NEWS: Anti-Frankenfish Measure Advances in Alaska House
February 12, 2013
Effort to Protect Wild Alaska Salmon Moves Forward
JUNEAU - Today, the House Fisheries Committee approved House Joint Resolution 5, a resolution sponsored by Representatives Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) and Scott Kawasaki opposing the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the sale of genetically modified (GM) salmon in the United States. This would be the first time the FDA approves a GM organism for human consumption.
Read More →
Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: Governor’s Give Away
February 8, 2013
Guv’s Oil & Gas Tax Bill is Bad for Alaska
It seems like every year, the Legislature is largely consumed with oil and gas taxes. There’s a very good reason for that - those taxes provide for over 90% of Alaska’s general fund. This year is no exception. The governor has once again introduced legislation to give away our resources.
I enjoy hearing from you, so please stop by the office, call, write or email.
Read More →
Note from Rep. Gara: Governor’s New Bill Raises Concerns - and a Few Words on Hieroglyphics
January 17, 2013
Last night the Governor released his latest oil tax rollback bill. It maintains the worst part of last year’s bill, and makes it even more draconian. The largest part of the bill massively rolls back state revenue, and oil company taxes, with no commitment that companies spend that “reward” in Alaska. We’ve tried that before. Until 2006 our Production Tax was nearly 0% on almost every field on the North Slope, and what did we get for lower taxes that didn’t require Alaska investment and more Alaska production work? We got oil production that was declining between 5 - 8% a year, and 40% less investment in the North Slope than we have today. And a fraction of the new companies are exploring for new oil on the North Slope today.
Read More →
Rep. Doogan in Juneau: SPECIAL I’M THINKING ABOUT MAKING A RUN FOR IT EDITION
April 6, 2012
Four bills Nine Days = Chaos
Nine days from the scheduled end of the session and we’re sending House bills to the Senate. Not to be too inside about it, but that means one of two things: 1) those bills are D-E-D dead; 2) we are going to be here longer than 90 days.
All the talk here is about option #2. Here’s why.
There are four important bills left: the operating budget, the capital budget, the bill to greatly expand the power of a new agency to build an in-state gas pipeline (HB 9) and the bill to hand more money to the oil industry (SB 192).
Read More →
Note from Rep. Gara: The End (Of Session) Is Near. Or It Isn’t. An Update Anyway.
April 2, 2012
We have a number of priorities that have passed, may pass, or are on life support but could pass in the next 14 days. One of our priorities is NOT an extended Special Session that takes us past the voter-approved 90-day session. And when I say “special,” I mean it in the way an irritated woman in a bar calls an annoying drunk guy with unending and bad pickup lines “special.”
I think we can get our work done on time, but I’m one of sixty votes. I won’t detail these bills, but this week there will be a constitutional amendment to provide state money to private and religious schools – something I think will detract from needed support for public education, and will vote against.
Read More →
Page 7 of 10« First«...56789...»Last »