat in for Michael as guest host Tuesday and used the entire 7am block to discuss fiscal policy. I start the hour with a 13 minute discussion of what we should take away from Michael's discussion with Revenue Commissioner Sheldon Fisher the day before about what is driving the Administration's fiscal policy, and then former Rep. and current Lt. Gov. candidate Lynn Gattis joins to take a deeper d...

Michael Dukes interviews Revenue Commissioner Sheldon Fisher on the show today about the Administration's proposed new payroll tax.