Mastodawn

PFD cuts are about one thing only: protecting the Top20%, #NonRez & #OilCos from the costs of #akleg spending.

Rather than spreading the impact broadly, PFD cuts instead focus the burden almost entirely on middle- & lower-income #AKfams. https://alaskalandmine.com/landmines/brad-keithleys-chart-of-the-week-they-dont-really-object-to-free-money-they-just-want-more-of-it-to-flow-to-their-pockets-instead/

AKs 4 Sustainable Budgets Mar 1

When PFD's are cut, the "free money" doesn't disappear. The benefit just transfers to the bank accounts of #NonRez, #OilCos & upper-income #AKfams.

Who pays for that? Middle- & lower-income #AKfams. #akleg

https://buff.ly/Y8K07jZ

AKs 4 Sustainable Budgets Feb 27

Some argue that the #akleg should divert money designated for PFD distributions to other "important" uses. If those uses are important, then ALL #AKfams & #NonRez should contribute, rather than taking the money almost entirely from middle- & lower-income #AKfams through PFD cuts.

AKs 4 Sustainable Budgets Feb 16

ALL of the #akleg POMV draw is "free money." The PFD largely benefits middle & lower-income #AKfams; the portion used to fund govt (substitute for taxes) largely benefits #NonRez, #OilCos & #UpperIncome. PFDcuts simply shift more "free money" to the latter. https://alaskalandmine.com/landmines/brad-keithleys-chart-of-the-week-alaskas-super-socialists/

AKs 4 Sustainable Budgets Feb 8

Economically, the "free money" from PF earnings is used either to fund PFDs or to shield #NonRez, #OilCos & the Top20% from taxes to cover add'l govt spending. Those pushing PFD cuts just want to use more as a tax shield for the protected class. #akleg https://buff.ly/A7Az3TZ

AKs 4 Sustainable Budgets Feb 2

By shifting a significant portion of the burden to #NonRez, replacing PFD cuts with a seasonal sales tax keeps A LOT more money in the pockets of #AKfams. Their reaction separates those #akleg concerned about #AKfams from those concerned about special interests.

AKs 4 Sustainable Budgets Jan 28

Our first look at raising $775 million thru a 3% average sales tax v. using PFD cuts. Under a sales tax, 10-15% would be raised from #NonRez, significantly reducing the impact on #AKfams from PFD cuts. #akleg

AKs 4 Sustainable Budgets Jan 25

Focus on this for a moment. Using PFDcuts takes money ONLY from #AKfams to fund govt. Using sales taxes would raise ~15% instead from #NonRez. By using PFDcuts, #AKfams are literally subsidizing #NonRez by enabling them to avoid taxes. #akleg

AKs 4 Sustainable Budgets Jan 15

Some claim the PFD was a temporary program until the govt "needed" the money. False. It is a way of permanently splitting the commonly owned "free money" 50/50 b/w 1) middle & lower-income #AKfams on one side, and 2) upper-income, #NonRez & #OilCos on the other. #AKleg PFDcuts just give more and more of the wealth to the second. https://alaskalandmine.com/landmines/brad-keithleys-chart-of-the-week-they-dont-really-object-to-free-money-they-just-want-more-of-it-to-flow-to-their-pockets-instead/

AKs 4 Sustainable Budgets Jan 14

Permanent Fund earnings are the return on Alaska's commonly owned wealth. Current law divides them 50/50 between 1) middle & lower income #AKfams, and 2) the Top20%, #NonRez & #OilCos. Ignoring that, the #akleg is tilting them more and more to the latter. https://alaskalandmine.com/landmines/brad-keithleys-chart-of-the-week-they-dont-really-object-to-free-money-they-just-want-more-of-it-to-flow-to-their-pockets-instead/