Note fom Rep. Gara: Sunday Constituent Meeting & Increasing Oil Production without Giving Away the Farm
This Sunday from Noon till 2:00, Senator Ellis and I will be in Anchorage if you’d like to hear a legislative update, and share your thoughts and concerns. Or you can pretend that’s why you’re coming, bring your kids, and eat free pizza.
We’d be honored if you came for any of the above reasons, and be honored to feed your kids and grandkids.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Unnecessary “Waste”: Alaska’s Fish and the Cruise Ship Dump Bill
Many of you know I have spent a lot of time on protecting Alaska’s great fishing stocks. And a lot of time fishing. The desire to protect Alaska’s fish is something that binds most Alaskans across party lines.
Unfortunately there is a worrisome bill running through the Legislature. Here’s what I can tell you about it. I hope you might share your opinion with the Senate, where this bill will be voted upon soon.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Peeling the Onion: Major School Cuts Don’t Jibe With “Record” School Funding Claims
Last week I mentioned that I and many of my colleagues had filed legislation to stop a third year of damaging school staff cuts, and to make up for prior cuts so our students can have the courses and teachers they need to succeed and become vital parts of a strong economy.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Governor’s New Bill Raises Concerns - and a Few Words on Hieroglyphics
Last night the Governor released his latest oil tax rollback bill. It maintains the worst part of last year’s bill, and makes it even more draconian. The largest part of the bill massively rolls back state revenue, and oil company taxes, with no commitment that companies spend that “reward” in Alaska. We’ve tried that before. Until 2006 our Production Tax was nearly 0% on almost every field on the North Slope, and what did we get for lower taxes that didn’t require Alaska investment and more Alaska production work? We got oil production that was declining between 5 - 8% a year, and 40% less investment in the North Slope than we have today. And a fraction of the new companies are exploring for new oil on the North Slope today.
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