Help stop the giveaway!
Most folks know that the Alaska Legislature just substantially reduced taxes on the oil produced in the state, in Senate Bill 21 (SB21). The state’s own economists project a loss of revenue to the state of about $1 billion per year. This might be okay if the tax breaks were to increase oil production enough to make up for the loss, but the oil industry gave absolutely no commitment in return for the reduction; the bill has been called “a crapshoot.”
There’s a bipartisan effort afoot to put the law on the next ballot so that the people of the state can vote it up or down. After all, as Wally Hickel would say, “It’s Our Oil!” This effort is supported by both of our representatives in Juneau, Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka. Senator Stedman called SB21 “a flimflam.”
So please sign the petition that is circulating around Haines. There are booklets at The Babbling Book, Alaska Backcountry Outfitter and Buckshot and Bobby Pins; most mornings there is someone at Mountain Market with a booklet. Or call me at 766-3849 and I can tell you who else has a booklet or send someone to get your signature.
If you’d like to know more about what the bill does, give me a call and I can send you some information. Thanks!
Deborah Vogt