I am starting to disagree with my own points after reading the commentary on this article. Lets pretend each Alaskan is entitled to a $2,000 dividend check, taking $1,000 from each Alaskan is regressive - it effects low income people more than high income people. I am a lifelong democrat and hate that nationally we have reduced taxes on high earners through reducing high earner marginal tax rates and caps on capital gains and estate taxes. And from that standpoint the PFD reduction is regressive and bad for low earners.

Also, our state is spending more for essential services than it is producing in revenue. Doesn't it make more sense to limit PFD distributions than to implement and administratively burdensome income tax?

Secondly, Congress lobbed Walker a softball when they chose to appropriate PFD earnings rather than relying on law to do the same thing. The reason Walker has this power to veto half of it is because the legislature gave it to him.