KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Kayla Desroches/KMXT
Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott spoke at ComFish Friday and dedicated much of his presentation to talking about the state’s budget gap. He emphasized the urgency of the issue.
“The legislature has less than three weeks to finish its work, and if we do not close the fiscal gap this year, if we do no bring the gap to zero, shame on us. But worse than that is what that lack of leadership will mean to our children and to the communities in which we live.”
Mallott laid the responsibility with the state’s collective leadership, including its communities.
“And I will not speak to you in economic terms. I will not use data. I will say this. The only thing keeping us from closing the fiscal gap, the only thing depriving us right now of immediately beginning to grow Alaska again is us.”
Mallott said if they do not close the gap this session of the Alaska legislature, it won’t happen “for a while” due to the upcoming elections. He said 2016 will usher in a new House of Representatives and 2018 will bring more congressional elections as well as an Alaska gubernatorial election.
“You cannot expect that issues as large as this with the momentum that has already been established to move us to where we have moved to continue in a way that allows us to do this responsibly.”
He said he emphasizes this to Kodiak in particular.
“Because Kodiak is a place of leadership. Kodiak is a place of relative prosperity in a state that struggles for prosperity. Kodiak is a place in which, without question, others in our own state and others from across the world can come to and say this is a good place.”
He pointed to Kodiak’s “low-cost energy”, “good schools”, and “vibrant economy,” and said Kodiak’s voice is needed to get Alaska to the next step.
Mallot was one of several politicians who stepped up to speak at ComFish this year, including Senator Lisa Murkwoski and Senator Dan Sullivan.
