(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy earlier this week released a plan to rush a no-bid contract for $250,000 to produce what Rep. Zack Fields calls political ads using state dollars.

In an procurement announcement published on August 3rd and closing on August 6th, the Office of the Governor announced it is seeking information from media agencies interested in contracting with the state for a public education and information campaign regarding a proposed constitutional amendment pertaining to the permanent fund, the permanent fund dividend (PFD), and power cost equalization (PCE).  Interested parties must submit a written response by Friday, August 6, at 12:00p.m., Alaska Time.

The contract(s) with the agencies for advertising will include radio and internet within the State of Alaska.  The total budget for this project is estimated not to exceed $250,000.00.  The contract(s) are exempt from the requirements of the Alaska State Procurement Code under AS 36.30.850(b)(34).

Quoting background information provided by the Office of the Governor, "Upon review of a recent statewide poll, the Governor’s proposed constitutional amendment restructuring the Permanent Fund, protecting the PFD and memorializing Power Cost Equalization, is unfamiliar to 67% of the responding public. To amend the constitution, the public must by majority vote, ratify the amendment during a statewide general election. Therefore, the data shows roughly 2/3 of the public is not sufficiently aware of what the administration proposes the legislature approve for the public’s consideration."

Rep. Zack Fields (D-Anchorage) released the following statement on the contract: “At the same time every other state agency has endured years of service and staffing cuts advocated by the governor, the Office of the Governor has steadily increased its budget to the point it is now $32 million, an increase of roughly 25 percent. Yet somehow, even with a large staff that includes an entire communications department, the administration is now seeking to use even more public dollars for a political campaign aimed at shredding the Constitution.”

Quoting an Alaska House Majority news release, in statements to news organizations, "The governor described the spending as necessary to raise awareness about his proposal to spend the same amount of Permanent Fund earnings to pay dividends as we spend on teachers, troopers, transportation, and every other essential service the state provides."

On the Web:

Procurement Officer contact information:

Interested parties must submit a written response by Friday, August 6, at 12:00p.m., Alaska Time.  Responses may be emailed to dottie.whitehead@alaska.gov.  Responses received after the deadline are unacceptable.  All questions must be submitted via email.

Locations: Anchorage, Arctic Region, Central Region, Fairbanks, Interior Region, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, Northern Region, Palmer, Sitka, Soldotna, Southcentral Region, Southeast Region, Southwest Region, Western Region, Southcoast Region

 

Source of News:

Alaska House Majority
www.leg.

RFI: Initiative Pertaining to PCE/PFD Constitutional Amendment
aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=203333

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