Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Senate Cancels Special Session; and Another Fraud Warning

Citing a legislative legal opinion that the Governor’s removal of his oil tax bill from the special session proclamation is unconstitutional and invalidates the entire document, the state senate has declared an end to special session.

At this time the state house is still in special session but it remains to be seen what will happen next. With the passage of legislation against sex trafficking and the Governor’s withdrawal of his oil tax bill the only remaining issue to be dealt with was the in-state gas line bill. This bill was in possession of the senate and appears to have died with the special session.

Berta’s Briefings from Rep. Gardner: Update on the Special Session (or What’s Left of it)

You’re probably wondering what the heck is happening down here. Things have been shifting around so fast, and after a slow start due to the 3 day absence of Chair Feige, the House Resources Committee meetings on oil taxes have been so intense, that I’ve struggled to describe everything that was going on. Yesterday, when the Governor folded his tent rather than see it erupt in flames, it all changed again and now I can write.

The session call was for 3 items.

Special Session Alert: Public testimony on HB 3001 has been cancelled

Due to the Governor’s announcement tonight that he is withdrawing his oil tax bill, public testimony on HB 3001 set for the morning of Thursday, April 26th, has been cancelled.

Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Public Testimony on HB 3001: Oil & Gas Production Tax

Dear Neighbors,

I have just been notified that public testimony on HB 3001 will be heard tomorrow morning at 9am in the House Resources Committee. While this is news to me, I wanted to be sure you have the information you need to participate in this important discussion.

Speak up in two ways:

Rep. Miller’s District 7 News: Public Testimony on HB 3001, the New Oil Tax Bill

I wanted to let you know of an opportunity to provide public testimony on House Bill 3001, the Governor’s new oil tax bill he introduced for special session.

The House Resources committee will be taking testimony on the bill tomorrow, April 26th, at 9:00 AM.

The bill is a new spin on the Governor’s House Bill 110. However, I fear it still it provides too large a tax break for oil companies without any guarantee more oil will be pumped through the pipeline. You can read more about the hearings HB 3001 has received here.

Rep. Holmes Newsletter: Opportunity for public input on oil taxes!

Make your voice heard! Tomorrow, Thursday, April 26, the House Resources committee will be taking public testimony on the Governor’s oil tax reform bill starting at 9:00 am. If you would like to testify on this important issue, please go to the Anchorage Legislative Information Office at 716 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 200. To accommodate everyone, testimony may be limited to 2-3 minutes each. The bill currently being considered by the House is the Governor’s HB 3001. Click here to find additional information about the bill.

As always, please feel free to e-mail or call me in Juneau with your thoughts about oil taxes, or any other issues. I would love to hear from you!

Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Keep an Eye Out for Suspicious Offers

I was recently alerted by a friend about a potential scam operation being conducted in our area and I want to get a quick warning out to everyone.

What we know is that there is a male who appears to be in his late 30s posing as a municipal employee and offering to perform work on people’s driveways at no cost. The individual is persistent, and might make multiple visits offering free services ranging from weed removal to complete driveway replacement.

Note from Rep. Gara: Guv Signs Our Bill to Protect Alaskans’ Fishing Stream Access!

Well good news doesn’t usually come in the hospital. But that’s where I am, and where I got the good news that the Governor signed my bill seeking to maintain and enhance the cherished right of Alaskans to access our fishing streams, so public access remains for this and the next generation.

Predictions are that surgery went well, but it will be a little bit before we know for sure. What we do know is all the cancer is gone – thanks for all the well wishes. That’s the good news. It will take a little time to find out if there are any side effects.

Rep. Petersen’s Report from the Capitol: Special Session Edition

Governor’s Oil Tax Bill Faces Skepticism; Sex Trafficking Bill Passes

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The special session began on Wednesday, and on Friday the House Energy and Resources Committees began joint hearings on Governor Parnell’s proposed oil tax bill. We will be holding hearings twice a day every day except Sundays through at least next week and the Senate Resources Committee is also holding hearings. So far the committee hearings have not gone well for the governor’s bill and legislators on both sides of the aisle have expressed skepticism about this proposal.

Rep. Lindsey Holmes’ Newsletter: Special Session Update

Special session began last Wednesday. The House and Senate both made quick work of passing HB 359, addressing the problem of sex trafficking. It is on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature.

Both the House and Senate Resources committees began hearings last week on the Governor’s new oil tax bill, HB 3001. Based on the testimony of the Department of Revenue and experts working for the Legislature, the Governor’s new oil tax bill looks remarkably similar to his HB 110 from last year. The total estimated cost to the state is almost as much as in the old bill, and the biggest tax break in the new bill would not require any new industry investment or production. Despite hours of hearings in both the House and the Senate (including an all day Saturday hearing), there are still many unanswered questions about the bill.