Even for the administration of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, this is a low point in putting politics ahead of good government.
FILE - Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the state Capitol, April 28, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. I would describe as unconscionable and indefensible the disrespect for the public and disregard for honest government in the governor’s office decision to block publication of a factual report on teacher salaries in Alaska.
State government should be about telling the public what is happening and why, the costs, the problems, the choices and what elected officials are doing to find answers. It should not be about hiding the facts or blocking disclosure of information that could be seen as unflattering to the governor.For decades, the Alaska Department of Labor has published a monthly magazine of facts, numbers and information about job, career, economic and population trends — thus the name, “Trends.
The headline of the canceled article was: “Teachers’ shrinking wage advantage: Alaska used to pay the most, but now we’re tenth.” There were no political words in the headline, no misleading social media links, no agenda, just reality — which apparently bothered the governor’s office enough to call a halt to publishing the news.
There has not been a permanent increase in the state funding formula for schools in seven years, likely contributing to the stagnant wages and Alaska’s drop in the national rankings. While the governor talks about his support for public education, he hasn’t done much of anything to help school districts, or teachers, or students. Don’t forget that he also vetoed most of the money appropriated by legislators for school repairs the past three years.
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