NEWS: Rep. Gara Calls Out Governor’s Flip Flopping on Oil Taxes
February 20, 2013
Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) called on the governor to explain his continuing change in position on Alaska’s oil tax law, known as ACES. In 2010, the governor took a position that was in line with that being pushed by House and Senate Democrats - that reasonable tax cuts should be tied to Alaska production, and breaks should not be given to companies that would spend them outside Alaska in “some other country.”
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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.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Fuzzy School Math, Working to Change The Controversial Office Account Policy, More
February 1, 2013
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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.
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NEWS: Democrats Question New Revenue Projections
December 6, 2012
Enormous implications mean new assumptions need more scrutiny
JUNEAU – Today, House Democrats raised concerns about the methodology and timing of the Parnell Administration’s new revenue projection model and asked Department of Revenue Commissioner Bryan Butcher to release to the public more details about its latest income projections. House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau) met with Commissioner Butcher and his staff this week to discuss the new report, but she was not satisfied with the explanations she received.
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