Letter to the editor

What interest does the Israeli Government have with Alaska state senators and state representatives?

To the editor:

Four Alaska State Lawmakers, House Majority Speaker Chuck Kopp (Anchorage), Sen. Bill Wielechowski (Anchorage), Sen. Shelley Hughes (Palmer), and Rep. Neal Foster (Nome) are preparing to depart on an all expenses paid trip 6,000 miles away from their districts to Israel. This begs the question of, what interest does the Israeli Government have with Alaska state senators and state representatives? What interest does a foreign government have with local representatives? What was or will be exchanged in return for this seemingly free tour of Israel? And most importantly, how does this benefit anyone in Nome, Anchorage, or the Mat-Su Valley.

Israel likely views these four lawmakers as a strategic investment. They see these people as future lawmakers who are willing to take political fallout for them now and likely will in the future. The bet they are making is when an opportunity to aid or benefit Israel comes, even at the cost of Alaskans, they will have at least four people in their back pockets. This trip is exposing Alaska to foreign interests and shaping our future to bend the knee for another country.

Secondly, our representatives are paid by us a salary that is supposed to support them while they carry out their duties in service of the state. NOT to go sightseeing around the middle east and hold a photo-op. Everything we've paid taxes on, our homes, food for the family, fishing license, has contributed to this trip. Their combined $200,000 salary would have been better spent on roads, reduced taxes, healthcare or anything that matters to us. Instead we paid for these lawmakers to network, find campaign financiers, and get support from national political parties.

As a constituent of Shelly Hughes for the last 10 years I’ll tell you what she's done to earn this trip. The same homeless people are still on the same corner of

Mcdonald’s and Fred Meyer, the same busted roads by Napa, improved roads for tourists outside of the valley, and now a gas tax is being proposed. Then she went on a trip to the middle east to advance her career and get backing from people outside of Alaska. Thankfully, now she's running for governor to offer her track record to the whole state with support from foreign countries and politicians in D.C..

I ask these lawmakers and specifically my lawmaker Shelley Hughes to apologize for wasting everyone's time, money, and energy on making sure she can advance her career and sightsee. To show their commitment to their constituents and hopefully restore an inkling of faith I’d also ask them to donate to the Alaska Family Services.

Christopher Koops,

Palmer