Archive for the ‘Issues’ Category

Join Mayor Sullivan’s Education Summit and Help the Kids

Many of us complain that our education system is broken and failing our kids and our country. Mayor Sullivan of Anchorage hosted an Education Summit in mid-November and invited 100 participants to hear about making the Anchorage School District a world class education system. As a followup to that summit,...
January 11th, 2012 | Recent News | Read More

The Future of ACES-Alaska’s Oil Tax

If you haven’t been oversaturated with the discussions on development of Alaska’s oil resources and the taxing of that resource, then you have a splendid opportunity to learn more from both sides of the argument. Is Alaska’s tax structure on oil too progressive and thus limiting production...
January 10th, 2012 | Energy, tax changes | Read More

Can the EPA “Take” Property Without Due Process?

(Cato Institute, Timothy Sandefur) The Environmental Protection Agency has many administrative powers including the use of compliance orders to deny property owners the right to use their property without judicial recourse. In Idaho, Michael and Chantelle Sackett purchased property on which to build...
January 5th, 2012 | Policy | Read More

Taxpayers Paid $129,100,798 for “Official” Union Activities in 2009

(Capitol Research Center) Taxpayers paid more than $129 million in salaries and benefits to federal employees for doing “official” union work in 2009. These federal employees logged about 3 million hours and received government paychecks for doing union work. How can this be? Title V of the...
December 27th, 2011 | Accountability, Transparency | Read More

Closing the Education Achievement Gap

Closing the Education Achievement Gap
“Closing the Education Achievement Gap”  Dr. Ben Chavis, founder of the American Indian Model (AIM) Charter School in Oakland, California will present on the topic of motivating students, especially minority and lower income students, to achieve their maximum potential. His AIM middle school...
December 14th, 2011 | Education, Featured | Read More

Film Tax Credits in Other States-Folly or Not?

We have heard much about Alaska’s film tax credit incentive and whether or not it benefits the State as a whole or only special interests. Forty states offered similar tax credits in 2010. Many of these states have now abandoned these credits because they do not create the promised jobs for their...
November 29th, 2011 | Fiscal Policy, Policy, tax changes | Read More

Anchorage School District Report Card Map

Anchorage School District Report Card Map
Earlier in November, the Alaska Policy Forum released a report card for the schools in the Anchorage School District. With that report card as a starting point, the Forum created a more improved rating system, and integrated it into a clickable map for easier navigation. If you have questions or comments about...
November 29th, 2011 | Education, Featured, Recent News | Read More

Government Interference with Free Markets Costs Us All

(The Manhattan Institute) The Obama Administration’s energy policy apparently consists of subsidizing so-called “green” energy with taxpayers’ dollars and ending fossil fuel exploration/production. The Energy Department had no problem handing out $529 million in loan guarantees...
November 28th, 2011 | Energy | Read More

UPDATE: Anchorage School District Gets Report Card

UPDATE, Monday November 28, 2011: Alaska Policy Forum has revised the letter grades that were assigned to the SBA averages for each school in the Anchorage School District. The new system is as follows: A= 90%-100% B= 80%-89% C= 70%-79% D= 60%-69% F= 0%-59% We feel this grading system to be a better...
November 3rd, 2011 | Education, Recent News | Read More

Needed: Your Input on Everyday Math Program, Help!

If your child is having difficulties with the Everyday Math program or is doing well in the EDM program, then you should attend the community input meeting the School District is hosting and provide comments. This is your golden opportunity to help your child with math. The School District is reviewing...
October 18th, 2011 | Education, Recent News | Read More

General Electric Corporate Welfare

(National Review) The Fire Island wind energy project has nothing on the Sheperd’s Flat wind project in northern Oregon. This $1.9 billion federally funded project (your tax dollars) will dwarf the Fire Island wind farm in size and taxpayer dollars. The corporate beneficiary of your dollars will...
October 17th, 2011 | Energy | Read More

Your Land is My Land-Title 21 Meeting,October 12

  Years ago, Woody Guthrie wrote about “This land is your land” but is it really?  It’s time we paid attention to the workings of the Title 21 planning process and what it will mean to the everyday person on the street. Following are some of the requirements for single family residences: #The...
October 10th, 2011 | Recent News | Read More

Two Different Views on How to Fix Education

(Newsweek) Bill Gates and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten have different views on teachers’ personnel systems and how to fix teacher evaluations. (Read more…)
October 10th, 2011 | Recent News | Read More

Is Massachusetts Health Care a Microcosm for Alaska?

(New England Journal of Medicine) Massachusetts was the first state to enact near-universal health care coverage in 2006. Since then, premiums have increased and employment in the health care occupations (excluding nurses) and patient care occupations has risen dramatically. This rise in administrative/ancillary...
October 6th, 2011 | Health Care, National Health Care Reform Legislation | Read More

Ethanol Subsidies Cost You $6 Billion Per Year and More

(National Review) Rich Lowry points out the costs we pay to keep making ethanol fuel out of corn.  These costs include a 45 cent/gallon subsidy and taking food from the poor so we can drive environmentally friendly vehicles. Of course, there just may be a connection to the first presidential primaries...
October 5th, 2011 | Energy, Recent News | Read More

Anchorage Property Taxes: A Snapshot

Recently, there has been much discussion in Anchorage regarding  public employee wages, education and property taxes. Folks on both sides tend to throw out numbers regarding whether or not public employees are paid enough, and whether Anchoragites pay high property taxes. The Policy Forum has posted...
September 2nd, 2011 | Accountability, Transparency | Read More
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