NEWS: Democrats Comment on Signing of Oil Giveaway

Rep. Kerttula and Rep. Gara comment on the signing of the oil wealth giveaway

Today, House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau) and Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) issued the following statements in response to the governor signing Senate Bill 21, the oil wealth giveaway, into law.

Note from Rep. Gara: Taking Credit for Gravity: Claims that Long-Planned Oil Projects are the “Sudden” Result of the April Oil Tax Rollback

Dear Neighbors,

It didn’t take long for silly season to start after the Legislative Session ended April 14. Expect a few years of “abracadabra” claims that oil projects, already being developed under ACES (the oil tax law that has been in place since 2007) are now magically the result of the massive rollback of Alaska’s share of oil revenue (an approximate $1.5 billion per year revenue reduction at $120 per barrel at a time when Alaska is already facing deficit spending). Senate Bill 21 is the oil tax bill that the oil companies, Governor, and his allies succeeded in pushing through the Legislature in April. The claims are, politely put, “flawed” in most cases.

NEWS: Dept. of Revenue Reveals True Losses to Alaskans from Oil Giveaway

Short-term spikes in oil price could be “double-whammy” to Alaskans

JUNEAU – In a letter released yesterday, the Department of Revenue released the first analysis of the potential losses to the state at high oil prices should the current oil tax giveaway proposal become law. At oil prices of $120 annual losses to the state would be around $1.6 billion and over $3 billion at prices over $150 per barrel. With this great a discrepancy between returns from the current system and the latest proposal, even short-term price increases could result in significant unrealized returns for Alaska.

NEWS: Release the Hidden Oil Consultant Reports

Rep. Gara calls on Parnell administration to stop withholding oil information

JUNEAU – Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) called on Governor Parnell to release reports on oil taxes done by two internationally recognized oil tax consultants over the last three years before the Legislature votes on current oil tax legislation. Last week, the Department of Revenue stated it would extend the response date to Rep. Gara’s requests from April 10, 2013 to April 24, 2013, ten days after the end of the regular legislative session.

NEWS: Democrats Offer Improvements to Small Gasline Legislation

Amendments would ensure low-cost gas, add accountability, provide maximum benefit to Alaskans

JUNEAU – Tonight, in an effort to add much needed accountability and assurances Alaskans will get low-cost gas and the maximum benefit from a small diameter gasline, Democratic legislators in the Alaska House of Representatives offered a series of amendments to the gasline’s enabling legislation.

Note from Rep. Gara: Action Alert on School Cuts; Our Housing Bill Passes House; Bad Oil News

Dear Neighbors,

You ever have a disaster that could have hurt you, and you survived? Got stuck in mud while fishing and didn’t drown? Almost got hit by a car? Well, that’s what this week was like. In a partisan session, where one party controls the House, Senate and Governor’s Office, we have a system that breeds partisanship instead of one that moves the state forward. That never works well, whichever party is in charge. So, it’s a good week when I can share good and bad news with you. That’s what kind of session this is. 

NEWS: Democrats Introduce Oil Tax Alternative

Reduction for Production: Bill Targets New Oil in the Pipe and Protects Alaska

JUNEAU – House and Senate Democratic legislators introduced legislation today to grant tax concessions to oil producers who put new oil into the pipeline. The bill (SB50, HB 111) targets tax incentives to new fields and to new development in existing fields, and it offers other incentives outside the tax code to spark new development.

NEWS: Democrats: Local Gas First

Legislators repeat call for binding commitment to meet local needs before exporting Cook Inlet gas

JUNEAU – Today, seven Democratic legislators in the Alaska Legislature called on the governor to require binding commitments to meet local gas needs before a producer exports Cook Inlet gas as a condition of state support for the producer’s federal export license application.

NEWS: House Democrats Call on NOAA to Assist With Tsunami Debris

“Tsunami debris threatens Alaskan coastal resources, communities and economies”

JUNEAU – Today, eight members of the Alaska House Democratic Caucus called on the federal government to create an aggressive plan to protect Alaska’s coastline from the threat posed by debris from last year’s tsunami in Japan.

“This debris could cause serious ecological, health and safety concerns for our coastal communities, not to mention significant economic impacts that could ripple throughout the state,” said House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (Juneau). “We know it’s coming—the first of it is already here. We need federal resources to get an idea of what we’re up against so we can develop the best way to deal with these waves of debris that could keep coming for months or more.”