House Acts to Protect Public Fishing Stream Access
Today, the Alaska House of Representatives passed HB 144 protecting access to Alaska’s favorite fishing spots. The bill, sponsored by Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage), would require the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to submit an annual report on its efforts to maintain and enhance public access to fishing streams.
“Protecting and enhancing public access to the hunting, fishing and recreational uses along the state’s waterways is of primary importance to many people and a wide variety of user groups,” said Ricky Gease, Executive Director of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association. “This legislation ensures that these areas will remain open for the public.”
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Note from Rep. Gara: Big Wins and Thank Yous on Medicare, Foster Care Bills
A big thanks to Senators Bettye Davis and Hollis French! This year we teamed up with them on our foster care and Medicare legislation. We filed our version on the House side, and they worked hard with us agreeing to file parallel pieces of legislation on the Senate side. Senator Davis has been a leader on children’s issues for a long time, and Senator French has emerged as a leader on getting more Alaskans health coverage. Oh. And thanks to my summer aide, and Facing Foster Care in Alaska Coordinator Amanda Metivier, for writing much of the foster care legislation; and to my aide Rose Foley for working hand in hand with me on this.
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Democrats Offer Oil Solution that Gets for Every Give
Proposal would set development and production benchmarks, help those who reach them
JUNEAU – Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) filed the Alaska Oil Production Enhancement Act designed to set production and development benchmarks and provide incentives for industry to meet them. The bill would extend the successful Cook Inlet exploration credits to the North Slope, add tax credits for developing new facilities to get oil from the well into the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, and provide new credits that only apply to development work done that is more than what a company did the previous year.
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[audio] Rep. Les Gara speaks from the floor on the Governor’s oil tax bill (HB 110) on March 31, 2011, suggesting a better approach to oil tax reform
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Oil Giveaway: Even in Unlikely Event it Works, Alaska Still Loses
State numbers show even more production won’t overcome billions in lost revenues
JUNEAU – According to a new fiscal note from the Alaska Department of Revenue, Governor Parnell’s proposal to give large tax breaks to the oil industry would still cost the state billions of dollars in lost revenue even if future oil production increases. Because producers have not committed to increasing investment, exploration or production should the bill pass, the administration used arbitrary scenarios assuming various degrees of increased production. No scenario showed Alaska making back lost revenues once the bill takes full effect.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Dear Governor: Who’s Threatening the Alaska Economy?
Today amendments and debate will start on the Governor’s oil tax rollback bill in the House Finance Committee – where I have to run in a few minutes. I’d like to update you on that, a potential crisis in education funding that has school districts gagging with worry, and a few of my bills that are moving (fishing stream access; insurance coverage for colonoscopy screening; and foster care reform).
The Governor’s Number’s Add Up – for Exxon, British Petroleum and Conoco – But Not for You.
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