Alaska lawmakers enter final day of special session
Published Thursday, August 7, 2008
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Stumble It!JUNEAU -- State lawmakers enter their last day of a special session.
They are down to their final hours to come up with an energy assistance bill designed to help residents statewide with soaring costs that far exceed national averages.
So far the House and Senate aren't even close with their versions of a relief package.
They have until 11:59 tonight to work out differences.
Gov. Sarah Palin proposed a $1,200 one-time payout to most Alaskans and a suspension of the state's fuel tax, but she also gave lawmakers latitude to include other options.
Should they fail to agree, Palin can call them back into special session but had not committed to that option as of Wednesday evening.
Today marks the 150th day lawmakers have been in session this year, and the 301st day in this two-year legislative cycle
Community Discussion
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I have listened to the SouthCentral legislators talk about how the resource money should be equitably divided among all Alaskans, regardless of energy costs.
I would agree with that, if the SouthCentral legislators agree to one thing. Elminate the subsidy on Cook Inlet natural gas to SouthCentral customers.
Whos birthday are they celebrating today?
Watching the house debate last night I noted was that Kawasaki and Guttenberg spoke for the heating oil subsidy. Ramras talked about the Coal to Liquids boondoggle and his Red Barn. Kelley didn't say anything. Almost makes you want to be a liberal....almost.
I think that they better vote soon or there may be people that will parish this winter. I see $ 10.00 a gallon for fuel in barrow WOW they have better decide NOW! IF they had their books straight and allotted money for resident available Alaskans say a conservative amount now you have to think hmmmm..... just how much would it cost johnny for fuel this year then they would know. They have fuel assistance in Minnesota and they make you fill out an application and they allot you for your needs. Most of the people get it. Another thing if you have electric heat they will let the bill slide until spring, meaning they won't cut power off. that is state law. Maybe that here? Did they think about that. obviously NOT!!
Kelly voted against every thing. He said no to the $1200, he said no to the gas tax and even more important he said no to everything and was rude about the home heating oil buy down and the coal to liquids project. He gets a fat retirement check from when ran GVEA and now he just doesnt care. Kelly called the relief programs welfare, hey lets take his retirement away and see what he does to fill his fuel tank.
They have succeeded in acomplishing absolutely nothing to help us with our high heating oil bills. As for me, I'll strongly voice my review of their actions during these two "special sessions" I won't vote for them. Sadly it appears that our legislators put on blinders and plug their ears when they are elected. With all of their lips flappin' and nothing coming out but "hot air" I'm surprised that Juneau isn't basking in tropical temps.
Do you really expect them to hand out anything significant when they know come October 2, Alaskans will receive a history setting dividend. They are drolling at the mouth wishing the legislature got that money to spend on favorite projects.
I do not like the term "energy rebate". The state is making more than 600 million a month EXTRA above the huge profits it is bringing in normally. WE ARE THE STATE!! We should not only be expecting a revenue share, but should demand one. If a legislator is not in favor of a decent dividend from this HUGE WINDFALL we should work to oust them immediately. Granted, I do not like the govt. handing out money for no reason, BUT WE, THE STATE, have happened into a windfall that should be utilized by current Alaskans and have a sizeable chunk put into the PF for future Alaskans. A 3 to 5 thousand dividend would certainly not be out of the question though. By the way, for those that think like some on here and that this is welfare, I have been here almost 3 decades and it is NOT WELFARE, it is REVENUE DIVIDENDS.
It was definitely interesting to watch...
All that I can add is that, with the high price of heating oil and electricity, and the unjust amount allotted to subsidizing childcare costs, I'll soon be out of a job with no place to raise my three children. Should I have thought about that before I had children? Absolutely. But they're here now, and I would think, as a community, as State legislators, that my state would care enough to help. I work full-time, but it's just not cutting it. I hate asking for handouts, but I feel I'm left with no alternative options at this point. Sure, I could get another job, but then I'd have to pay MORE money for childcare which is coming directly from my own pocket at this point. It almost makes a person want to give up. Oh, yeah, and vote liberally.....
CINDERELLA TIME: Yep, at the stroke of mid-night to night, going to see who gets zapped into a toad.
WINDFALL PROFIT REBATE: If the answer is NO...suspect that there will be a lot of rib-bits and croaks coming from the slime pond.
Yep, out_in_the_cold, you are right. It is their time. If they blow this one, there will be some people looking for jobs around the state. The Legislature had better be watching this closely and getting it right, their political lives are on the line like I have never seen in my 28 yrs here.
Suggest removal
So for all those who are saying that this surplus belongs to all of us as "the state" and that we should all get a share of the surplus, where were you a few years ago when the state was in a deficit and had to dip into the CBR to pay the bills? Since this budget shortfall belonged to all of us as "the state", were you there with checkbook in hand to help cover the deficit? In other words, that sword cuts both ways. If you want a share of the surplus because it belongs to you, then you can't complain when it comes time to pay a tax (sales, income, etc.) to the state when they are short, because the deficit will also belong to you.
(With me, chelly, you're preaching to the choir.) Good point. Additionally, folks should be ready to hand over their kids' and grandkids' checkbooks too.
Pardon me, Chelly, but to whom do you think the CBR inevitably belongs?
