The Damage
Readers asked for an accounting of the damage done by Governor Dunleavy to our state.
At his 2 year anniversary, we bring you our master list:
- Violated the Alaska Constitution by refusing to appoint a judge
- Broke Alaska law with court system vetoes
- Violated the separation of powers by attacking the judicial system
- Violated ethics laws by using state funds for partisan political ads
- Potentially violated ethics laws again with auction fundraiser
- Knowingly allowed sexual harassment by former Attorney General Kevin Clarkson
- Covered up sexual harassment by former attorney general
- Secretly collaborated with a foreign corporation to circumvent state permitting process
- Appealed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decision to deny Pebble permit despite the mine being deemed noncompliant with water safety standards and contrary to public interest.
- Awarded unlawful no-bid contracts to consultants and outside companies, here and here
- Misused state resources for the benefit of a foreign corporation
- Hired outside consultant Donna Arduin at $195,000 per year to slash Alaska budget
- Proposed 40% cut to UA system (succeeded in 20% cut)
- Caused elimination or reduction of 40 UA programs
- Caused slated elimination of UA hockey, skiing, and gymnastics teams
- Proposed 25% cut to public education
- Sued the legislature to eliminate forward funding for public education
- Vetoed Head Start and other early education programs
- Vetoed school bond debt reimbursement and caused rise in property taxes
- Vetoed the Alaska Performance Scholarship Program that assists thousands of Alaskan students
- Proposed an end to Alaska ferries
- Cut $97 million ($69%) of ferry budget
- Eliminated the entire public radio and television budget
- Vetoed $714 million in Medicaid funding
- Cut senior benefits program and aid to impoverished elders
- Eliminated Medicaid dental coverage
- Attempted to drastically increase Pioneer Home rates in some cases by double
- Vetoed services to the homeless
- Vetoed safety net for mentally ill
- Vetoed WWAMI program that trains physicians to work in Alaska
- Eliminated the Alaska Council on the Arts
- Privatized Alaska’s only state psychiatric facility (API)
- Gave $525,000 online school contract to Florida Virtual Schools instead of Alaska schools
- Cut $3 million from Village Public Safety Officer Program
- Proposed shifting fish tax revenue away from coastal communities
- Voided $21 million increase for Alaska State Troopers
- Eliminated the Ocean Rangers Program monitoring cruise ship pollution
- Vetoed Alaska wing of Civil Air Patrol
- Vetoed funding for Cold Climate Housing Research Center
- Eliminated funding for the state’s only dairy inspector
- Outsourced state personnel management to Seattle company in $4.5 million contract
- Funded invitation-only town hall meetings with contributions from extremist political group
- Politicized Board of Fish to satisfy political donors and aid foreign corporations
- Shifted $400 million in oil and gas tax revenue from municipalities
- Hired outside law firm to sue Alaska unions
- Demanded a loyalty pledge from state workers, fired those who wouldn’t sign
- Repeatedly denied communication with Alaska media outlets
- Failed to deliver timely small business relief during Covid pandemic
- Closed Cook Inlet to commercial fishing to satisfy political donor
- Mislead Alaskan voters during election campaign and broke key campaign promises after elected
TO BE CONTINUED until we reach the recall election…
Recall Dunleavy
Dear friends and neighbors,
We take seriously our obligation to build and sustain communities so that Alaskans thrive. We know that using resources wisely requires long-term planning and plenty of listening. Governor Dunleavy’s sudden, severe, and sometimes illegal budget cuts have caused tremendous harm to Alaska and Alaskans.
Governor Dunleavy has put forward a long list of vetoes, saying we cannot afford access to medical care, access to a properly funded university, access to art and culture. The governor would have us neglect our obligations to elder care and Head Start, to shelter for the homeless. The governor thinks we cannot afford to fund scholarships that Alaska’s brightest students have worked hard to earn, scholarships already awarded.
With careful planning, we can afford all those things.
What we cannot afford is for Governor Dunleavy to remain in office.
His brief time as governor has brought us an atmosphere of fear and distress, as people worry about whether they will be able to care for special-needs children or whether they will lose their jobs, their homes, and their ability to live in Alaska.
We cannot allow a governor who doesn’t understand the concept of the separation of powers to remain in power. He cannot be allowed to attack the judiciary because courts make decisions he doesn’t like. He cannot be allowed to keep the legislature from upholding its constitutional responsibilities to fund programs that provide for the health, education, and well-being of Alaska’s people.
We cannot trust a governor who uses state funds for his own political gain.
Alaska’s finest legal experts have drafted a petition stating the reasons we must recall Governor Dunleavy.
We respectfully ask you to join us in the recall process.
Petition Language
Statement of Grounds: Neglect of Duties, Incompetence, and/or Lack of Fitness, for the following actions:
- Governor Dunleavy violated Alaska law by refusing to appoint a judge to the Palmer Superior Court within 45 days of receiving nominations.
- Governor Dunleavy violated Alaska Law and the Constitution, and misused state funds by unlawfully and without proper disclosure, authorizing and allowing the use of state funds for partisan purposes to purchase electronic advertisements and direct mailers making partisan statements about political opponents and supporters.
- Governor Dunleavy violated separation-of-powers by improperly using the line-item veto to: (a) attack the judiciary and the rule of law.
- Governor Dunleavy acted incompetently when he mistakenly vetoed approximately $18 million more than he told the legislature in official communications he intended to strike. Uncorrected, the error would cause the state to lose over $40 million in additional federal Medicaid funds.
References: AS 22.10.100; Art. IX, sec. 6 of Alaska Constitution; AS 39.52; AS 15.13, including .050, .090, .135, and .145; Legislative Council (31-LS1006); ch.1-2, FSSLA19; OMB Change Record Detail (Appellate Courts, University, AHFC, Medicaid Services).
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Latest News
Updates about the Recall
Recall Reboot Press Conference Gains State and National Coverage
On January 19, Recall Dunleavy held a press conference, resulting in newspaper, television, and radio coverage across Alaska and around the lower 48. Recall Dunleavy chair Meda DeWitt cited the distribution of Covid vaccines and a greater understanding of Covid safety as motivation for Alaskans to finish gathering signatures. “We have a new energy flooding in from Alaskans.”
Surge of volunteer engagement leads the Recall Reboot
With a vaccine being distributed throughout the state, Alaskans are surging back to the recall to help gather signatures. “There are tens of thousands Alaskans out there that are ready to sign this petition, it is our job to give them the opportunity.”
The recall reboots to collect 22,000 signatures by mid-March
With a vaccine on the horizon and the November election finished, Alaskans are turning their attention back to the recall. Over the next 8 weeks, we’ll be collecting the final 22,000 petition signatures. Thanks to super volunteer Pat Race who created our new “reboot” graphics. Here is his letter to fellow recall supporters.
