Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s state budget came with a motto: We will “do less with less.”
If the Alaska Marine Highway System adopted this motto, it might be: We will get you most of the way to your destination and then head partly back.
If the Pioneer Home adopted this motto, it might be: We always look after Alaska seniors until they can’t afford to keep living.
If our K-12 public schools adopted this motto, it might be: We balanced our budget by having students get their high school diplomas in 9th grade (after a 24 percent cut).
If the city of Valdez, Fairbanks and the North Slope Boroughs adopted this motto, it might be: We used to fund our government, until big government took over our property.
If rural residents adopted this motto, it might be: We live in the dark, so you can have your PFD.
And if the University of Alaska adopted this motto of less with less? We were renowned in research and known as America’s Arctic university, educating generations of Alaskans, training our state’s workforce and naturally inspiring. Motto under the new budget: Unnaturally expiring.
For those of you who think the governor will not veto a modified budget from the Legislature, remember Donald Trump got elected president. Please contact your legislators and let them know you want to be taxed or want a lower PFD distributed so the feds won’t (income) tax it or a combination of the two, and let them know you want a veto-proof budget.
Jeff Benowitz,
Fairbanks
• My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire.