As our faithful readers prepare for tonight’s State of the Union Speech, we also await rationale justifying the continuing overreaching jurisdiction of the White House. Please review our editorial written two years ago. We briefed readers on a big change: this president was altering the authority to take over the economy. Former administrations planned to exercise broad economic powers only in the face of a national emergency. The current White House added a provision enabling it to take dictatorial powers in ‘peacetime’ as well. Perhaps a reading of our Executive Order analysis in combination with a hearing of tonight’s speech will keep us all up to speed. -dh

Globe and Mail: On Validea.ca, investors can analyze 1,000 Canadian stocks through 12 different guru-based models and get individual reports on each company. Globe Investor has a distribution agreement with Validea.ca. Try it.

Gavel/APRN by Alexandra Gutierrez. It took Gov. Sean Parnell three years to get his oil tax overhaul through the Legislature. Now, the goal is to pass a bill setting the terms for a massive natural gas pipeline in 90 days. Hearings on the project started today, and a half dozen more are scheduled through this week alone.

The gasline bill that Gov. Sean Parnell (NGP Photo) produced Friday is long and detailed. So detailed in fact that the title alone takes up two pages.

The bill is slated to be heard in the resource and finance committees in both chambers, as well as the House Labor & Commerce Committee.

Watch the committee meeting:

See the original article

Lawmakers begin review of gasline project

Our dearly departed friend, Mark Singletary.

Marcus K. “Mark” Singletary

1929 – 2014 | Obituary | Condolences

Personal: Mark was a special friend. When ARCO Chairman Robert O. Anderson and I met in New York and again in Anchorage, he said that I should join ARCO following the Arctic Gas assignment. In 1979 I had completed the Arctic Gas and subsequent Northern Natural Gas assignments as head of public affairs and took the ARCO job, reporting directly to L.A. corporate. Mark, ARCO’s highly respected corporate attorney in Alaska, had been Atlantic Richfield’s major representative on government relations matters. When I arrived, he seemed delighted to see me and treated me with kindness and great consideration. He was happy, indeed, to be relieved of the extra duty of government relations. From that point on, I kept Mark informed of my plans and activities as the company’s Alaska director of government relations and, with his help and guidance, my office was able to overcome a trend of a dozen industry tax increases in as many years. Indeed, in 1981 my work, with Mark’s early, unflinching and loyal support, culminated in legislative action creating a 20-year era of tax and regulatory stability in Alaska. That investor climate stability resulted in the continuing expansion of proven Alaska North Slope reserves and was only interrupted early in the next century when Governor Murkowski proposed changing the predictable 15% severance tax to a progressive production tax — in return for continuing tax stability. Unfortunately, the tax passed but the legislature failed to enact tax stability and the next governor, Sarah Palin further increased the progressive impact of the production tax creating a new era of declining investor support, job losses, economic malaise and an unsustainable, state fiscal policy. (Note: As this history continues to unfold with current events, I continue to think often about Mark as one of my most cherished, special friends. Without his encouragement and kindness, Alaska’s oil policies could have taken a much darker turn, decades earlier.) -dh

Marcus K. Singletary, who loved adventure, learning experiences and new interesting locations, has made the greatest and glorious journey to join loved ones who have preceded him. Mark passed away at home in Granbury on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, after a brief illness of cancer. Memorial service: After internment in Austin, Mark’s life will be celebrated with a service at 2 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth with the Rev. Lamar Smith officiating. Memorials: For those wishing to remember Mark and in lieu of flowers, memorials may benefit The Herbert F. and Vivian Singletary Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Law in care of the University of Texas Law School Foundation, 727 E. Dean Keeton St., Austin, Texas 78705; the Salvation Army in any city of choice; the Hamilton General Hospital Healthcare Foundation, Box 788, Hamilton, Texas 76531; or a charity of choice . Hook ‘Em Horns! Born to Vivian and Herbert Singletary in Henderson on March 30, 1929, Mark graduated from South Park High School in Beaumont, Texas, attended Lamar University in Beaumont and received a bachelor of business administration from the University of Texas at Austin. Upon an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, Mark entered the University of Texas School of Law from which he received his LLB (now doctorate of jurisprudence) in 1956, at which time he became associated with the former law firm of Tilley, Hyder and Law in Fort Worth. In February 1957, Mark and Shirley Tompkins were married at University Methodist Church in Austin. Interested in pursuing a career in energy and corporate law, Mark joined Honolulu Oil Co. in Midland in 1959. When Honolulu was sold, Mark chose to return to Fort Worth with Sinclair Oil and Gas Co. for which he continued to work in Tulsa, Okla., and New York. Shortly after Atlantic Richfield Co. purchased Sinclair and during the period energy companies were striving to obtain permission to construct the Trans-Alaska pipeline, Mark assumed the position of division attorney and lobbyist for ARCO in Anchorage and later held legal and governmental affairs management positions with ARCO in Denver, Colo., and Dallas. He was a member of the Texas, Oklahoma, New York and Alaska Bar associations. Mark volunteered his time to various community and civic organizations, including the Salvation Army which he served on its advisory committee in Anchorage, Denver and Austin. After retiring from ARCO, Mark and Shirley moved to Lakeway, where Mark cheered long and hard for the Texas Longhorns at football games, enjoyed playing golf, reading and traveling. After a few years, there was need for a new experience in his life and he began ranching on a small ranch near Hamilton, raising “pasture art longhorns.” Mark and Shirley moved from Lakeway to Hamilton and resided there for several years before moving to Granbury. Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Vivian and Herbert Singletary; brother, Jerry Singletary; brother-in-law, Paul Brown; other relatives; and good friends. Survivors: His wife of 57 years, Shirley, son, Dan Sumner Singletary; son, Clay Stuart Singletary; grandchildren, Samantha Joy Singletary and Austin Marcus Singletary; sister, Jane Brown; brother, Don Herbert “Tony” Singletary and wife, Raynell; and sister-in-law, Mary Lynn Singletary. Many loving nieces and nephews, their families and all of Mark’s good friends will miss him.

Published in Star-Telegram on Jan. 28, 2014

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