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I’ve heard from many of you, including personal friends and work colleagues, who have been forced to consider the unthinkable: Do we leave this state we love because our schools are so underfunded we can’t justify keeping our kids here anymore?
I’ve thought a lot about this after hearing from you, and the future of our kids. My family is in the same situation. Here’s my request: Fight for Alaska.
After some Republicans upheld the Governor's veto of education funding today, I know you're wondering what is next. I support immediate passage of another education funding bill, because we cannot let this session end without restoring education funding in the BSA.
The decline of this state is a direct result of defunding public education. Largely in reaction to the destruction wrought by his policies, a growing number of parents and educators have run for and won state elections. We’ve had multiple referenda on whether the legislature should have bipartisan pro-education majorities, and overwhelming, voters have resoundingly said “yes.”
We’ve defended Alaska’s Permanent Fund from being raided, and thus we do have a strong foundation to fund core services. I believe that the supporters of education, economic prosperity, and bipartisanship will win more seats in the next election, just like we did in the last cycle.
We are a people acquainted with both the longest nights but also the most glorious emergence of daylight. If we refer back to a wide range of cultures and traditions from southern Alaska to central we have to bring back that light.
Thinking about the options of fight or flight, I hope you will fight for Alaska through one more election cycle, because I believe we can survive this administration, restore education funding, and restore economic growth in our state.
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