Reposting From:
#StopTheLeak in #Alaska:
“Everything is on the table,” said Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, incoming Senate president. The Alaska Legislature has pretty much said that resource revenue sharing and renewable energy development are going to get scaled back or even cut altogether. This will have to most impact in Rural regions where municipalities are strained enough already.
The 'everything' also includes the State Governments operations as well. However, the biggest hurdle We face is the fact that a great bit of the work process in the Alaska Gov't is because of Federal legal and regulatory mandates. The two-edged sword of Federal contributory spending comes swinging around and gives us the same choice on both side... do it this way or the Feds take over.
Cutting the State of Alaska's spending has to immediately start at Stopping The Leak. All giveaways and cash incentive programs that cause negative impact upon the income of Alaska per whatever quantity must be stopped immediately. On the first day, a simple bill applying to All resources should be introduced. This bill should be in the spirit of the Alaska Constitution that clearly states that the resources belong to the People of Alaska and that none should ever be favored over another and of course the financial benefit to the State of Alaska.
The tax structure in Alaska seems to change every 5 years or so, which makes truly sustainable planning damn near impossible. This has to change and as part of that change, We the people have to kick the lobbyists out of Juneau and Alaska altogether. Other resource states like Norway and Qatar have operated in this fashion and have succeeded to amass great public wealth and thriving economies from making the resource industry pay for the rights to unleash wholesale destruction upon their lands.
Right now is the perfect time for the Governor and Legislature to take the reins of Our resources and restore the benefit to Alaska First. Time and time again the oil industry has lobbied for changes in the taxation structures that have left Alaska holding the empty bag. Aren't the representatives in Juneau elected by We The People and aren't they supposed to be working for Alaska?
When asked about Alaska's revenue problem, The Senator said; ”Frankly I really don’t even want to discuss additional revenue sources other than maybe marijuana because we have to,” said Meyer, adding that the fishing, mining and oil and gas industries are already overtaxed.
If those industries that are mainly outside and foreign controlled were 'overtaxed', then Alaska would do well to look elsewhere for more income, but that's not really the case. The resource industry will continue to drill as long as the oil & gas is in the ground and they will pay what the costs are. There's no reason for Alaska to keep on selling short, because all We are accomplishing is setting up future generations of Alaskan for difficulties. We have to stop the leak now, before We have to go begging at the Federal table for more and more just to make ends meet.
“Everything is on the table,” said Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, incoming Senate president. The Alaska Legislature has pretty much said that resource revenue sharing and renewable energy development are going to get scaled back or even cut altogether. This will have to most impact in Rural regions where municipalities are strained enough already.
The 'everything' also includes the State Governments operations as well. However, the biggest hurdle We face is the fact that a great bit of the work process in the Alaska Gov't is because of Federal legal and regulatory mandates. The two-edged sword of Federal contributory spending comes swinging around and gives us the same choice on both side... do it this way or the Feds take over.
Cutting the State of Alaska's spending has to immediately start at Stopping The Leak. All giveaways and cash incentive programs that cause negative impact upon the income of Alaska per whatever quantity must be stopped immediately. On the first day, a simple bill applying to All resources should be introduced. This bill should be in the spirit of the Alaska Constitution that clearly states that the resources belong to the People of Alaska and that none should ever be favored over another and of course the financial benefit to the State of Alaska.
The tax structure in Alaska seems to change every 5 years or so, which makes truly sustainable planning damn near impossible. This has to change and as part of that change, We the people have to kick the lobbyists out of Juneau and Alaska altogether. Other resource states like Norway and Qatar have operated in this fashion and have succeeded to amass great public wealth and thriving economies from making the resource industry pay for the rights to unleash wholesale destruction upon their lands.
Right now is the perfect time for the Governor and Legislature to take the reins of Our resources and restore the benefit to Alaska First. Time and time again the oil industry has lobbied for changes in the taxation structures that have left Alaska holding the empty bag. Aren't the representatives in Juneau elected by We The People and aren't they supposed to be working for Alaska?
When asked about Alaska's revenue problem, The Senator said; ”Frankly I really don’t even want to discuss additional revenue sources other than maybe marijuana because we have to,” said Meyer, adding that the fishing, mining and oil and gas industries are already overtaxed.
If those industries that are mainly outside and foreign controlled were 'overtaxed', then Alaska would do well to look elsewhere for more income, but that's not really the case. The resource industry will continue to drill as long as the oil & gas is in the ground and they will pay what the costs are. There's no reason for Alaska to keep on selling short, because all We are accomplishing is setting up future generations of Alaskan for difficulties. We have to stop the leak now, before We have to go begging at the Federal table for more and more just to make ends meet.