On May 19, Gov. Mike Dunleavy wisely vetoed the extravagant HB57 school spending bill, saying the legislation didn’t address problems with Alaska’s education system; it just sought to spend more money. The governor was wise to take this action, but on May 20, the Democrat-run Legislature voted to override his veto. Several Republican legislators from the minority caucus in the House and Senate voted with the Democrats to do so, possibly putting their political futures at risk.
When the bill was first passed in the House, three Republicans from the Kenai Peninsula, Reps. Sarah Vance, Justin Ruffridge, and Bill Elam joined with the Democrats to support the legislation, but quickly caught significant pushback from the voters for their efforts. The public outrage was so intense that these three felt the need to explain their vote in a statement to the press. While voting for it might mollify their liberal constituents for a short time, the liberals are never going to be satisfied with school funding levels and will be back in future sessions asking for even more money to prop up Alaska’s failing public education system.
The governor has a better understanding of the challenges education in Alaska faces and he attempted to address both the funding needs and the problem areas by introducing a bill during this session that tries to solve some of them. Unfortunately, the legislature did not consider the governor’s bill, preferring to throw money at the problem until the liberals are quieted.
On May 20, Democrats, along with their accessories from the RINO wing of the minority caucus, voted to overturn the governor’s veto, ensuring there will be a political firestorm to follow. On May 19, four Republican women’s groups from around the state warned they would not support any Republican who voted to overturn the governor’s veto and would work against their reelection. Despite the warning, RINO Republicans staked their political future on supporting an extravagant Democrat spending bill. It is difficult to understand the logic behind their decision, and it could be costly for them politically.
Fortunately, my representative in Juneau, Sarah Vance from Homer, wisely reconsidered her initial support of HB57 and decided not to vote to override the governor’s veto.
For the remaining two Republicans from the Kenai Peninsula, Representative Justin Ruffridge and Bill Elam, I wish you luck with your decision to support HB57.
The next election is a year and a half off, which might seem like a long time to them, but it will be here in the blink of an eye. It is time for the RINO Republican members of the legislature to face the music. They overturned the governor’s veto and will now have to face the wrath of the voters. Given the statement from the Republican Women’s organizations, I would not be surprised if all the RINOs, including the two Representatives from the Kenai; Mr. Ruffridge and Mr. Elam, face a MAGA conservative challenger in the 2026 primary.
Do you know what they call a Republican legislator who votes to override a Republican Governor? Unemployed former legislators.
The views expressed here are those of Greg Sarber. Read more Sarber posts at his Seward’s Folly substack.
16 Comments
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Yes, please!
Right
And on every article.
I would surmise not a one of the traitor faux republicans referred to as RINOs are really republicans. They certainly are not conservatives. What’s a little lying if it achieves your desired end, to get elected? What is sad though is most voters pay zero attention. I for one will make sure all whom I am in contact with whom are in the districts the closet liberals are representing will know. Our legislature is now overrun with morally bereft inept representation who likely could not balance a checkbook and have also been easily purchased by union lobbyists. . There truly should t least be some level of aptitude required to run for state office.
The “activists” in the legislature have a different worldview. Lying is fine since the “end justifies the means.” These activists have been trained up through Obama’s hate America curriculum and the colleges. It has been in use for many years and the results are what we see-antifamily activists. No remorse. No Conscience. No truthfulness. Haters of traditional values, no accountability, no interest in a balanced budget or in Alaskan citizens. The spirit of Karl Marx is alive in the legislature. Appeasement is not the answer. We pray that the challengers succeed in their elections unseatnig the gangsters embedding themselves in the process to corrupt it. Get rid of the machines and pass Senator Shower’s regimen of reforms not SB 64 which is “a joke” loosening which assures cheating and little to no accountability. Where do we donate? Remember, the “death cult” showed itself in the Democratic Convention: abortions until birth and after,, transgenderism as a reality, and the church as not essential. Get rid of the bums!
AMEN
These RINOs, just like their fellow democrats, — are counting on the voters having short memories by the time elections arrive.
Thank you, Greg. I so appreciate this article and identify with its premise. I am disappointed in the Republican Women’s Clubs around the rest of the state that chose to cower in the face of this government problem. Power to those who stepped up to the bar and held their head high.
RINOs are the remnants of the true Republican Party. They can thecooperate with Democrats and actually getting something done. MAGAs don’tcooperate with anyone. It’s their way or the highway. That’s not the way to get anything done.
History lesson- democrats used to be democrats. They have morphed into “communist party lite”. RINO’s are back-stabbing double agents whoring themselves out to communist party lite with support and votes. If you’re not AMERICA FIRST!, you’re on the other side of the fence with the communists. The soviet union is littered with mass graves of those who were “enemies of state”. Democrats want that, but don’t have the nads to implement it, they don’t like getting their hands dirty so they’ll rally useful idiots (like yourself) to do it for them.
nice