Letters to the editor

Who is Nick Begich III?To the editor:

Nick Begich III is a 44-year-old conservative Republican running for Alaska’s only seat in the US House of Representatives. He and his wife Dharna have a 10-year-old son, Nicholas. Nick was born in Alaska and currently lives in Chugiak. Yes, he is a part of the well- known, primarily democratic, Begich family. However, he comes from a different branch of that family tree. At a very young age, following the divorce of his parents, he was sent to Florida where he was raised by his mother’s parents. They instilled the strong conservative Christian values he holds today. His involvement with the Republican party started when he was still in high school. He organized a group of like-minded students who, though too young at that time, were referred to as part of the official organization of “Young Republicans”. Following high school, he earned a BBA at Baylor University then an MBA at Indiana University. His wife finished her education at Purdue University and is a Pharmacist at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. Of note is the fact that they paid for their own education.

He worked for Ford Motor company for several years and then started his own business. He is the Founder and Executive Chairman of FarShore Partners, a full-service custom software and product development design agency which provides technical expertise locally and internationally.

Nick returned to Alaska 18 years ago. During the last 18 years he has demonstrated his natural leadership ability in multiple public service arenas. He became the co-chair of the Alaska Republican Party Finance Committee (2017-19) and co-chair of Alaskans for Don Young (2020). He served on the Alaska Policy Forum whose vision is “an Alaska that continuously grows prosperity by maximizing individual opportunities and freedom”. He was board president from 2018 – 2021.

He was elected to the Board of Directors of Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA) in 2016 – 2022. While on the MTA Board, he served on and was elected President of the MTA Foundation Board (2017-2021). The goals of the Foundation Board are to promote technology awareness, economic development and enhance entrepreneurship through education and community involvement. In addition, he has invested in a variety of businesses statewide helping to create jobs and strengthen Alaska’s economy.

Nick stands for the following: Prosperity through resource independence; American energy security; Alaska’s role in national security; Veterans; Development of Alaska’s critical minerals; Lowering Alaska’s energy costs; Restoring Alaska’s timber industry; Ensuring sustainable fisheries; Securing our Second Amendment freedoms; Focusing education on the student; Enhancing Alaska’s tourism; Lowering health care costs for Alaskans; Protecting American freedom from judicial activism

He is running a high energy campaign. Traveling statewide to meet other Alaskans; to discuss their views and concerns; and, to answer any questions they may have. We hope the future involves a political forum where all the candidates are in attendance and where the questions are Not provided to the candidates in advance. This will give us, the voters, the opportunity to judge each candidate based on their knowledge of and potential solutions for various state issues.

Take the opportunity to meet Nick. His entrepreneurial experience; his demonstrated leadership ability; and, his dedication to understanding Alaska’s diverse issues makes him unquestionably the most qualified person to represent all of Alaska in the US House of Representatives.

Jim and Faye Palin

Wasilla, Alaska

Honored to serve District OTo the editor:

My name is Doug Massie, and I am running to serve as your next District O State Senator. This vast area represents the heart of Southcentral Alaska extending north beyond Denali Park, through the Eastern Mat-Su region, and on south to Valdez. This is my home, where I was born and raised, met my beautiful wife Misty, raised our three children, and built our family business. I am so grateful for the incredible support of District O voters in the Primary election and am working each day to increase this support as I meet new friends in all areas of our District.

I recently retired as Director of the Alaska Wildlife Troopers after a 25-year career in public safety. My mission was always straightforward, to protect our people and our natural resources. From Kotzebue to Homer, and Bristol Bay to Juneau my public safety service gave me the privilege of serving and protecting Alaskans and the natural resources.

I stand for safe communities supported by a strong criminal justice system; fiscal conservatism that recognizes our need for a balanced and sustainable budget; a stable, diversified economy that attracts new investment through reduced regulation and predictable business policy; increased access to trade and tech schools; and educational excellence for every student in an accountable, results focused environment.

As your Senator I promise to faithfully represent you, to show up for work, every day without excuse, and to reason, debate and vote on the important matters facing our District and State. I will support only laws that serve our people, and not ones that constrain our liberty or ability to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

I learned in a long public safety career to listen to people, to choose my words carefully, to cautiously assess situations involving strong disagreement and turmoil, and to act with courage, self-control and decisiveness. I will bring this same approach to my work representing you in Juneau and throughout Alaska.

The message and spirit of our campaign is resonating with people, and it shows in support and at the polls. I can be reached at doug@massieforstatesenate.com, and would love to hear from you.

I look forward to continuing to earn your vote and trust in the days ahead, and I will be honored to serve District O as your voice in the Alaska Legislature.

Yours in service,

Doug Massie

Concerned about MedicareTo the editor:

In 2019 Medicare launched a scheme called Direct Contracting allowing companies to control the healthcare of tens of millions of traditional Medicare and Medicare supplement beneficiaries.

Direct Contracting inserts a for profit company between patients and medical providers. Companies are paid a monthly fee to cover a portion of a patients expenses keeping 40% of the fee that’s not spent on patient care. Beneficiaries can be enrolled without their full knowledge or consent and to opt out, a patient must change their primary care doctor. Companies lure doctors with promises of greater reimbursement from Medicare and payments for enrolling their patients into the plan. Companies were granted a waiver that exempts them from certain anti kickback regulations that normally keep doctors from entering their patients in a for profit plan, so doctors can be paid to enroll their patients in the scheme even without the patient’s permission.

The program has no Congressional input, approval or oversight. The General Counsel for the Health and Human Services Department warned that it appeared the new project was set up to benefit specific companies. Since resigning from Medicare two officials involved with planning the scheme have opened businesses that will benefit from Direct Contracting. Medicare admits previous attempts to save money and improve care have failed, costing taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. Instead of cancelling the program, Medicare renamed the scheme calling it ACO REACH, but the same flaws exist. Medicare expects to cover all traditional Medicare beneficiaries with this plan by 2030, effectively privatizing Medicare.

If the ACO REACH program continues, seniors will have their care radically changed, their choices undermined, services denied and care rationed while increasing the chance of bankrupting Medicare. Healthcare should be between patients and their doctors, not companies that have profit as their motive.

Sincerely,

Mike Gatton

Taxpayer, Medicare beneficiary, concerned citizen