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At U.S. House debate in Kodiak, candidates differ on future of Alaska fisheries • Alaska Beacon

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At U.S. House debate in Kodiak, candidates differ on future of Alaska fisheries • Alaska Beacon


A two-hour debate on Alaska fisheries issues turned contentious in its final moments as Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich criticized incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola over an ad stating that a Begich victory would mean “our fish are gone.”

The exchange was the lone heated issue between the two frontrunners in Alaska’s U.S. House election, which will decide one of only a few tossup races in the 435-seat House of Representatives. With the House closely divided between Republicans and Democrats, the winner of Alaska’s race is likely to help decide control of the House overall.

Tuesday’s debate was largely cordial and included an at-times-technical discussion of fisheries policy. 

Alaska supplies 60% of America’s wild-caught seafood, and the maritime industry — including fishing, processing and servicing fishing boats — is the state’s No. 1 private-sector employer.

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Since her inaugural run for Congress in 2022, Peltola has advertised herself as a “pro-fish” candidate, a line that occasionally draws laughs in the Lower 48, she said.

“There’s nothing funny about fish,” she said. “This is our livelihood. This is the way we feed our families, and this is our identity, and we need to make sure that we’re preserving this, whether it’s the bycatch issue or the myriad of other issues that are presenting challenges to our fisheries today.”

Begich said fishing is absolutely critical to the state’s economy and its cultural makeup.

“Fish is not a Democrat or Republican issue. This is one of a few issues, I would say at the moment, that we should be able to work on in a bipartisan fashion,” he said.

Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, speaks during a U.S. House candidate debate on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Kodiak. At left is Republican candidate Nick Begich, and at center is Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
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Begich calls ad ‘shameful,’ Peltola says she’s standing up for self and Alaska after attacks

Peltola said that during her time in the House, she helped create a bipartisan “fish caucus” to advance fisheries legislation, a fact that Begich countered later by saying that Peltola hasn’t been able to get support from that caucus for her own fisheries bills.

“We need to have a fish caucus that is bipartisan, and I think that’s important. I think it’s also important that we be honest in politics. And you know, I’m seeing ads right now from, again, one of my opponents up here on stage that says, ‘If you elect Nick Begich, there’ll be no more fish,’” Begich said. 

“Well, that is ridiculous, and that is shameful, and for her to maybe run ads like that that she approved from her campaign, lying to the people of Alaska, that’s wrong,” he said.

The ad, as of the end of the debate, was on Peltola’s campaign website, and Begich said he wanted to bring it up because he was frustrated and he needed to bring it up at the fisheries debate.

“This is the kind of thing that gets thrown around in a campaign, and I understand there’s ads that come from super PACs, but when it’s coming directly from the campaign, it really needs to be truthful and honest,” he said. “And it’s frustrating to me when people are putting things out suggesting that somehow Alaska wouldn’t have fish because I get elected, that’s absolutely wrong, and everyone knows that and she knows that.”

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Peltola wasn’t allowed an immediate rebuttal but later said, “I came here tonight excited to talk about fish and fishermen and fishing families and the fishing industry. And I think it’s pathetic that it’s devolved a bit into petty backbiting. I am not interested in that. I don’t know what attack ad is being referred to. I know nothing of this. That was not my ad.”

Peltola went on, saying of advertising criticizing her, “There are a lot of ads out there. I know I’ve had $7 million in attack ads over the last few weeks, and it’s time that I stand up for myself and stand up for Alaskans and say enough is enough. I’m not here to do any petty bickering. I’m here to talk about fishing, fishermen and fishing families and the fishing industry.”

That drew the night’s only round of applause from the audience.

Kodiak residents listen to the U.S. House fisheries debate on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium in Kodiak. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Kodiak residents listen to the U.S. House fisheries debate on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium in Kodiak. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

As frontrunners face off, Howe offers bigger contrast

Tuesday night’s debate was just the second time that Peltola and Begich have shared the stage since the August primary election, and it may be the only time before Election Day that they also share a venue with John Wayne Howe, the Alaskan Independence Party candidate in Alaska’s top-four general election.

Under Alaska’s election system, the four highest vote-getters in the August primary election, regardless of party, advance to the general election.

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“I am the third-party candidate in here; some would call it the third wheel,” he told the crowd at Kodiak’s Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium.

Two other debates are scheduled this week — one in Fairbanks and one broadcast statewide from Anchorage — but Howe was not invited to either.

The fourth candidate in the November election is Democratic candidate Eric Hafner, a non-Alaskan who is imprisoned in New York state and unable to attend debates.

