November 5, 2024, Alaskans will Vote for Their Next Representative to Congress
We began presenting the alaskan candidates running for U.S. Congress in our June edition, this month Lt. governor Nancy Dahlstrom one of the candidates, answers our questions.
“I’m going to work with President Trump to pass pro-business, pro-Alaska policies to boost our economy.” The story of Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom is like that of so many Alaskans. She came up North at the age of 18 to find adventure and never left. She built a career, raised a family, and worked in the public service. Now she is running for a seat in the United States Congress. Why do you want to become a U.S. Congresswoman? I am running for Congress because our current congresswoman, Mary Peltola, does not represent Alaska’s values in the House. Alaska’s state identity is rooted in rugged individualism. It is something we pride ourselves on as a state and a people, and that hardiness makes us tough. We are not people who rely on the federal government to solve our problems. In fact, we’d prefer it if Washington stayed out of our business unless it’s absolutely necessary. Alaskans share in family values — God, family, and country — and we use conservative common sense when making policy decisions. Mary Peltola pushes for the opposite of what Alaskans want and need. There are 56,000 Hispanics living in Alaska, according to the last census. How would you represent the core values of hard working, family, and love of God that the Hispanic community holds dear? I share in the values that the Hispanic community holds dear not just because they form the foundation of a healthy community but because they are also the same values that Alaskans of all stripes hold close. And we need these values now more than ever! Living in Alaska is the definition of hard work. It’s a life that is only made possible by a close family and a strong faith in God, and one that takes a steeled resolve that not everyone has themselves. From fishing to wildlife management and beyond, Alaskans across the state are no strangers to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work for our families and communities. We also know that the main reason we’ve gotten this far in such a cold, remote place is because of God above and his divine providence. I plan to bring those values to Congress and return common sense and faithful leadership to Washington. In Alaska, there are nearly 3,000 businesses owned by Hispanics which employ thousands of workers and contribute millions of dollars to local economies. What would you do to support them? First and foremost, I’m going to work with President Trump to pass pro-business, pro-Alaska policies to boost our economy and foster business in Alaska. For our state to be successful, we need to have the tools to draw business in and keep them. Unfortunately, short-sighted policies championed by Joe Biden and enabled by congressional Democrats like Mary Peltola are actually driving businesses out of Alaska. The climate change crowd that Mary Peltola and Joe Biden find themselves in are targeting Alaska’s main economic lifelines. Our fishing industry is under threat by the Biden administration so they can meet their paper tiger climate goals. Our energy industry is being stifled by these policies, as well, and Alaska’s energy potential is being squandered as a result. And all of this while Joe Biden drains our strategic petroleum reserves so he can artificially deflate gas prices to save face in November. Alaska’s economy, and America’s economy as a whole, are in serious trouble right now. Our entrepreneurs are suffering under high inflation, increased costs, and very little relief in sight. We have to turn this around soon, or the results will be disastrous. The lack of affordable health insurance affects us all; however, minority groups are affected disproportionately. What do you think are possible solutions to lower the high healthcare costs in Alaska? The high healthcare costs we are seeing as a state and a country can be traced back to one inflection point: the Affordable Care Act. Obamacare introduced socialism into the American insurance market and has opened the door for companies to run haywire when charging people for health insurance by creating a government option and expanding the premium on non-government insurance. We have to return to the time before socialism mucked up our insurance industry and work to bring down costs in real ways, not by throwing taxpayer dollars at the problem. Fostering an economy that solves problems through entrepreneurship, not government intervention, will naturally create more affordable plans to fill the gap in the market. We do not need to use the long arm of the government to expand access to health insurance or healthcare in general, we actually need to take it off the scale entirely. Would you support tougher enforcement of the Southern border? Wholeheartedly, yes. I’ve seen the disaster down there myself. The border crisis is being felt across the country, and every state — including Alaska — is now a border state. |