The Alaska Republican Party is ramping up its communication efforts with a weekly e-newsletter that breaks news and highlights items of interest to Republicans statewide. To be among the first who receive it each week, subscribe by sending a note to suzannedowning907@gmail.com. The newsletter is also posted online at varying times in the week after publication at  http://www.alaskagop.org/mustreadalaska . Also, be sure to check the statewide GOP calendar while you're there. Below is a sample without 

Good morning. It's the week of Oct. 5, 2015. Local elections are coming right up...Santa Claus is running in North Pole...We have a question for the CEO candidates for the Alaska Permanent Fund...Bill Wielechowski chooses war rather than budget cuts..But first, to District 36... Bob Sivertsen FIRST CITY FIRST: We dodged raindrops in Ketchikan last week, where we met with a couple of dozen Republican activists, including City Council member Bob Sivertsen, who is running for his council seat, and who also has filed to challenge Indie-Leftist "Demo Dan" Ortiz for House District 36.  Sivertsen is a former high school basketball coach, Sealaska shareholder, and serves on the Alaska Commission on Aging. He's also a Republican in a red-leaning district. Ortiz promised to caucus with the Republicans, but immediately switched brands after the election. The only thing he has accomplished is a handful of APOC violations. Ortiz is vulnerable because he started out of the gate with a big lie and then started cozying up to Les Gara. Thanks to all who turned out for the District 36 meeting, including Chair Trevor Shaw and former Rep. Peggy Wilson, who traveled from Wrangell for the occasion. Thanks also to Susan Stone, Lynda Adams, and Dick Coose for their great hospitality. REFURBISHING THE THUNDERDOME: Work continues saving democracy at Alaska's Capitol Building, and it's a cacophony of drilling with a sprinkling of dust and dash of displacement.  About one-fifth of legislators will be in temporary offices during the special session that gavels in Oct. 24, by order of the governor. A few of the rooms are still not ready: Senate Finance, Senate Finance co-chair, Judiciary on the 2nd floor on the House side, and offices on the 4th floor. The House Chambers are ready, as are House Finance and the Butrovich Room.  BILL'S OVERDUE BILLS: Also not ready are Gov. Walker's bills on the very topics for which he called Special Session: Resucitating an unpopular gas reserves tax and asking legislators to agree to Walker's purchase of the gasline interests of TransCanada, a cost now estimated to be north of $7 billion. Perhaps his strategy is to continue his pattern of withholding information and sucker-punching the Legislature at the last minute. It worked with Medicaid expansion. And then there's the transparency, or lack thereof, as noted by Mike Bradner: Walker unleashes reserves tax threat in his special session call By Mike Bradner We were looking forward to having a special legislative session in late October on the pipe/ LNG project contracts between the gas producers and the state, this then moving the project forward to the FEED (final engineering) design phase. However, that's not what has happened. Instead we're heading into a special session to threaten industry partners in the project with a gas reserves tax. Also included in the special session is a buy-out of Trans-Canada interests. This could cost in excess of $100 million, but it would also increase the state's share of the project. Translated, this means the state/industry talks appear to have reached serious disagreements. The frustrating thing is that these negotiations take place behind a wall of confidentiality, so we don't know what the deadlocking issues are or their opportunity for resolution. Transparency, it seems, was only for pre-election pandering. If the lack of work product coming from the Third Floor is an indication, the dust, noise and vibration from the constant drilling on the Capitol must be driving the governor to distraction. Some building photos taken by House Speaker's Chief of Staff Tom Wright: DRIVING THE WEDGE: Pat Pitney, director of the Office of Management and Budget for Gov. Walker, was in Dillingham as part of the Walker road show on the need for revenues. Pushing hard for taxes and using the Permanent Fund, she had nothing much to say about cutting spending further, but drove the rural-urban wedge like a boss when she criticized Railbelt Alaskans for wanting to cut spending first: "The inertia is Anchorage-centric. We can have the state of Anchorage, or we can have the state of Alaska, and my preference is to have the state of Alaska."  We missed hearing her say that when she was in the Railbelt, from where most of the taxes would be paid. Different crowd, different message. Microtargeting 101. Introduction to Class Warfare, Dillingham. (APRN photo.) In Juneau, a larger and more government-ish group assembled to discuss how to fund Alaska's government. Panelists included Larry Persily, who received a warm applause for saying that paying taxes was part of being a good citizen. (But Larry, are you saying the 43% of Americans who don't pay taxes are bad citizens?...Is it not enough that the rest of us already pay at least 30% of our incomein combined taxes?) Not quoted by the media is the moment of wry levity when Persily suggested maybe it was time to sell his house in Juneau (across from the Governor's Mansion) and asked if anyone knew of any realtors? At least one hand shot up. (For the record, we like Larry; we like smart.) FACTS ARE FACTS, DEMOCRAT STYLE: Here's the level of "factual" fiscal detail that OMB provided to the budget forums. This item refers to the Juneau Access project; you'll see what makes us laugh under the heading of "Economic Impacts":   Source Revenue/Expense Economic Impacts       Juneau Road $40,000,000  Has potential to negatively affect both the environment and peoples way of life.   