Don’t Miss Alaska Policy Forum’s Important School-Choice Event With Brian Calle Tonight!

APF1Want to know how to get your child into a better school? You need to hear how Brian Calle did it. His mother gamed the zip code to get her child into a better neighborhood school.

What would you do to get the best education for your child or grandchild? You shouldn’t have to do this. You should have the civil right to get your child into the school of your choice. How about freedom? You can choose your latte, why not your child’s school?

Brian Calle is the Opinion Editor for the Orange County Register, and Editor-in-Chief at www.calwatchdog.com – Brian also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Pacific Research Institute; Unruh Fellow at the Jesse Unruh Institute at the University of Southern California; a Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute; an adjunct professor at California State University-Fullerton; and a member emeritus of the Board of Governors for the University of Southern California.

THE EVENT WILL BE HELD ON JANUARY 14TH/6:30 AT THE EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL, 600 E. BENSON, Anchorage.

For more information, contact the Alaska Policy Forum at 907-334-5853 or visit their website at www.alaskapolicyforum.org

Will Educational Freedom in Alaska Dawn in New Year?

Photo Credit: dmcdevit

Photo Credit: dmcdevit

There is no respect in which inhabitants of a low-income neighborhood are so disadvantaged as in the kind of schooling they can get for their children.” — Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman

Milton Friedman was devoted to freedom — his belief that human free choices and free markets unfettered by government restrictions produce the happiest, healthiest, wealthiest peoples throughout world history. Friedman’s belief in freedom of choice was nowhere more adamant than in the education marketplace — where government-run monopoly public schools often consign poverty families to multi-generational bondage to local failing education institutions. Alaska is fraught with examples from inner city to remote Native regions.

Yet whenever Alaska education choice advocates push for legislation enabling low-income parents more freedom to place their children in the public or private school of their choice, government unions and educratic special interests immediately claim any reform would violate the Alaska Constitution’s Blaine Amendment — which says “No … public funds for the direct benefit of any religious or other private educational institution.”

Rather than debate the many studies which show that both public and private schools perform better when they are competing against each other on a level playing field, the Alaska education cartel simply hides behind this Blaine Amendment.

In order to pave the way for school choice reform, when they re-convene this month Alaska’s Legislature is considering giving Alaska voters the opportunity to vote on abolishing Alaska’s Blaine Amendment.

School choice reform is only one of the many reasons Alaska should rid itself of the Blaine Amendment.

Consider that the U.S. Supreme Court has already declared that state constitution Blaine Amendments are unconstitutional under the federal Constitution, because the 14th Amendment guarantees equal treatment under laws regardless of whether you are religious or not. No prejudicial discrimination is permitted … either for or against a religious organization.

In Mitchell v. Helms (June 28, 2000) the prevailing Court opinion declared: “Hostility to aid to pervasively sectarian [religious] schools has a shameful pedigree that we do not hesitate to disavow. … Opposition to aid to ‘sectarian’ schools acquired prominence in the 1870’s … the [Blaine] amendment arose at a time of pervasive hostility to the Catholic Church and to Catholics in general, and it was an open secret that ‘sectarian’ was code for ‘Catholic’… Nothing in the Establishment Clause requires the exclusion of pervasively sectarian schools from otherwise permissible aid programs, and other doctrines of this Court [i.e., equal protection] bar it. This doctrine [Blaine Amendment], born of bigotry, should be buried now”.

So, in addition to federal unconstitutionality, the second serious flaw in Alaska’s Blaine Amendment is that it’s rooted in religious bigotry.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights conducted a Washington briefing on “The Blaine Amendment & Anti-Catholicism” on June 1, 2007. Panelist Richard D. Komer remarked, “…Blaine Amendments reek of religious discrimination. As such, they are illegitimate relics of a shameful past we have neither adequately acknowledged nor effectively remedied.”

A third flaw with Blaine Amendments is the false narrative that such anti-religious prohibitions are somehow wise or prudent.

Almost 70 years of American history prove repeatedly that religiously neutral student support is effective, efficient and productive.

The GI Bill aids veterans to attend the religious or secular school of their choice with amazing positive results. Child Care and Development Block Grants provide government aid irrespective of the religious (or non-religious) affiliation of the childcare institution with similar positive results. And both federal and state Child Care Tax Credits subsidize parental choice of child care providers with direct credits offsetting expensed regardless of the providers’ religious affiliations.

These are three examples of numerous government aid programs over 70 years which succeeded despite clear diametric conflict with state Blaine Amendments. And the $64,000 question is this: If religiously neutral, competitive, level playing fields are good for college programs, pre-school programs, after school programs, and summertime programs, why aren’t they also good for K-12 regular school programs?

