Rep. Petersen’s Report from the Capitol: BREAKING NEWS Special Session May Be Ending After Governor Withdraws Oil Tax Bill
April 26, 2012
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It has been a wild 24 hours in the capitol. Last night Governor Sean Parnell announced he was withdrawing his oil tax giveaway bill, and this afternoon the Senate voted to adjourn the special session. It is unclear what will happen next. The House does not have a floor session scheduled until Monday, and if we do not vote to adjourn the Senate will be forced back into session. If that happens, then Alaska’s constitution allows either the House or Senate to pass a resolution which would allow the governor to end the special session.
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Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Senate Cancels Special Session; and Another Fraud Warning
April 26, 2012
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.
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Berta’s Briefings from Rep. Gardner: Update on the Special Session (or What’s Left of it)
April 26, 2012
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.
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House Democratic Leader Responds to Governor Pulling the Plug on His Oil Tax Giveaway
April 25, 2012
JUNEAU – Tonight, House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula released the following statement in response to Governor Parnell’s announcement that he is withdrawing his oil tax legislation.
“This is a good day for Alaska. I’m glad the governor just pulled the plug on his bad bill. The writing was on the wall when the governor introduced a bill that was nearly identical to his last giveaway. The facts have never supported giving away more of Alaska’s share, especially for nothing in return. I’m very proud of the House Democrats, and everyone else who worked against his oil tax giveaway.”
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NEWS: Public Fishing Stream Access Bill Signed Into Law
April 25, 2012
Today, the governor signed into law Representative Les Gara’s legislation to ensure future public access to Alaska’s fishing streams, House Bill 144. The bill passed the House last year with a vote of 38 Yeas and passed the Senate by a vote of 20 to 0 on February 27.
“I want to thank the governor and the legislative body for their support in protecting Alaskans’ access to fishing streams for this and the next generation. In other states you have to pay access fees to fish a stream, or are simply blocked from this public resource. We don’t ever want that to happen in Alaska,” said Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage), an avid fisherman and fishing writer.
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