TITANS MEET AGAIN WITH GOVERNOR: The governor reconvened a group of high-level business people on Sept. 29. These were the same concerned Alaskans with whom he had met in early September, and to whom he promised he would unfurl a budget plan on this second meetup. But what Walker and OMB Director Pat Pitney served up was thin gruel, we hear. Walker also brought into the meeting an outside expert on sovereign funds. A fellow from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government discussed using the Permanent Fund as a sovereign fund, a subject that lobbyist Jack Ferguson is said to be working on behalf of the Walker Administration. How a sovereign fund is different from the Permanent Fund has us scratching our heads. We'll also need someone to explain how investments would be structured and protected from political manipulation. So-called sovereign funds in Saudi Arabia and Russia have done poorly as they are not adequately protected from politics.  Thus far, it's been the legislative majority pushing to get deeper cuts, and the governor wanting to increase spending, add revenues, and use some portion of the Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve -- and then maybe he'll talk about cuts. IMPERMANENT FUND? Speaking of separating politics from the Alaska Permanent Fund, Oct. 7 is the date that four finalists will be interviewed for the position of CEO of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. Our question for the candidates: "How do you feel about the governor's idea of collateralizing the Permanent Fund by borrowing money against it at a low rate, investing in risky plays, with the goal of raking in enough money to pay for government?" FEEL THE BURN: Alaska Gasline Development Corporation board renewed the contract of Gov. Walker's Outside consultant-friend from South Carolina, Rigdon Boykin. Boykin is making $120,000 a month to deliver us Alaska a gasline project. No, this was not a competitive contract. Here's a good timeline of the gasline to nowhere. DID HE JUST SAY THAT? Sen. Bill Wielechowski, on KTUU's "PFD: Checks & Balances," special, responded to a statement from Steve MacDonald about how Alaska can't count on war this time to bail us out of our current budget woes. "It could," Wielechowski said without hesitation. "I would certainly hope that it does." We'd like him to say that to every military family in District G. Come to think of it, why not just apologize to every military family in the state, Bill, for being so cavalier about the lives of their loved ones, our American soldiers. We're waiting... CAUTION, STEEP GRADE AHEAD FOR ANCHORAGE PROPERTY OWNERS: Mayor Berkowitz offered up a budget that lacks adequate revenue, and will drive property taxes higher at the same time the Multiple Listing Service shows a slight dip in Anchorage home values. The average homeowner will pay $100 a year more to support the mayor's budget. Add another $60 per year in property taxes to cover the school bonds that the State recently said it's not going to pay. ENFORCEMENT TAX: The rookie mayor plans to put more police on the streets and collect revenues through traffic fines, tickets, and fees. Taxation via enforcement bypasses the Assembly process and destroys the trust that people have in their law enforcement officers. Hat tip for this link from Alex Gimarc on Ferguson, Mo, which makes the case. INFLATION-DEFLATION: While Berkowitz claims the $482 million budget is significantly smaller when adjusted for inflation and population growth, a declining population is just ahead, along with that expanded  budget. INVISIBLE TAXMAN COMETH: Speaking of taxes, your Permanent Fund dividend is taxed by the State before you get it (and, of course, by the feds after you get it).  This year's dividend state "tax" is $76.28. Here is where it goes: $34.66 -You pay this for inmates who would have been eligible for dividends if they weren't incarcerated. The money goes to the Department of Corrections to pay for inmate health care. Now that there's Obamacare Medicaid expansion, we wonder how this money will be used. $27.50 - You pay this for Medicaid and public assistance reimbursement for low-income Alaskans who would lose their benefits by getting a dividend. Your money goes to Health and Social Services. $12.79 - Your share of the operational costs of the Permanent Fund Dividend Division. Consider it an investment fee. $1.33 - You are docked slightly to help the division pay prior year dividends that must be paid this year, for all kinds of legitimate reasons. DEMOCRATS STORMIN' THE CASTLE: Recently we discussed how Mark Begich was getting ready for a push to flip the majority in the Alaska House of Representatives. He joined the Hilltop Public Solutions as the Alaska guy. (He's listed as a "special counsel" to the group, even though he doesn't have a law degree.) Hilltop, as we've said previously, is a "fake grassroots" practice that rolls out "astroturf" campaigns that look like a groundswell of public opinion.  Word has it that recently a group of wealthy Democrats that included George Soros, Michael Bloomberg, and others, met in San Francisco and agreed to pool their funds to target the Alaska House, among others legislatures around the country. Further evidence came last month when it was revealed that Alaska Democrats signed a cooperative fundraising agreement with Hillary Clinton, which will allow them to receive huge sums of money legally from Outside groups, such as the one Sayers runs. Mark Begich did this in 2014. Help us fight the good fight. We can't do this without you! Take a moment to...    