Howe, a machinist from the Fairbanks area, spoke frankly to the Kodiak crowd and acknowledged his unfamiliarity with commercial fishing. At times, he intentionally drew laughs — when the candidates were asked to hold up “yes” or “no” signs stating whether they supported fish farming in Alaska, Howe made a show of looking at Begich’s “no” sign before joining Peltola and Begich in a “no” of his own.

When asked how Congress should deal with climate change’s effects on Alaska fisheries, Peltola discussed her support for renewable energy and Begich talked about programs to deal with eroding shorelines. Howe said it should be dealt with “on a personal level,” and that rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere may not be bad because plants and plankton need carbon dioxide to live.

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“We need more in the atmosphere,” he said.

Several times Tuesday night, Peltola emphasized her willingness to listen to all sides of an issue and said that reaching consensus on fisheries issues is important. 

Begich spoke more aggressively, reminding the audience that Alaska has just one member of Congress. 

“When you think about that one member, who do you want down there fighting for you? Do you want somebody who’s going to be tough, who’s going to get involved in the discussions, who’s going to encounter people in the hallway, grab them by the neck, like Don Young did? He was tough, and he was there for 49 years. We need that toughness again.”

From left to right, Nick Begich, Republican candidate for U.S. House; Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, hold up paddles indicating their opposition to finfish farming in Alaska. Howe had jokingly looked at Begich’s paddle before making a decision. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Bycatch draws fire from all candidates

Begich and Peltola both said they support legislation that would accelerate relief payments during disastrously low fish harvests and emphasized that the farm bill under consideration in Congress should provide more equitable treatment for Alaska seafood when compared to agricultural products that come from land. 

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Howe said he also supports the relief legislation — something he wasn’t familiar with until recently — but thinks payments should come in silver or gold, rather than American dollars, which he predicted would collapse in value.

Begich and Peltola each advocated measures to reduce bycatch, the unwanted fish caught while fishers target another species. 

The state of Alaska has repeatedly closed or limited subsistence and sport salmon fisheries due to low salmon returns, but commercial fishing trawlers are permitted to catch significant numbers of salmon as bycatch in federally regulated fisheries, an issue that has caused conflict between fishing communities. In September, two Kodiak trawlers accidentally caught 2,000 king salmon, hitting a federally mandated limit and closing a valuable groundfish season.

Peltola and Begich each said they support additional research and technology development to limit bycatch. While bycatch has become a target for criticism in the state, scientific research has not yet settled on it as a primary cause of Alaska’s low salmon returns.

Peltola said she would support the creation of a reserved seat on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council — which regulates federal fisheries offshore — for a member of an Indigenous tribe. Begich and Howe said they oppose the idea.

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Begich and Peltola differ on the use of foreign workers in Alaska’s fishing industry. Seafood processors frequently bring in seasonal labor under the H-1B visa program, and Peltola said she supports continuing the practice. Begich opposes it.

“There’s a 4% unemployment rate in Alaska. I want to make sure that we’re prioritizing Alaskans who want to work first, before we start prioritizing people from outside of our nation to come in and take those jobs,” he said.

In 2022’s four-way U.S. House race, Peltola won just under 50% of the vote within Kodiak city and its suburbs. Begich was third in the city, behind fellow Republican candidate Sarah Palin.

On Tuesday night, attendees appeared to favor Peltola marginally over Begich. During an intermission, a group of high school students rushed to take selfies with Peltola.

“She seems like a really nice person, and with her being the only woman up there, it’s really nice to see a female up there to represent,” said Jhade Luna, one of the students.

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As attendees left the auditorium, many said they felt Peltola and Begich were evenly matched, with Howe trailing.

“They seemed actually informed on what the fisheries here entail and the struggles that fishermen throughout the state are facing currently and in the future,” said Clifton Ivanoff, a fisherman.

“I think Begich answered some of the early questions maybe a little bit better than Peltola, but I think she just showed she’s got more knowledge of fisheries toward the end,” said Ryan Burt. “And John Wayne Howe is something else.”

Three of Alaska’s four U.S. House candidates are gather on stage for a debate on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Kodiak. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

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Alaska

Riding the rails with Santa on the Alaska Railroad Holiday Train

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Riding the rails with Santa on the Alaska Railroad Holiday Train


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – It’s not the Polar Express, exactly, but families rode a train with Santa and his elves for a festive family event.

The Holiday Train is one of several event-oriented train rides hosted by Alaska Railroads. The train made three holiday runs in the month of December, this Saturday was it’s last. Tickets to ride were completely sold out for both the afternoon and evening ride.

