Exposes Women’s Medical Records to Government

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/14/2014

“Mead Treadwell doesn’t have a medical degree, but that’s not stopping him from mandating his personal beliefs on Alaska women by forcing them to report their personal medical information to the government and allowing the state to determine whether or not they can have a potentially life saving procedure,” said Susanne Fleek-Green, Campaign Manager for Alaskans for Begich.

Under Treadwell’s actions, women would be forced to report their medical information to the government so the state can determine whether or not their “condition” makes them eligible for certain reproductive services. The questionably constitutional regulations expose a woman’s medical records to the government and limit access to abortions for women on Medicaid – many of whom have limited economic resources and access to health care.

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Company Founded by Treadwell Drove REAL ID Implementation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/14/2014

ANCHORAGE — U.S. Senate candidate Mead Treadwell’s company made upwards of $100 million while pushing for a national ID card. With Treadwell at the helm, Digimarc sought to put 240 million Americans in a database, a fact Treadwell has ironically tried to hide from Alaskans.

Treadwell speaks of his work for Digimarc in glowing terms on the campaign trail without telling Alaskans the company raked in hundreds of millions of dollars providing the technology for REAL ID, an invasive national ID program widely unpopular with Alaskans of all political leanings.

While Treadwell’s company spent lavishly lobbying for REAL ID Alaskans fought back against the policy as a major violation of privacy that allows government to monitor Alaskans.

“Almost everyday Mead Treadwell tells Alaskans the government ‘snoops too much’ while concealing his history of profiting from a national ID card scheme Alaskans roundly rejected as an invasion of privacy,” said Susanne Fleek-Green, Campaign Manager for Alaskans for Begich.

Treadwell founded Digimarc in 1995, a digital watermarking company that has controlled 70% of the national market for drivers licenses. While pushing for REAL ID, Treadwell’s company reported $1.2 million* in federal lobbying expenses as the company stood to make millions from the necessary web of government regulations and implementation of the controversial program.

Digimarc would tell Alaskans a national ID card provides an “upside” and is “potentially transformative for our company.”*

In 2008, Governor Sarah Palin rejected Treadwell’s federally mandated program and passed legislation prohibiting its implementation. The Anchorage Daily News wrote that the REAL ID program constituted what is “absolutely a national ID” remains “ a bad idea,” and ”will create a national database of information about more than 240 million Americans.”

· Treadwell founded Digimarc in 1995 and remains an investor in the company.

Support Continues to Grow; Surpasses 5,000 Alaska Donors

As the Republican primary gets more contentious, enthusiasm for Mark Begich continues to grow with 700 new Alaska donors just this quarter and over 5,000 Alaskans donating overall to his campaign this cycle, more Alaskans than all Republican candidates combined.

In the second quarter Begich raised over $1.25 million for his campaign, bringing his total to almost $8 million this election cycle.

· Over 5000 Alaska donors this campaign cycle, surpassing 2008 figure by nearly 1000 Alaskans

· Over 700 new Alaska donors this quarter

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Extreme Personhood Legislation Forces Decisions for Alaska Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/10/2023

ANCHORAGE — U.S. Senate candidate Mead Treadwell continues to play doctor for Alaska women by calling personhood - an issue that could give state control over women’s bodies - the “next big debate in this country.” Treadwell is adamant about supporting personhood measures which could deem certain forms of birth control murder and outlaw abortion even in the most extreme cases of assault or incest.

Personhood initiatives enthusiastically backed by Treadwell are so extreme that many scenarios a mother’s life and health would not be considered over that of her pregnancy.

“Mead Treadwell is playing doctor if he believes his own personal politics and extreme agenda trump the reproductive rights and in several cases the lives of Alaska women,” said Susanne Fleek-Green, Campaign Manager for Alaskans for Begich.

Passing personhood legislation could allow the government to potentially sue even if a woman has a miscarriage.

The American Congress Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have said that “personhood” legislation would abolish regular forms of birth control used by thousands of Alaska women like the IUD and every day birth control pill.

He recently reiterated his support for “personhood” measures at the KTUU forum.

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Vets Show Support for Begich

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/09/2023

Desperate for Support in Rural Alaska

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/09/2023

ANCHORAGE — Dan Sullivan visited Galena for the first time since his attacks on Alaska Native tribal sovereignty as the Attorney General fighting Alaska tribes in the Kaltag case. Sullivan’s history of prosecuting rural Alaska is in startling contrast to Mark Begich’s record of fighting for federal relief for rural Alaska communities who suffered severe flood damage.

Sullivan’s visit is his first since Galena suffered widespread damage that displaced families and left the village underwater.

“Mark Begich fought for real results for Galena and continues to fight to improve health care, broadband, infrastructure and education across rural Alaska. Dan Sullivan’s appearance in Galena to ask for votes only reminds rural Alaska of his efforts to sue Alaska Native villages and end subsistence rights,” said Max Croes.

Begich visited Galena last summer to meet face to face with Alaskans to discuss their needs and concerns in the wake of devastating flooding.

Sullivan last visited Galena during his prosecution of the Kaltag court case as attorney general.

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Takes Away Individual Rights for Sake of a Corporation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/08/2023

ANCHORAGE — Mark Begich is taking a strong stand against the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby ruling which takes health care decisions away from Alaska women and allows bosses to make reproductive health care decisions for their employees.

