Heidi Drygas

I love it when a plan backfires. 😏😎

Way to go, Alaska legislators!! 🙌 #akleg

Saying the quiet thing out loud, eh Mike?

#akleg

The AFL-CIO condemned Senate Republicans today for passing a budget reconciliation bill that raises costs on working people, wipes out millions of jobs and rips health care away from 17 million Americans––all to hand billionaires one of the biggest paydays in history. In a statement, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said: “Senate Republicans claimed to stand with working people, then picked our pockets to deliver a nearly $5 trillion gift to billionaires. Every senator who voted for this budget bill chose to make working families poorer, sicker and less safe. “Senators had a chance to correct the damage of the House version of the budget, but they’ve doubled down to make this job-killer even worse. While we are relieved that advocacy from the labor movement and allies pulled a dangerous provision on the regulation of artificial intelligence, the overwhelming harm of this reckless bill for working families cannot be overstated. “The value of any policy like a temporary tax break on tips or overtime will be more than wiped out by higher health care and energy costs—or worse, the loss of jobs altogether. There are 17 million Americans who will lose their health care, hospitals and nursing homes will close, millions will lose their jobs, and everyone will be forced to pay higher daily costs—all while driving resources to a nasty mass deportation effort that will disrupt the country’s workforce across industries and lead to more layoffs for everyone. “The House of Representatives has one last chance to stop this job-slashing giveaway to the extremely wealthy from becoming law. We urge members of Congress to reject this gift to billionaires and stand up for working people before it’s too late.”

How the Senate Bill Harms Working People: Rips health care away from 17 million people and eliminates 600,000 care jobs, forcing over 300 rural hospitals to close their doors. Spikes health care costs for people with employment-based insurance by nearly $500 per person per year and nearly $2,000 annually for a family of four. Destroys hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in construction, manufacturing and production, and raises energy costs at a moment when working-class households are already struggling. Slashes food assistance for nearly 3 million Americans, and slashes at least 140,000 jobs in food processing facilities, school cafeterias, grocery stores, and farms by cutting billions in SNAP funding. Threatens an estimated 1.75 million construction jobs and over 3 billion work hours, which translates to $148 billion in lost annual wages and benefits. Adds $155 billion in funding for President Trump’s mass deportation agenda to increase raids that target immigrant workers, throw members of our communities and our unions in detention, and rip families apart.

America's unions cannot overstate the Senate budget reconciliation bill's overwhelming harm for working families. We condemn the Senate Republicans for doubling down on a bill that raises costs, wipes out jobs, and rips health care away from 17 million people. aflcio.org/press/releas...

"The bill is expected to increase the number of uninsured by more than 11 million."

What a sad day for America. In this plutocracy, the "haves" keep taking, and the "have nots" lose.

The Dunleavy Decline: a legacy that’s left Alaska’s students behind | Alaska Beacon Dunleavy has been notably absent from debates and legislative negotiations on education, write five parents and advocates in a commentary.

The Dunleavy Decline: a legacy that’s left Alaska’s students behind, write Rachel Blakeslee, Colleen Bolling, Rebecca Braun, Polly Carr and Ellen Jaimes in a commentary for @alaskabeacon.com: alaskabeacon.com/2025/05/19/t... #akleg

Hang in there, Alaskans. 😮‍💨

Long-awaited salary study reveals more than a quarter of Alaska state employees underpaid compared with other employers Study results were released nine months after they were originally due.

A long-awaited state salary study shows that a sizable number of Alaska state employees are underpaid when compared with other employers.

Dane County judge strikes down Act 10, restoring public employee union bargaining rights Public employee collective bargaining rights have been restored by a Dane County judge, who ruled that several sections of Wisconsin's controversial law known as Act 10 are unconstitutional.

In case you missed it, a Wisconsin judge this week struck down former Gov. Scott Walker's Act 10 law.

The move will restore public sector workers' collective bargaining rights.

This is a moment of celebration and hope in these troubled times.