Passengers sang carols and shared snacks on the two and a half hour ride, but one special passenger aboard the train was a real Christmas celebrity. Santa Claus accompanied riders on their trip as they enjoyed entertainment by a magician, and left the train with holiday-themed balloon animals.

The train pulled into the Anchorage depot after it’s tour, each end of the locomotive decorated in holiday lights.

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The Johnsons, a family of four who just disembarked from the train, said 2024 was their second year on the holiday train. Addie, 9, said there was a lot of entertainment and she hopes to eventually come again. Her younger brother Liam said he got to meet Santa while riding, and would like a toy truck for Christmas.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com



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Passed by Senate, Social Security Fairness Act sets up speed trap for Alaska Democrats' defined benefits drivers

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Passed by Senate, Social Security Fairness Act sets up speed trap for Alaska Democrats' defined benefits drivers


Passed by Senate, Social Security Fairness Act sets up speed trap for Alaska Democrats' defined benefits drivers

The Senate advanced legislation that will cost hundreds of billions of dollars by eliminating what is called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). It’s a double-edged sword for Alaska unions and Democrats (and some Republicans) in the Alaska House and Senate.

Many public-sector workers’ Social Security payments are drastically reduced because of the WEP and GPO. If they get a pension or defined benefit, their Social Security payment gets a big haircut, although this financial penalty only impacts a portion of public sector retirees who meet certain requirements in terms of longevity of public service.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski has co-sponsored legislation repeatedly since she was appointed to the Senate to end the penalties that impact Alaska public workers more than any in the country. She celebrated the victory Friday, while highlighting the massive support from union leaders in Alaska:

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“I have been working on the Social Security Fairness Act for as long as I’ve been representing Alaska in the United States Senate,” Murkowski said. “There is no doubt that Congress has taken too long to address this inequity, but I am grateful to the diligent bipartisan work of my colleagues to help us finally get this over the finish line. This legislation takes care of Alaskans who have dedicated years of service to our communities, serving in integral roles such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers. Hardworking public servants should not be denied the benefits that they paid for because of their career choices, and I’m relieved that this longstanding injustice has been remedied.”

Unintended consequence – defined benefits for state workers

The new law will invalidate one of the most often-repeated arguments that unions and Democrats in Alaska are making to return defined benefits to certain employees in the state. They have said that defined benefits are necessary because of the federal Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset.

Defined benefits for state workers is expected to be front-and-center in the coming Alaska Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats and union-aligned Republicans.

In fact, many of the same people fighting for a return to state defined benefits in Alaska were quoted in Murkowski’s press release:

Joelle Hall, president of Alaska AFL-CIO: “The Alaska AFL-CIO and all of its affiliated unions are elated with the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act. The GPO/ WEP provisions have existed for far too long impacting the lives of thousands of Alaska workers and their heirs. Punishing public employees and their heirs for dedicating their lives to their community is wrong and we want to thank Senator Murkowski for her long-standing support for fixing this policy that has hurt so many families.”

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Heidi Drygas, executive director of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52: “Today’s vote is incredibly welcome news to thousands of Alaska’s current and former public employees who have been unfairly punished simply for their public service. We thank Senator Murkowski for her leadership on this critically important issue for our membership. So many Alaska families will breathe easier tonight knowing they will receive the full retirement that they deserve. Thank you to the thousands of AFSCME employees and retirees for their decades of persistent advocacy on this issue.”

Sean Kuzakin, president of Public Safety Employees Association Local 803: “Alaska’s law enforcement personnel have worked too hard and put too much on the line in service of our communities to not receive their fully deserved Social Security benefits. I’m relieved that this long-standing injustice has been corrected and grateful to Senator Murkowski for her support for Alaska’s public safety employees.”

Dominic Lozano, president of Alaska Professional Fire Fighters: “Alaska’s firefighters applaud Senator Murkowski for standing up for public workers across Alaska,. For too long the federal government has been withholding portions of our social security benefits unfairly.  Senator Murkowski understands the importance of this legislation and has been advocating for Alaskans since she started in the Senate. Retirees throughout Alaska know the importance of this legislation as well as future generations of Alaskans who will now receive their full social security benefit.”

Kathy Simpler, director of National Education Association-Alaska: “Passage of H.R. 82 is historic and will immediately make a positive difference in the lives of thousands of former military members, public servants and educators. We’re grateful that Senator Murkowski has been fighting alongside Alaska’s educators on this issue for her entire career in the US Senate.”

Paul McIntosh, president, National Active and Retired Employees Association:“More than 17,000 former public servants in Alaska, and over 2.8 million nationally, are unfairly penalized by WEP and GPO. With this Senate vote, backed by Senator Murkowski, we will finally receive the full benefits we earned through our hard work. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) will be forever grateful for Senator Murkowski’s leadership in the effort to repeal WEP and GPO, which NARFE has been advocating for 40 years.”

