Vic Fischer, a delegate to the Alaska Constitutional Convention, recently quoted Bob Bartlett, the long time AK representative to the US congress and first senator from our state, cautioning that we not allow ourselves to become captive to out-of-state companies.
We need to heed that caution today!
Consider the facts. The McDowell Group in January 2012 reported that the North Slope oil and gas industry added more than 5000 new jobs, between 2000 and 2010, doubling employment. From 2007-2011 North Slope oil spending increased about $1.3 billion annually!
Consider the record. The court mandated fine for the Exxon-Valdez (1989) was $5 billion. They repeatedly litigated reducing it to $507.5 million, about 1/10, and were reluctant even to pay the interest! By then many of the people affected had died. In 2007 when Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share (ACES) was enacted the oil industry voiced their strong desire for an unchanging consistent and stable Alaska tax structure. Now that same voice is silent as THEY push for lower tax. Today Conoco-Philips advertises itself as “Alaska’s Oil Company.” Alaska has no oil company! A $1-2 billon annual giveaway without guarantees means taking from the people of Alaska and giving it to the oil companies. Is this what we elected our legislators to do? On the basis of the record can we trust big oil in Alaska?
For the past 5 years the U.S. and world economies have been struggling with deep recession, yet crude oil prices continue high. Think how those prices will soar as economies continue to rebound. Why remove our progressive oil tax and replace it with a flat one? If necessary adjust the % in the progressive tax, but leave it progressive. The oil belongs to the state and its people. Now is the time to make your voice heard to our governor and legislators! THIS IS A CALL FOR ACTION.
Do we really trust the fox to guard the chicken-coop?
• Beran is a 20 year resident of Juneau.
Comments (11)
Add commentRight on, Paul!
You can see the narrative that the oil companies and their shills have been spinning - Alaska is in competition with North Dakota or ____ and will somehow lose the race to pump the most oil.
They're counting on Alaskans' identity as being from the state that produces the most oil, and the fact that some pathetic state like North Dakota is surpassing us is unimaginable.
That's the narrative they want to reinforce.
Fact is, as Americans we should all be celebrating. Between increased production and increased efficiency, we could see the day where we're independent of foreign oil. If America doesn't need our oil, no problem, China or India or Japan or... will be more than happy to buy it. Relax.
Parnell's giveaway plan should go up for a vote before the Alaskan people.
And don't forget, soon enough Sean Parnell himself will go up for a vote before the Alaskan people. Where's the opponent who'll defeat him? Is there a democrat in the house? Hello?
Poor little multibillionaire
Poor little multibillionaire oil ecompany needs us to give them 2 billion free with no strings or they will take their ball and go home.
OK Bye. Next!
Hello? Hello?
Juneau can you hear me? Alaskans do support their Governor and their legislators. They were elected and will be re-elected! Hello, hello!!!!!!
Crude oil prices high??
Crude oil has been and remains under $100 per bbl. Its not the crude price causing high fuel prices. Its layer upon layer of red tape, governmental bureaucracy, and way too much power given to the EPA. Our problem is at the refining level. Lets not forget its the oil companies spending millions on R&D, employing all the workers, providing equipment, paying taxes etc. They take all the risk. We could have the government do it but I see failure there. Feel lucky we have oil.
You're funny, BanditJim
"Feel lucky we have oil."
Next time I fill my fuel oil tank, I'm going to slide an extra twenty to Taku as a tip, and ask them to pass it on up to the oil companies as a personal thank you for making those billions in profit off of Alaska. I suggest you do likewise.
50 cent a gallon increase in two weeks
is what we have seen this month. And there was not a single government action that is responsible for 1 cent of those increases. It is simply a matter of charging what you can: a fundamental business model. Oil companies have control over what is refined and what they can charge for those products.
What Alaskans need is a simple straight forward set of numbers to look at. What was the gross value of all the oil production and what was the tax paid to the State of Alaska? Then even the poorest of students can compute the effective tax rate oil companies pay. I've looked and looked for that information and have yet to find it.
For tax rates are meaning less as they are hypothetical in comparison to what the actual tax paid is. With dozens of special tax credits for exploration and other deduction from the gross oil companies are not paying near what the claim they are.
Banditrider, your funny! Oil
Banditrider, your funny! Oil companies are posting record profits, just crazy insane record profits. Must be because the govt is taking so much of their profit... Oh, wait, could it be that they are just taking us to the cleaners?????
Strange bedfellows
Yes, fingers can be pointed in many directions. The oil companies, a free enterprise, never turned down a profit they didn't like. Likewise, the liberal left greenies love high oil prices and declining production. "Punish" those who burn fossil fuels. So, oil refining remains at low production levels and both sides are happy. Too bad our Gov't won't help us.
Two main reasons for the
Two main reasons for the price run up in oil products.
1) Declining refining capacity, thank your oppressive government, & the haters in "Big Eco".
2)Oil, on the world market, is traded in U.S.dollars.
Since the Lord of the Moochers has gone insane with spending, the Fed has been printing dollars at a unheard of pace. There by devaluing the dollar, & pushing oil prices up ward.
Again, thank the dis-functional Obama regime.
What is with these nuts that sing the party line
about how govt. is to blame. Refining capacity historically decreases in the spring as refineries are shut down for maintenance thereby allowing oil companies to increase the price just as the driving seasons start heating up. As far as spewing the crap about spending, where were you guys when Bush spent for 2 wars and a couple of new govt. agencies that take away your rights? You guys were quite silent then weren't you? Quit being corporate shills and hypocrites to boot. Obama has spent less than any of the last 3 republican president and our economy would be booming if not for the constant obstruction of the GOP.
B.S. detector says: If
B.S. detector says: If Obama is to blame for the high price of oil, why is the price high all around the world, not just the U.S. ?