NEWS: Ruling Endangers Wild Kenai River Kings, Rainbows and Dollies: Rep. Gara Files Formal Request for Reconsideration
January 30, 2015
JUNEAU – Today, Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage) filed a formal request for a reversal of a ruling by the Federal Subsistence Board that will threaten Alaska’s world class wild King Salmon, Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden. Prized early and late run wild King Salmon have been decimated in recent years. Early run Kenai River King runs have fallen from over 20,012 fish in 1988 to roughly 2,049 in 2013. Late run Kenai Kings have fallen from 81,700 in 1988 to 19,700 in 2013.
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News: Rep. Gara’s Public Comments Detail Potentially Excessive Tax Breaks for a Company Seeking “Royalty Relief”
December 9, 2014
Anchorage - On Monday, Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage) filed detailed public comments showing the Nuna oilfield will receive significant, and possibly excessive, tax breaks under little-known provisions in S.B. 21. The Parnell Administration, in its waning two weeks, proposed a roughly $40 million reduction in the royalties Nuna’s current owner, Caelus Energy, would owe Alaskans. The Parnell Administration proposed to change the field’s existing lease terms to include additional revenue reductions at a time Alaska is facing a $3 billion budget deficit.
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Representative Kito’s Newsletter: Fall is in the Air
September 8, 2014
I have had a very busy summer, and now fall is in the air. My daughter is back in school, and has her first swim meet this weekend.
In early August, I attended the Council of State Governments meeting in Anchorage where I participated in sessions on retirement plans, marijuana initiatives, economic development, healthcare and state legislation. I was able to learn an amazing amount about issues and statutory solutions in other states, some of which could benefit Alaskans.
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NEWS: Parnell “Chooses Silence” On Zero Worth Oil Provision
August 13, 2014
Governor Parnell has had three weeks to defend a special interest provision in SB 21 that gets Alaskans either a near zero, or even negative long term Production Tax Worth under his controversial oil revenue rollback, SB 21. Rep. Les Gara wrote Governor Parnell on July 24 to ask for his defense of a zero or negative value oil tax provision. Parnell has refused to defend a provision that gets Alaskans little, or possibly a negative worth for fields that went into production under ACES, fields committed to go into production during ACES, and all post-2003 and future oil fields.
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NEWS: Zero Value Oil Tax Provision Hidden From Legislature In 2013
August 6, 2014
Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) said today the public should know the Parnell Administration never revealed a special interest provision in Senate Bill 21 that nets Alaskans nearly no production tax value, or even a negative worth for Alaska’s oil. “Negative or zero oil tax value on all future oil fields, and all fields after 2003, was never once mentioned in a legislative hearing before SB 21 passed,” Gara, a House Finance Committee member, said.
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