Three governors, Democrat Bill Egan and Republicans Walter Hickel and Jay Hammond, understood the concept of putting Alaskans before politics.

While they were political rivals, with sometimes competing visions, each unabashedly acted as our chief executive and pursued Alaska's ownership interests first. Many Democratic and Republican legislators since the 1970s have similarly understood their role as stewards of Alaskans' resources.

The members of the last session's bipartisan Senate coalition were of that mold. They said no to a transfer of $2 billion of Alaska's dollars each year to the oil companies when nothing was offered in return.

They also said no to a small-diameter gas line that would bypass Fairbanks and do little to reduce high energy costs to Alaska homes and businesses.