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None of the Alaska union leaders mentioned that they will now drop their push for the costly defined benefits for State of Alaska employees, pensions that would impact city, borough, and school district employees across Alaska.

The State of Alaska still owes at least $6 billion to the former defined-benefit recipients who were enrolled in the program before it was discontinued in 2006 and replaced with a defined-contribution system, similar to what is found in the private sector.

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The WEP was enacted in 1983. It trims or drastically cuts Social Security benefits of workers who receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government for employment not covered by Social Security.

Alaska, a state that has a massive government workforce, has thousands of retirees impacted by the provision.

Likewise, the GPO, which was enacted in 1977, reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers whose spouses receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government.

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Together, these provisions reduce Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million American workers and retirees, Murkowski’s office said.

The bill had the support of all Democrats in the Senate, and 24 Republicans, including Murkowski, Sen. Dan Sullivan, and Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance.

The bill now heads to the desk of President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it. It will cost nearly $200 million over a decade and will increase the risk of Social Security being insolvent by the mid 2030s.



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Alaska health officials report increase in cases of childbirth-related hemorrhages • Alaska Beacon

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Alaska health officials report increase in cases of childbirth-related hemorrhages • Alaska Beacon


Reported cases of extreme blood loss during or after childbirth have increased in Alaska over the past eight years, and an education initiative for health providers is planned as a response, state health officials said.

The cases are known as obstetric hemorrhage, which is defined as the loss of at least 1,000 milliliters — or more than 2 pints — of blood during pregnancy or within 24 hours of childbirth. It is the leading cause of maternal death globally. Nonfatal cases can also have long-term health consequences.

In Alaska, reported rates of obstetric hemorrhage increased from 7.9% of hospital deliveries from 2016 to 2019 to 9% of hospital deliveries from 2020 to 2023, according to a bulletin issued by the Alaska Division of Public Health’s epidemiology section.

Reported rates in Alaska increased for nearly all geographic regions and demographic groups in the period evaluated, the epidemiology bulletin said. However, it is not clear whether the statistics reflects a true increase in case numbers or better identification and reporting of cases, the bulletin noted.

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The highest rates are in the southwestern part of the state, where 15.6% of hospital deliveries from 2020 to 2023 involved such hemorrhages, and the northern part of the state, where the rate during that period was 12.6%, according to the bulletin.

Among ethnic groups, Pacific Islanders had the highest rates of obstetric hemorrhage, at 14.2% of hospital deliveries from 2020 to 2023, according to the bulletin. Indigenous patients had the second highest rate, at 12.7% during those years, the bulletin said.

A new campaign to educate health providers about obstetric hemorrhage will be launched in January by the Alaska Perinatal Quality Collaborative, a volunteer group of maternity health care specialists from around the state.

Rebekah Porter, a nurse consultant with the Alaska Division of Public Health and an author of the bulletin, described the plans for that initiative.

“The Alaska Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s Obstetric Hemorrhage Initiative will focus on both prevention and treatment of obstetric hemorrhage by promoting evidence-based change ideas that facilities can select based on their specific needs,” she said by email.

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Through education and use of an American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists tool called the Obstetric Hemorrhage Patient Safety Bundle, “the initiative aims to standardize care, improve outcomes, and enhance the readiness of healthcare providers across the state,” Porter said.

Excessive bleeding after childbirth causes about 70,000 maternal deaths a year, according to the World Health Organization. Those deaths are concentrated in low-income nations.

In Alaska, bleeding-related maternal deaths are rare.

From 2012 to 2016, there were no recorded maternal deaths in Alaska that were attributed to obstetric hemorrhage, according to state data. In the past five years, there have been fewer than five cases, Porter said.

However, health officials who are monitoring what is known as “severe maternal morbidity” – defined as unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that have severe health impacts – have noticed an uptick in hemorrhage cases in recent years, Porter said. 

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“This increase is another key reason for launching the AKPQC initiative at this time,” she said.

Most pregnancy-related deaths in Alaska are from some kind of trauma rather than from pregnancy-related medical causes, with domestic violence a prominent feature, according to state records. Unintentional injuries, homicides, assaults, suicides and overdoses together accounted for about two-thirds of pregnancy-related deaths from 2015 to 2019, according to state records.

Nationally, rates of hemorrhage after childbirth have increased over the past two decades, according to a study published last year by the National Institutes of Health. From 2000 to 2019, the rate of postpartum hemorrhage increased from 2.7% to 4.3%, the study said.

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