I thought the CBR was for times of revenue shortfalls and the funds were paid back (and if not paid back, then the legislators may not be capable of managing 100% of the state's windfall).
And additional windfall revenue is available to further pad the CBR.
I don't get it Dirk/allegheny. What about times of extended revenue shortfall?
Fish Hatchery or Free Heating Oil for Fairbanks Residents
Wouldn't it have been nice if we were allowed to vote on that one
allegheny,
Correct. And the funds in the CBR, the permanent fund, and all other state coffers, ultimately belong to..... the People of the State of Alaska.
In that sense, our check books -were- out, just as we pay income taxes via revenues before they actually hit our wallets, our permanent fund, or our other State budgets, fro the sale of our mutually-owned resources...
This artificial separation between 'what is the State's' and what is 'the Peoples' really only serves those who have a hierarchical view of government and society, and support the implied subjugation and servitude therein.
But to quote Bobby Dylan, "It ain't me, babe. It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe..."
Imusuallyright,
That's the purpose of the CBR.
If the permanent fund and other necessary funds fall short, run dry, etc., then you'll see a more direct 'signing of checks by the populace'; we'll resort to the State income tax that we had until 1978.
Someting that the producers and the legislators they 'purchased' have wanted all along...
Which is exactly what I'd like to see avoided, by growing the permanent fund to the 150 to 200 Billion dollars that I mentioned elsewhere, and not allowing the scheming politicos or overly greedy among us to build their envisioned, ego-and/or-campaign-based empires, but delivering what is needed equaitably, as the State constitution requires..
For short term energy relief, we need a plan that simple, short term and fair for all Alaskans. The representatives From Anchorage, do not comprehend that there is a serious need for energy cost relief. They seem to think that people in Fairbanks are just complaining. Maybe, if they spent some time here in Fairbanks during the winter without their cheap natural gas to heat their homes and having to use high cost heating oil might change their opinions about the high cost energy. If the elected representives do not find acceptable solution maybe we ,the voters, should elect other people that find an acceptable solution. WE NEED ENERGY RELIEF NOW!!!!
chelly: CBR is the Constitutional Budget Reserve, hence the established fund from OUR money to cover government expenses. As far as turning over MY money to fatten your wallet...hum-m-m.
Not sure you were up here pre-Jay Hammond days when they used to take State taxes out of the pay checks???
And I suppose that if you looked at the Permanent Fund investment profit and loss tally sheet, you might notice that the couple of Billion dollars that flew-out the window lately. Are you suggesting is a better investment to laundry the dirty old oil money first (ie PFD)? Or let the VIP's in Juneau slip it through their fingers first? Or just put it in the People's pockets straight away?
Dirk, as usual, nail on the head Buddy!! WE ARE THE STATE OF ALASKA!! For the life of me I do not understand how people see it otherwise. Yes, I think I know, it is from how they were treated and what they were told where they came from. In NC where I was born, my friends and relatives are for the most part just more people in the surfdom. They are led around by the state leaders that have little or no responsibility to the masses. If people do not feel like they ARE the State of Alaska, then, maybe they really arent. I know that I am, and have been through the good times and bad as well. I still am not an "old timer" but I have been here 28 yrs and I do know that this is my home and will be for life.
Dirk Van Halen-
I guess what I'm really asking about is the case of a depleted Permanent Fund and a drawn-down CBR. (You know, if the worst happens and the overly greedy among us are allowed to build their envisioned, ego-and/or-campaign-based empires....and THEN we experience a devastating shortfall.)
Imusuallyright: Yep, good to keep an eye of the future...but it's another thing to be Chicken Little with all your eggs in one basket, and totally consumed about the sky is falling. Oh the sky is going to be falling in a couple of months, at least the white stuff, but the People are going to be hurting a whole lot more than the bureaucrats. Guess it is like having a big wood pile and no fire in the stove...
Imusuallyright,
I'm gonna' have to either blush, or pratice up on my air-guitar; one or the other. ;^>)
In the event that the scenario you've mentioned were to become a reality, as I earlier replied, we might have to revert to a more direct state income tax, as we had up until 1978. rifght now, the revenues that the State receives are fro the sale of your and my oil.
The fact that we're, in essence, paying taxes to the State from the sale of our resources, before that money hits our actual pockets, by no means implies that it's not our money. It is. They have it. We paid. Simple.
I look at the Kuwaitis, and every time I think of what their kids look forward to (No, not cross-border insurgency, but the benefits of their oil revenues ;^>) ), I feel an intense amount of animosity toward Ramona Barnes, Ed Dankworth, Frank Murkowski, Jim Clark, Pete Kott, et al., for their betrayal of those who they once -claimed- to represent.
What about the current natural gas subsidy for SouthCentral. How can this not enter into the discussion? If Fairbanks doesn't get heating oil relief, why should SouthCentral continue to get subsidized gas? I recognoize politically its because SouthCentral control Juneau, but why do the interior legislators rail on the point?
"why don't" it should have read
anyone know what the amendment regarding PCE the House just passed includes?
hey bigmike lets go get a big plate of chicken wings and a beer and wait to see what came out of the House.....I'm sure it will be the first establishment to find out the outcome.....
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