Here’s why: None of these other programs have powerful government unions lobbying against them, opposing any attempts to reform the monopolistic system. That’s the only difference. Politicians need to recognize that key fact and choose sides rather than feigning “constitutionality” crisis issues.

And government union lobbyists need to start debating school choice on the merits of competition. Try refuting the many studies which reveal improved public school performance in school choice marketplaces, rather than clinging to the shameful anti-religious bigotry known as the Blaine Amendment.

Legislators should grant Alaska voters their right to vote on this reeking relic long past its time.

Joe Balyeat ([email protected]) is the state director for School Choice projects for Americans For Prosperity – Alaska. He is a former Montana state senator and National Merit Scholar. He resides part year in his home near Anchor Point.

Did the Gates Foundation Buy the Alaska Department of Early Childhood Development?

The Alaska State Senate held hearings on January 7th and 8th on the Alaska State Standards and the Common Core curriculum. Most of the speakers at the hearing were officials from the Chief State School Officers and others affiliated with the process of drafting the state standards. Most of those who testified were direct beneficiaries of the Alaska Department of Education in some way, or in some way connected to a foundation that receives substantial sums from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

There were a few exceptions.

One of the highlights of that hearing was the testimony by Dr. Sandra Stotsky and Dr. James Milgram regarding the Alaska State Standards and the Common Core. Both served as members on the validation committee for the Common Core and refused to sign off on the standards. According to Dr. Stotsky those who were involved in the development of the common core standards lacked the credentials to be involved in the process.

Dr. Stotsky highlighted the involvement in the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in states where the Common Core had been adopted.

Toward the end of the testimony, there were some fireworks between Mr. Chris Minnich, Executive Director of the Council of Chief State School Officers made a personal attack against Dr. Sandra Stotsky. She responded appropriately and pointed out that Mr. Minnich was reading the introductory material to prove Alaska’s Standards were rich in literary content, and not the standards themselves. Essentially, she makes short work of him.

According to a correspondence by Patrick Gamble to Arne Duncan, the state of Alaska began writing the standards in 2010 through the involvement of Achieve Inc. As Gamble wrote, [https://stopalaskacommoncore.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/UA-letter-on-standards.pdf]

“…Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Staff coordinated with Achieve, Inc in the initial planning stages, of the standards revision process in 2010. Staff from Achieve reviewed Alaska’s revision plan and provided feedback via phone conversations and teleconferences. Achieve provided critical guidance for consideration of appropriate stakeholders, identifying key decision makers, and process-specific tasks, which Alaska incorporated into the review.”

New information revealed today is that in October of 2010, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $1.65 Million to the Alaska’s Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED). [https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2010/10/OPPLi011]

Gates AK DEED (1)

Thus, it seems that Dr. Stotsky was vindicated. The initiation of the Common Core in Alaska did coincide with a donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Begich Spokeswoman Takes Blame For Misstating His Whereabouts During Key Vote to Extend Unemployment Benefits; Murkowski Votes with Dems

Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: AP

A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Mark Begich said Thursday that she misspoke when she said he missed a vote in Washington because he was traveling to the capital when, in fact, he was in Hawaii.

The Associated Press asked spokeswoman Heather Handyside by email Tuesday why the Alaska Democrat hadn’t voted on whether to proceed to debate on a renewal of benefits for the long-term unemployed. Handyside responded by email that he “wasn’t there. Is on his way back to D.C.”

The vote was close, with six Republicans, including Alaska’s senior senator, Lisa Murkowski, voting with Democrats to advance to debate. Begich was one of three members, and the only Democrat, shown as not voting.

The Hill reported Thursday that Begich missed the vote to deliver a speech Wednesday at a conference in Hawaii hosted by the American Association of Airport Executives.

Read more from this story HERE.

Alaska Group Takes Next Step to Legalize Marijuana

Photo Credit: matthew kenwrick

Photo Credit: matthew kenwrick

A citizens’ group hoping to make Alaska the third state in the nation to legalize recreational use of marijuana took a step closer Wednesday, submitting more than 46,000 signatures to the state election office.

If enough signatures are verified — they need about 30,000 qualified signatures — the question of whether to make pot legal in the nation’s northernmost state will go before voters in the Aug. 19 primary. Signatures must come from at least 7 percent of voters in at least 30 House districts.

“It’s clear that Alaskans are eager to have an opportunity to express their displeasure with the current system and make a change,” said one of sponsors, Tim Hinterberger, a professor in the School of Medical Education at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Read more from this story HERE.

Alaska Fishermen to Walmart: Keep Your Promise

Photo Credit: jkbrooks85

Photo Credit: jkbrooks85

Alaska fishermen are pledging to take further action to hold Walmart accountable for its ongoing failure to keep its promise to revise by the end of 2013 its outdated and misguided policy that is shutting out a large proportion of sustainable Alaska salmon from its stores.

