Rep. Kreiss-Tomkins’ Newsletter: What are those yahoos in Juneau up to now?
March 7, 2014
Like a good story, most legislative sessions have a narrative. Last session’s narrative was simple and wholesome: the passage of a multi-billion dollar tax cut for oil companies. And by golly, we got the job done with SB 21, which passed the Senate 11-9, and fulfilled its unfortunate destiny by a vote of 27-12 on the floor of the House of Representatives at 2:07 a.m. in the wee hours of April 14, 2013. (I was among the dozen dissenters.)
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Note from Rep. Gara: Oil Tax Rollbaack: Documents Undermine “Million Barrels a Day” Promise
February 7, 2014
When does 370,000 equal 1 million? Only in politics.
Last year, to get the votes to roll back Alaska oil revenue by over $12 billion in the next decade, the Governor told voters they could expect a 100% increase in production by 2023 to “1 million barrels” of oil a day. Nice sound bite. Not accurate.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Education Pressure Working? Silenced Experts & Not All Gas Pipelines Are the Same
March 27, 2013
Dear Neighbors,
Earlier this week I woke up to killer whales in the Gastineau Channel. At first I thought that could be a bad omen. Then I thought, “I could use some cereal.” That’s just how you have to roll in this job. You do what you can, work harder than you want to give yourself the best chance to make a difference, look at the killer whales, forget them and move on.
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NEWS: Parnell Withholding Important Oil Tax Information, Gara Calls for Public Release
March 13, 2013
JUNEAU - Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) called on the governor to release information he has withheld regarding the governor’s oil tax legislation. Two weeks ago Rep. Gara filed a public records request for important oil tax information so that legislators could receive information needed to decide how to address proposals on the subject. The governor has not yet responded.
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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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