Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Gov’s Giveaway and a Full Plate of Bills
Dear Neighbors,
In the Finance committee, we are in the thick of studying the Governor’s oil tax break. Last week, shortly after 2 am the House Resources committee rushed out SB 21 with even lower taxes proposed for the oil industry than the Senate version. It now gives even more billions of your dollars to oil corporations, still without any guarantee for production.
The last week of session is always an interesting and busy time of year.
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NEWS: Giveaway changes: More Money, More Power to Oil Companies
Late Night meeting increased size of giveaway, repeats past mistakes
JUNEAU – Just after 2:00 a.m. this morning, the House Resources Committee voted to give away more of Alaska’s oil wealth with no guarantee of new production and to make the state rely on oil company statements instead of actual receipts when auditing deductions for tax breaks. The committee also tried to undo hard-won provisions that allow the oil companies that own the Trans Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) to charge the state and other companies for all of their expenses, not just the “reasonable” expenses allowed under current law.
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NEWS: Democrats Offer Improvements to Small Gasline Legislation
Amendments would ensure low-cost gas, add accountability, provide maximum benefit to Alaskans
JUNEAU - Tonight, in an effort to add much needed accountability and assurances Alaskans will get low-cost gas and the maximum benefit from a small diameter gasline, Democratic legislators in the Alaska House of Representatives offered a series of amendments to the gasline’s enabling legislation.
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Alaska’s Nest Egg, PFD to PCG, and Weekend Visit
The Permanent Fund, Alaska’s Nest Egg
The Permanent Fund has been accurately described as Alaska’s Nest Egg. It took our limited natural resource of oil and has turned it into a $45 billion fund that provides annual dividends and helps to build schools and hire police officers. The ‘permanent funds’ of all other states combined is still smaller than ours! And legislators must protect the permanent fund for future generations of Alaskans. Less money from oil revenue and massive tax breaks for big oil corporations will put the permanent fund and PFD’s in jeopardy in the future. I hope legislators and the public are wise about how we preserve our Nest Egg for generations of Alaskans yet to come.
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NEWS: Rep. Kawasaki to Host Constituent Meeting March 30
JUNEAU – Representative Scott Kawasaki will host a final town hall meeting of this session in Fairbanks on Saturday, March 30th. The meeting will be held at the Noel Wien Library Conference Room from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Representative Kawasaki invites Fairbanksans to a discussion on issues like the budget, oil taxes, education, and energy for the Interior.
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