The essential fact of Alaska's political life is that if you won't spend every dime the State has, then somebody will run against you promising to do so, and they will probably win.   If the Majority steps up and makes the sort of meaningful cuts in the operating budget that the times dictate, there will be a Democrat or one of the false-flag Republicans the Democrats have recruited running against them promising to restore the cuts and put nuts and cherries on top just for you.