Alaska Legislature

S&P gives good marks to governor’s Permanent Fund plan

On Monday, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s said Gov. Bill Walker’s proposed changes to the way the Alaska Permanent Fund is used “is a… Continue reading

Legislature readies complaint after Arctic drilling nixed

The Alaska Legislature is preparing an official complaint letter to President Barack Obama after the federal government canceled planned oil and gas lease sales in… Continue reading

Daylight saving compromise proposed in House

A Wasilla Republican has suggested a compromise that could assuage the fears of Alaskans concerned about the proposed elimination of daylight saving time in the… Continue reading

Legislator’s advisers also call for TransCanada buyout

The advisers hired by the Alaska Legislature to provide an independent view of the AKLNG natural gas project say they agree with the state in… Continue reading

Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, left, Sen. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, and Rep. Liz Vazquez, R-Anchorage, listen to Steve Butt, senior project manager of the ExxonMobil Development Company and currently serving as the project manager for the Alaska LNG Project, as he testifies in front of the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Friday.

AKLNG project head says it’s on course

The AKLNG natural gas project will be big enough to supply 5 percent of the world’s natural gas. It will carry enough gas to meet… Continue reading

Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, left, Sen. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, and Rep. Liz Vazquez, R-Anchorage, listen to Steve Butt, senior project manager of the ExxonMobil Development Company and currently serving as the project manager for the Alaska LNG Project, as he testifies in front of the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Friday.
Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, asks a question of Vincent Lee, director of Major Projects Development for TransCanada, about a proposed gasline buyout by the state to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Wednesday.

TransCanada exec: Company ready for buyout

The state’s partner in the AKLNG natural gas project says it’s ready to be bought out.Vincent Lee, director of major projects development for Canadian firm… Continue reading

Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, asks a question of Vincent Lee, director of Major Projects Development for TransCanada, about a proposed gasline buyout by the state to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake, asks a question during a presentation by the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation during a House Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Legislators: Is gasline corp ready?

Leaders of the state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corporation were the subjects of a legislative inquiry on Tuesday as lawmakers consider whether the AGDC is fit… Continue reading

Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake, asks a question during a presentation by the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation during a House Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Senate Finance Committee members Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, left, Sen. Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River, center, and Sen. Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, listen to Deepa Poduval, principal consultant at Black and Beatch, and Marty Rutherford, deputy commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, give a presentation on Gov. Bill Walker's proposed buy-out of TransCanada in a gasline project at the Capitol on Monday.

In Alaska Legislature, questions about legality of TransCanada buyout

On the third day of the Alaska Legislature’s gas pipeline special session, there was a shift in the questions asked by lawmakers.In hearings held by… Continue reading

Senate Finance Committee members Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, left, Sen. Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River, center, and Sen. Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, listen to Deepa Poduval, principal consultant at Black and Beatch, and Marty Rutherford, deputy commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, give a presentation on Gov. Bill Walker's proposed buy-out of TransCanada in a gasline project at the Capitol on Monday.
Consultants Radislov Shipkoff, director of Greengate LLC, left, Steven Kantor, managing director of FirstSouthwest, and Justin Palfreyman, director of Lazard, speak in favor of Gov. Bill Walker's TransCanada buy-out proposal during a House Finance Committee hearing at the Capitol on Saturday.

Analysis: Pay now or later for gas pipeline?

Chances are, you have at least one credit card in your wallet.Any time you pull it out and use it — whether at Foodland, Fred… Continue reading

Consultants Radislov Shipkoff, director of Greengate LLC, left, Steven Kantor, managing director of FirstSouthwest, and Justin Palfreyman, director of Lazard, speak in favor of Gov. Bill Walker's TransCanada buy-out proposal during a House Finance Committee hearing at the Capitol on Saturday.

Gov. Walker nixes natural gas tax after pledge from Big Oil

It’s business as unusual.On Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the Alaska Legislature was to begin its third special session of 2015, Gov. Bill… Continue reading

McGuire says she’ll leave Senate after 2016

Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, won’t seek another term in the Alaska Senate, reported the Alaska Public Radio Network. She made the announcement during the Arctic… Continue reading

‘I’m trying to sell gas’

“I’m not trying to buy love. I’m trying to sell gas.”So declared Gov. Bill Walker in a press conference Friday as he explained to the… Continue reading

Special session set for return to Juneau

The Alaska Legislature is coming back to Juneau.Gov. Bill Walker issued an official proclamation Thursday calling the Legislature into special session starting 10 a.m. Saturday,… Continue reading

Alaska's capitol building has been under construction since session ended last spring leading to questions about where Gov. Bill Walker's fall special session will be held.

Walker expected to call special session

Gov. Bill Walker is expected today to announce a special session of the Alaska Legislature dealing with the long-planned trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline.The location of… Continue reading

Alaska's capitol building has been under construction since session ended last spring leading to questions about where Gov. Bill Walker's fall special session will be held.