Losing billions gets Legislature's attention

It’s embarrassing that it took billions of dollars in losses for some legislators to acknowledge that the state’s fiscal house is leaking worse than a broken downspout on a Southeast Alaska roof.

It’s too bad Gov. Mike Dunleavy acts like he has barely noticed the growing pool of mud at his feet.

Start with the Permanent Fund, which generates investment earnings that have become the largest single source of revenue in the state budget. Last year was painful for most every investor, and Alaska was not immune to the downturn. The fund dropped almost $7 billion in market value between Dec. 31, 202...