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Voice your opinions!
Here are some ways to let your voice be heard regarding issues important to you.

Write a Letter to the Editor –
submit your 225 word letter to the Anchorage Daily News via e-mail letter@adn.com, or fax them to 258-2157, attn: letters to the editor. A tool is available to help at http://akdemocrats.org/editor.

Contact the Governor –
Governor Murkowski's Anchorage office may be reached at 269-7450, or e-mail him at frank_murkowski@gov.state.ak.us You can also visit the state website at www.state.ak.us

Contact your
Congressional Delegation – Congressman Don Young,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5978
don.young@mail.house.gov

Senator Lisa Murkowski,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-3735,
EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Senator Ted Stevens,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5915
EMAIL: Sen. Ted Stevens

Dear Friends,

National Veterans Wheelchair Games

        The National Veterans Wheelchair Games that took place in Anchorage this month and I had the honor of presenting medals to the winners of the Slalom competition. This event features Veteran wheelchair athletes from all over the country; with over 500 participants, these games are the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world. It is impossible to have contact with these brave athletes and not be touched by their courage. I was pleased to help welcome these great men and women to our city.

The Toll Fellowship, Lexington Kentucky

        I had the privilege of being nominated by my peers and selected to participate in this year's Henry Toll Fellowship in Lexington Kentucky. The Toll Fellowship is a six day “boot camp” for state leaders from across the nation. The program stresses personal development combined with the opportunity to compare and contrast leadership styles with a peer group of motivated individuals.

        One Toll rule that I particularly enjoyed was the admonition against discussing party labels. It was refreshing to set aside the boundaries that often constrain political debate.

The Special Session

        The second special session began July 12th and will end August 11th. The focus remains on oil and gas issues.

        This time around, the administration has re-introduced a PPT (net profits based) oil tax bill. The 20/20 bill has failed twice now in the Legislature, and virtually no one expects the Governor's proposal to pass without significant amendments.

        In addition to PPT, several legislators have expressed support for a tax on the “true value” or “gross value” of our oil. The state currently uses a gross system to tax oil, but most agree it is broken because it exempts many fields from taxation and does not charge a high enough tax to producers during times of high prices. A bill that would “go to the gross” has some support in both the House and the Senate.

        While I am a fan of the gross tax, I will be looking to the bottom line of any oil tax when deciding my vote. Many of you know that Representative Les Gara and I, as well as several others, have advocated for years now that changes to our oil taxation system are badly needed. A tax plan that offers Alaskans a fair compensation for our resources will earn my support. I remain optimistic that we in the Legislature can reach common ground on this contentious topic.

        Concerning the Gasline contract, the public comment period ends this coming Monday, July 24th at 5:00pm. If you have not submitted comments and wish to do so, you can visit the Administration's web page at http://www.gov.state.ak.us/gasline .

        Many Legislators, myself included have jointly prepared a lengthy set of comments on the contract. My chief concern continues to be the long-term lock up of oil and gas taxes. The full contract document is available on the state website www.state.ak.us .

        I return to Juneau on Monday, July 24th, and will be closely monitoring my e-mail in-box. Please send me your thoughts.

Sincerely

Hollis French
Alaska State Senator
District M - Anchorage