Addressing Alaskans, this week, is taking a look into Alaska’s fiscal options by discussing facts, frequently discussed approaches and the dollars attached to the state’s very real budget issues. This event was in three parts. The first was a discussion about where the state is currently and what options are available. The second part was a panel discussion about what Alaska’s goals and values are when handling taxes, the PFD and our budget. The final portion (available only in the longer, complete, audio file) was a panel discussion, featuring current legislators, examining our options and deals. This event was presented by Alaska Common Ground.
The edited version that was broadcast on the air:
The original recording, that includes the second panel, and is much longer:
GUESTS:
Opening presentation:
- Mouhcine Guettabi, ISER Professor of Economics
- Larry Persily, Former Alaska Deputy Commissioner of Revenue
- Cliff Groh, Alaska Common Ground Chair
First Panel:
- Thea Agnew Bemben, Anchorage business owner
- Andrew Halcro, former state legislator and corporate executive
- Rick Halford, former long-time state legislator
- Kathie Wasserman, Executive Director, Alaska Municipal League
- Charles Wohlforth, author, radio host, and newspaper columnist
Second Panel:
- Sheldon Fisher, Commissioner of Revenue
- Rep. Jason Grenn, I.-Anchorage
- Rep. Chuck Kopp, R.-Anchorage
- Sen. Peter Micciche, R.-Soldotna and Senate Majority Leader
- Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D.-Anchorage
Moderators:
- John Parsi
LINKS:
RECORDED: Friday, October 5, 2017 at 49th State Brewing Company.
BROADCAST: Tuesday, September 12, 2017. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT
About
Addressing Alaskans features local lectures and forums recorded at public events taking place in Southcentral Alaska. A variety of local organizations host speakers addressing topics that matter to Alaskans. To let us know about an upcoming community event that you would like to hear on Addressing Alaskans, please Contact Us with details.
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Eric Bork, or you can just call him “Bork” because everybody else does, is the FM Operations Manager for KSKA-FM. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the FM broadcast. He produces and edits episodes of Outdoor Explorer, the Alaska-focused outdoors program. He also maintains the web posts for that show. You may have heard him filling in for Morning Edition or hosting All Things Considered and can still find him operating the soundboard for any of the live broadcast programs.
After escaping the Detroit area when he was 18, Bork made it up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he earned a degree in Communications/Radio Broadcasting from Northern Michigan University. He spent time managing the college radio station, working for the local NPR affiliate, and then in top 40 radio in Michigan before coming to Alaska to work his first few summers. After then moving to Chicago, it only took five years to convince him to move back to Alaska in 2010. When not involved in great radio programming he’s probably riding a bicycle, thinking about riding bicycles, dreaming about bikes, reading a book, or planning the next place he’ll travel to. Only two continents left to conquer!
