Rep. Gara Calls for Better Alternative to Gov’s Oil Bill; Alternative requires new Alaska exploration and production
January 23, 2012
Today Democratic Representative Les Gara called for a hearing on his oil tax legislation. Unlike the governor’s bill which gives away revenue for nothing in return, Rep. Gara’s “Alaska Oil Production Enhancement Act” (HB 231) requires oil companies to make new investments in Alaska before receiving incentives.
“Alaska is a sovereign state. We should act like one. The Governor’s bill gives companies the option to take $1.8 billion a year outside Alaska. Our bill requires that companies invest in Alaska, on development projects, that will open new fields and heavy oil to production to qualify for the incentives we offer,” said Gara.
Read More →
Democrats Introduce Accountability Measures for Oil Tax Credits
January 13, 2012
JUNEAU – Today, House Democratic Whip Berta Gardner (D-Anchorage) introduced two pre-filed bills designed to provide Alaskans more information on the State’s North Slope investments. The bills will help Alaskans know if our massive investment is meeting our twin goals of more oil in the pipeline and more jobs for Alaskans.
Read More →
Monday, Noon: Gara To Tell Anchorage Chamber Guv’s Oil Giveaway Must Give Way To Better Plan That Will Work.
January 6, 2012
On Monday Rep. Les Gara will present to an audience that hasn’t heard the other side of the story on Governor Parnell’s oil tax bill: That it gives away billions, with no tangible benefit to Alaskans. The presentation at the Chamber’s Make it Monday forum will be at noon at the Dena’ina Convention Center in Anchorage.
“Last time we lowered taxes on oil companies, we had declining production, companies took their profits out of state, and we had 40% less investment and 40% percent fewer jobs. The Governor’s plan is more of the same corporate welfare. Rather than tell companies they can take his $1.8 billion in tax reductions out of state, which his plan allows, we should allow tax credits only if companies spend in Alaska on new exploration and new production,” said Gara, whose HB 231 includes those provisions.
Read More →
Democrats Encouraged by Strong Interest in Alaska Oil Lease Sales; Robust bidding shows Alaska has much to offer new oil and gas producers
December 7, 2011
Today, House Minority Whip Berta Gardner (D-Anchorage), Representative Chis Tuck (D-Anchorage), and Representative Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) released the following statements after the state’s successful oil and gas lease sale this morning brought great interest from new and independent oil producers.
“The success of these sales is another positive sign that Alaska’s doing a lot right when it comes to developing our tremendous oil and gas resources,” said Rep. Gardner. “These new leases, new access to the west, and the record level of exploration expected on the Slope this season will go a long way toward generating jobs for Alaskans and oil for the pipeline.”
Read More →
Note from Rep. Gara: Hurdle Cleared: Oil Development in National Petroleum Reserve Moving Forward
December 6, 2011
Who knows what impact public comment ever has? You hope it matters, so you comment. That’s why this spring I and others wrote an array of federal officials to say that ConocoPhillips’ proposed development in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A) was in Alaska’s and the nation’s interests. When the US Army Corps of Engineers effectively blocked oil development there by denying a needed bridge permit, I was concerned. I spoke to my colleagues about writing a letter explaining that production was falling on the North Slope, and access to this area, reserved for oil development, was crucial to our efforts to stem and hopefully reverse the decline in North Slope oil production.
Read More →