“Mark Begich is the only candidate in this race standing up for the rights and privacy of Alaska women and opposing government overreach directly into their reproductive decisions. Mead Treadwell, Dan Sullivan and Joe Miller all believe a woman’s boss or the government should make health care decisions for them,” said Susanne Fleek-Green, Campaign Manager for Alaskans for Begich.

Today on “Talk of Alaska” U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan doubled down on his approach to women’s health care and reiterated his anti-choice platform. Sullivan has also indicated his support for the Hobby Lobby decision.

Read the full article here:

Begich weighs in on Hobby Lobby, Iraq

Democratic Senator gives insight into his work with Obama

Posted: July 4, 2023 - 12:14am

Alaska’s democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Begich is not one to hold back strong opinions, and he is adamant about his opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby case

The senator running for re-election this fall said the landmark ruling paves the way for more challenges that go deeper than the Hobby Lobby case.

“It opens up the whole debate on reproductive rights and choice,” Begich said, later adding, “As a woman or man that’s concerned about reproductive rights you should be concerned with this ruling.”

The court ruled 5-4 in favor of Hobby Lobby stores which sought a religious exemption from the Affordable Care Act mandate to provide coverage for four of 20 types of contraceptives. Hobby Lobby argued that the four methods, which included two types of “morning-after pills” and intrauterine devices, constituted an abortion because they believe life begins when the egg is first fertilized. Scientists are divided on the issue.

Still, for Begich, the ruling takes away some individual rights for the sake of a corporation.

“I can only say this as a man, but as a woman to have your boss tell you what kind of birth control you can have, I think is a big problem,” Begich said. “It takes away women’s reproductive rights that have been fought for for decades.

“Women’s health care is once again going to be under attack as time goes on,” he added.

He said work is already underway on legislation that will “fix this problem” and protect women from those kinds of rights being taken away by a court ruling.

“In this case, what we want to do is make sure that right is preserved,” Begich said. “How we can do that legislatively — we’re not sure yet.”

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Senate Candidate Changes Residency Story Once Again

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/08/2023

ANCHORAGE — On Alaska Public Radio’s “Talk of Alaska” U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan attempted to airbrush a new layer on the ever-changing story of his residency. Sullivan told an Alaskan that he checked a box on his 2009 non-resident fishing license application asking if he was “domiciled” in Alaska or not.

Dan Sullivan’s fishing license application very clearly directed him to identify his Alaska “Residency,” which he left blank. The application makes no reference of being “domiciled” outside of Alaska while being a resident.

A current online fishing application requires an individual to identify their residency in the first field:

“Alaskans can’t trust Dan Sullivan’s ever-changing story and the claims he has made in the last five years to have been a non-resident, 1 year resident, 2 year resident, 10 year resident and 17 year resident of Alaska. It doesn’t add up,” Susanne Fleek-Green.

At the time of his non-resident fishing application, Sullivan owned a million dollar Maryland home identified as his “principal residence” while voting in Alaska.

Sullivan’s entire story conflicts with his recent claim to have been a continuous 17 year resident of Alaska made when he filed to run for the U.S. Senate listing residency in Alaska since 8/1/1997.

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Holds Over 25 Events from Barrow to Juneau Treadwell, Miller, Sullivan Combine for Less than 10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/07/2023

ANCHORAGE — Hundreds of Alaskans got the chance to show their support and share their thoughts with Senator Mark Begich as he traveled a few thousand miles across Alaska - holding over 25 events with veterans, Alaska Native leaders and supporters. Begich’s opponents combined for less than 10 events.

Since Sunday June 29th, Begich has visited the following communities: Homer, Kenai, Soldotna, Cooper Landing, Seward, Indian, Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks and Barrow.

Dan Sullivan, Mead Treadwell and Joe Miller limited their exposure to Alaskans in the last week by appearing at only a few parades and fundraisers.

“Mark Begich will go anywhere in Alaska to listen to the ideas and concerns of Alaskans. Begich knows that Alaskans expect to know their elected officials and campaigns are decided by Alaskans, not Outside attack ads,” said Max Croes, Communications Director for Alaskans for Begich.

MARK BEGICH EVENTS Sunday, June 29 - Sunday, July 6:

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Ad Features Fairbanks Mayor Eberhart, North Star Borough Mayor Hopkins, and Former Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Whitaker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 7/1/2024

A new ad airing today highlights Mark Begich’s bipartisan support from local leaders across the state, including Fairbanks Mayor John Eberhart, Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins, and former Republican North Star Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker.

Eberhart, Hopkins and Whitaker tout Begich’s leadership in keeping the F16s at Eielson Air Force Base - saving 3,000 jobs - Begich’s successful push against the EPA to protect Alaska’s coal fired power plants from over regulation and his firm opposition to a carbon tax.

Transcript of the ad is below:

John Eberhart: I’m Fairbanks Mayor John Eberhart …

Luke Hopkins: I’m Fairbanks Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins …

Jim Whitaker: And I’m former Mayor Jim Whitaker – and I’m also a Republican.

All: And we’re all voting for Mark Begich.

Hopkins: Mark took on the EPA and kept our coal-fired power plant open.

Whitaker: It’s why we know he’s against a carbon tax.

Eberhart: And he fought to keep our squadron of F-16s at Eielson.

Whitaker: That saved three thousand jobs.

Whitaker: Mark Begich has proven to us he has clout.

Eberhart: Alaska can’t afford to lose that.

Begich: I’m Mark Begich and I approve this message.

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