LOCAL ELECTIONS: While we favor Larry DeVilbiss for Mat-Su Borough mayor, and hope to see Tammie Wilson and Merrill Sanford win in Fairbanks and Juneau, there is a lot more at stake all over the state come Tuesday, including many ballot measures that matter. And then there's this: Santa Claus is indeed running for city council in North Pole as a write-in. FYI, he is neither Republican nor Democrat, and his voting record is quite poor. He also signed the petition to repeal SB-21, so we fear that Santa doesn't understand tax reform. WHAT'S THE TREATMENT CODE FOR STICKER SHOCK? This just in from Juneau, where one couple practically fell over from sticker shock at the cost of their health insurance:  $3,900 per month for two healthy, non-smoking people, and that's just for a silver plan. Here's the proof that Obamacare is gouging us: THINGS PRESIDENTIAL: Would you like to get involved in a presidential campaign in Alaska? Contact Alaska Republican Party Chairman Peter Goldberg and let him know which campaign you would like to work on. He will get your information to the campaign coordinators. He's at padipete@gmail. PEOPLE: Happy birthday to Scott Hawkins, Heath Hilyard, Tim Sullivan, Susan Fischetti. As Rachel Petro heads for the exit from the Alaska Chamber and looks for a new mission in Wenatchee, Wash., we all wish her and the family well. Congratulations, Pogo Mine for pouring its three millionth ounce of gold last week, and is two years without a lost-time accident. The mine employs more than 300 workers and 150 contract employees. Congrats to Rebecca Logan, who just became the longest-serving general manager of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance. And congrats to the hearty souls in North Pole who went 78 hours or more without electricity last week.  Alaska Dispatch executive Margy Johnson hams it up with the governor as she holds the newspaper proclaiming his gas reserves tax surprise announcement.   THIS FIELD ISN'T SET: Senator Lesil McGuire's District L seat is now contested with both Natasha Von Imhof and Jeff Landfieldas announced candidates, and Lesil retiring. But wait! What about Representative Craig Johnson? He's the natural to run for Senate, having served South Anchorage District 24 since 2008. He has been chair of Rules since 2011, making him arguably the second-most powerful House leader. Let's just say he's thinking about it. We spoke with him briefly on Friday and here's what Johnson said: "I'm keeping my options open. Honestly, I'm focused on representing my district well and doing everything I can to keep the gasline and the jobs it will create on track, and to get state spending under control." Johnson is also frequently mentioned as the leading candidate to ascend to becoming House Speaker, so let's just say this decision is more than just a coin toss for him. A CHANCE TO PARTY (FOR THE PARTY): CAN'T MAKE IT? Invest in the fight for accountable government and protecting constitutional freedoms: DO UNTO OTHERS: The Pebble Partnership is reading from the same playbook that environmentalists used against the company as they tried to block the development of a mine in Western Alaska. Now, Pebble is subpoenaing documents that may show that the EPA coordinated its work with anti-mine activists. We say, go for it. This is the same tactic used by Trustees for Alaska when they requested millions of pages of documents in a case they brought to stop Pebble. Further, what is their problem with transparency? Most of the groups and individuals from whom Pebble is seeking documents claim to work for the public interest. If so, then they should have no problems in making their documents public. CALENDAR ITEMS: There's a lot going on around the state, including this: an election-night potluck at the Gazebo in the Mat-Su, behind Garrett Medical on Palmer-Wasilla Highway. They'll be watching the returns and sharing stories from the past six months. Bring something -- finger food, utensils, cups, etc, and join in. FALL BOOK CLUB: A return to the classics, with F.A. Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom," first published in 1944, a treatise on classical liberalism, as opposed to the newer social liberalism. What Hayek proposed was that the farther we get from a free-market economy, and the greater the government influence, the further we are from liberty and the closer we are to tyranny. COST SAVING TIP OF THE WEEK: Regulatory commission of Alaska's  five commissioners, by Alaska statute, are paid on the Juneau pay scale, which gives them a five percent pay differential. They all live in Anchorage, so why are they being paid on the Juneau scale? Savings: $50,000. ICYMI: Education Secretary Arne Duncan is stepping down to return to private life in Chicago. His replacement is  John King, who is new to the $60 billion department, and who is a big supporter of Common Core. At 40, he'll be one of the younger members of Obama's cabinet, but that could change as the exodus begins for the president's final year. King won't have to endure the grueling confirmation process but will likely continue as the acting secretary. ICYMI II: ARP Vice Chairman Frank McQueary's response to the governor's op-ed that ran in just about every newspaper in the state last weekend. We're thankful to the NewsMiner and Dispatch for running our response. SUPREME COURT JUSTICES start a new term today (Monday), and will be weighing cases involving abortion clinics, Obamacare, and labor union fees. OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK: Homeowners fined again for flying the American flag. THE LAST WORD: "Avoid zealots. They are generally humorless." - Lloyd Shearer. Paid for by Alaska Republican Party, 1001 West Fireweed Lane, Anchorage, Alaska, 99503, 907-250-8822. Not authorized or approved by any candidate or candidate's committee. Facebook Twitter Website

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