Media

5/11/18: The 2018 Session ended with SB26 passing, no change to the PFD law, and a $1100 cut to the PFD. Joe Geldhof, Permanent Fund Defenders, says lawmakers don’t follow the law. It’s time for PFD protection in the Constitution, vote out raiders.

http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Is-the-Permanent-Fund-still-the-third-rail-of-Alaska-politics-482430121.html

4/5/18: Lawmakers cut PFD to $1600 from $2700. Lawmakers hold education funding hostage, they won’t fully fund education unless the SB26 law is passed to restructure the Fund and cut the PFD.

http://mustreadalaska.com/senate-finance-1600-dividend-education-forward-funding/

4/7/18:  The Senate Judiciary was forced by a majority on the Committee (Wielechowski, Costello, Shower) to hold a hearing on protecting the PFD in the Constitution (SJR1).  Public testimony on this bill and two others was denied.  Due to Sen. Coghill shutting down the hearing, SJR1 moved out of the Committee after blocking any progress for a year. 

Chairman ends meeting after move to advance PFD constitutional amendment

Here’s the short Senate hearing with a great defense for the PFD by Sen. Wielechowski:

https://www.360north.org/gavel/video/?clientID=2147483647&eventID=2018041107

3/2/18: Alaska Public Radio Network interview with Angela Rodell, Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. director, Joe Geldof, Permanent Fund Defender and Juneau lawyer, and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott. Discussion on “What would happen if we tap into the Permanent Fund?”  

 https://www.alaskapublic.org/2018/03/02/what-would-happen-if-we-tap-into-the-permanent-fund/

2/16/18: Anchorage Daily News, former U.S. Senator Mark Begich support the PFD in the Alaska Constitution with the current formula for the People. “Fortify fund, protect dividend, support schools”  

http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/AlaskaDispatchNews/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?  doc=ANC%2F2018%2F02%2F16&entity=Ar00903&sk=A193A4F9&mode=text

 2/10/18: Anchorage Daily News, Senator Bill Wielechowski explains why it’s time to protect the PFD in the Alaska Constitution or it will disappear.    https://www.adn.com/opinions/2018/02/09/written-in-stone-protect-pfd-with-constitution/

1/24/18, Anchorage Daily News, Permanent Fund Defender Jim Crawford, explains why the PFD needs protection in the AK Constitution:

https://www.adn.com/opinions/2018/01/24/permanent-fund-dividend-is-yours-demand-its-constitutional-protection/

12/20/17: (Anch) Ch. 2 Press Conference with bi-partisan legislators joining with Permanent Fund Defenders calling for a PFD Constitutional Amendment and restoring the dividends cut from Alaskans’ share over the last two years. 

http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Permanent-Fund-supporters-want-constitutional-amendment-465521533.html  

Radio ads by Dr. Jack Hickel and Jim Crawford (January, 2018) – A call to action for Alaskans to demand a public vote to secure the full PFD and enshrine this historic formula in the AK Constitution.   https://chirb.it/DFNItb  and https://chirb.it/hByN0k

VIDEO: Permanent Fund Defenders block the Governor’s plan to restructure the PFD and Fund (2016)

 

Permanent Fund Defender, Jim Crawford writes, “Will there be a Civil War over Alaskans’ PFD?”  http://www.anchoragedailyplanet.com/98997/crawford-civil-war-in-alaska-over-the-dividend/ 

PFD is Alaskans’ share of the oil wealth, the People own the resource.  Alaska is the only oil state that provides citizen dividends.

Permanent Fund Defender, Dr. Jack Hickel, calls on leaders to follow the PFD law, restore the full PFD and protect the Permanent Fund system: 

https://www.adn.com/opinions/2017/07/21/alaskans-should-receive-their-full-permanent-fund-dividends/

SAVE THE PFD RALLY AT THE PFD LAWSUIT HEARING, 6/20/17

The Supreme Court will decide if the Governor and legislature must follow the law and transfer PFD money to Alaskans or allow the Governor to veto over $600 million from Alaskans and override Alaskans’ shareholder rights and the Permanent Fund system. It’s up to the Alaska citizens who own the Permanent Fund to approve how Fund money is used and managed.

Permanent Fund Defenders across the political spectrum don’t agree on all the budget fixes but they agree 100% that the Fund and PFD are the People’s Money.

These AK leaders call on Alaskans to join a referendum to repeal any law that restructures the Fund without public consent. http://www.alaskajournal.com/2017-04-26/referendum-effort-looms-over-plan-use-fund-earnings#.WQNmYWkrLIX

Clem Tillion and Dr. Jack Hickel, Permanent Fund Defenders, strongly oppose PFD cut and say there’s a referendum organizing to stop politicians from “stealing the People’s money.” 4/26/17

http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Former-senate-president-strongly-opposes-PFD-cut-419082634.html

Permanent Fund Defender and Alaska Statesman, Clem Tillion of Halibut Cove, calls on Alaskans to Protect the Permanent Fund.

 

News KTUU Ch. 2: Public Vote proposal for the Permanent Fund changes rejected by Senate Committee (3/1/17 – KTUU)

http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Who-should-get-the-final-say-on-restructuring-Alaskas-Permanent-Fund-415169103.html

Commentary: Dividend Vital to Protect the Fund (2/11/17 – Alaska Dispatch)

https://www.adn.com/opinions/2017/02/11/dividend-is-vital-to-protection-of-alaskas-permanent-fund/