On September 24th 2013, Walmart pledged at a U.S. Senate Hearing to review by end of year its policy to only purchase seafood certified sustainable by MSC, a private European organization that much of Alaska’s salmon industry voluntarily severed ties with due to concerns about the organization’s increasingly high-priced and questionable business practices.

However, with the end of the year having arrived, the largest grocery supplier in the U.S. has provided no public explanation as to why it continues to refuse to purchase sustainable Alaska salmon—a decision which is placing at risk countless hard-working jobs in Alaska’s seafood industry, which contributes an estimated $16 billion to the national economy. As a result, “Alaska Salmon Now”, a grassroots collection of fishermen, consumers, and other representatives of the Alaska seafood industry that has advocated for Walmart to do the right thing via public rallies, social media campaigns, and other efforts, is promising further action unless Walmart reverses its policy.

“It is unacceptable for Walmart to make a promise to Congress and then not keep it,” said John Renner, Vice President, Cordova District Fisherman United. “Walmart has rightfully praised sustainable Alaska salmon, yet their misguided ‘MSC-or-nothing’ policy continues to negatively affect real American workers and consumers. Walmart’s policy is bad for America, Alaska, and health conscious individuals everywhere. All we want is for Walmart to do what’s right and recognize what countless capable and qualified organizations already do: that the gold standard for sustainability is here in Alaska.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Sarah Palin’s Resolution: Call Out ‘Lapdog’ Media

Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: AP

Sarah Palin has a New Year’s resolution — to be “more aggressive” in calling out the media for “practicing lapdog laziness.”

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the former Alaska governor and one-time vice-presidential nominee railed against the media for standing behind President Barack Obama, even after the revelations about the National Security Agency’s spying programs.

“Hey reporters, we know that once Barack Obama got elected you bailed on keeping government accountable; you’ve been abject failures there,” Palin wrote. “Case in point: Nixon’s presidency was over once reporters busted him for allowing his people to spy on political opponents. Today, the Obama presidency’s hallmark is spying (in addition to violating economic and Constitutional liberties), for which you celebrate Barack Obama. Transparently hypocritical, much?”

Read more from this story HERE.

Alaska Banks Scramble Target Security Breach

Photo Credit: kevin dooley/flickr

Photo Credit: kevin dooley/flickr

Financial institutions in Alaska are scrambling to reissue debit and credit cards to thousands of customers affected by a massive data breach that hit retailer Target.

On Dec. 19, Target confirmed that data connected to about 40 million debit and credit card accounts nationwide was stolen. Last week, the retailer said the stolen data included pin numbers for debit cards.

Three Target stores operate in Alaska, two in Anchorage and one in Wasilla. No statewide numbers of affected cardholders are available, but the Anchorage Daily News (https://is.gd/8G7G4X) contacted individual financial institutions for information.

Read more from this story HERE.

Bret Bohn: Medical Prisoner Over 60 Days in Anchorage, Alaska

Photo Credit: Free Patriot

Photo Credit: Free Patriot

While many of us had Christmas and New Years, the family of 26-year-old Bret Bohn has held a vigil across the street from Providence Hospital, Anchorage, Alaska as they have most of this fall. Fighting some of the coldest temperatures of the season, they have held a vigil in an attempted to have their son released from the hospital.

It has been 60 days. There has been no diagnosis, no second opinion, and Providence has custody of him.

The hospital won’t let his parents in to see him. Other family members are being given very limited access. He has requested release and does not want to go to Boston for treatment.

Read more from this story HERE.

State Politicians Cheer as Feds Choose Alaska as Drone Testing Site

Photo Credit: WND

Photo Credit: WND

By Associated Press. The Federal Aviation Administration announced six states on Monday that will develop test sites for drones, a critical next step for the unmanned aircraft’s march into U.S. skies.

The agency said Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia as states that will host research sites.

Drones have been mainly used by the military, but governments, businesses, farmers and others are making plans to join the market. Many universities are starting or expanding drone programs.

“These test sites will give us valuable information about how best to ensure the safe introduction of this advanced technology into our nation’s skies,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement.

Read more from this story HERE.
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State Political Leaders Welcome Drones to Alaska

By News Editor. The Miami Herald reported yesterday that, “News that Alaska has been chosen as a test site for the integration of drones into U.S. airspace is being welcomed by state political leaders.”

The article goes on to cite Senator Mark Begich and Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell as champions of the program with Begich praising the drone program’s jobs and its “new mission to the University of Alaska system.” The University of Alaska was apparently selected as a test site operator for the Alaska drone program.