What Does This Week's Gas Pipeline Effort Have To Do With The August Primary Election?

by Dave Harbour

                               Alaska, Governor, Jay Hammond, oil taxes, Photo by Dave Harbour

Thirty-three years ago this week, Alaska's governor, Jay Hammond (NGP Photo), gathered with House and Senate leadership to announce bipartisan legislation aimed at reforming oil taxes.

Point of Personal Privilege:
 
We celebrate the life and mourn the passing of our great friend, Dr. Milton Byrd (NGP Photo).  (See our later update and obituary on March 3, 2014)
 
Milton Byrd, Frontier Companies, Tennessee Miller, Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Commonwealth North, World Affairs Council, Rotary, Photo by  Dave Harbour, Charter CollegeInterested readers may contact us personally here, for more information as the Byrd family releases it.
 
For over three decades, Milton has contributed tirelessly to the growth and improvement of Alaska and her people.
 
We first met upon his arrival.
 
Tennessee Miller, the iconic Alaskan owner of Frontier Transportation (i.e. of North Slope 'Cat Train' fame), was his first Alaska boss.
 
"I've hired this bright, young college president," he once said proudly, "to come up here and help me handle my business affairs."
 
Milton called soon thereafter and he said mine was the first business call he had made.  
 
We met for lunch at Sheffield's old "House of Lords" downtown.  This was about a week after he hit town.  
 
We became lifelong friends and he seemed more excited to come to Alaska than any newcomer I've met over the years.  
 
Following his career with Frontier, Milton organized Charter College, which he led during another career, as president (i.e. his fourth college presidency, as I recall).
 
He remained active throughout his Alaska adventure with Commonwealth North, the World Affairs Council, Rotary International and the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, among many other charitable and public interest pursuits.
 
He and his beloved wife, Sue, moved to Las Cruces, N.M. where he passed away recently.
 
Our dear friend, Dr. Milton Byrd, was a serious man with a wry sense of humor punctuated with a twinkle in the eye.  He was a man of honor, grace, wisdom and dedication.  
 
He made the world better.
 
Thank you, God, for letting this great one to have been among us.
 
A mutual friend, Ken Martinson, summed it up best: "The news about Milt's passing is in sorrow, but his Life's accomplishments and contributions are full of joy."  -dh

That action led to roughly 20 years of tax stability, massive industry investment and more production than had been earlier envisioned.  

Then, in 2006-07, the production tax was massively increased, leading to continuing declines in production and action in the last legislative session to again reform taxes.  

Tax reform did pass (SB 21) last Spring, but it was immediately attacked by minority legislators and a group of environmental activists and mostly democratic grass roots operators.  They succeeded in gathering enough signatures last summer to place on this coming August primary ballot a proposition that, if a majority vote "yes", would repeal oil tax reform.  

This week's major focus (scroll down to review stories and commentary) in Juneau has been on legislation intended to advance an Alaska North Slope gas pipeline/LNG project that would both provide intrastate gas supply and gas for export.

We can easily surmise that if a majority elect to repeal tax reform, Alaskans will see diminished oil industry investment, a faltering economy and little hope for a gas pipeline/LNG project during this generation's watch. 


Calgary Herald.  

Deputy premier Dave Hancock was chosen interim premier of Alberta during a Tory caucus meeting at the legislature Thursday morning.

“I think what we need is some stability as we go through the process of leadership selection,” Hancock said when asked what qualities an interim leader should posses. “Government obviously has to continue to do its job. Ministers have to continue to do their work. The budget needs to get passed, the rest of our session needs to be dealt with, so it’s steady as she goes through that process while potential leadership candidates are getting their campaigns together and going out.


San Francisco Chronicle/AP by Becky Bohrer.  

The Alaska Senate on Tuesday passed legislation aimed at advancing a major liquefied natural gas project, over nagging concerns about the role of TransCanada Corp.

The vote, following hours of debate, was 15-5. Republican Sen. Bert Stedman joined minority Democrats Hollis French, Bill Wielechowski, Johnny Ellis and Berta Gardner in voting against.

Natural Resources Commissioner Joe Balash had hoped for a resounding approval as a message to the other project partners and markets about Alaska's resolve in pursuing a project. Tuesday evening, Gov. Sean Parnell thanked the Senate for passing his bill and said he looked forward to working with the House to pass legislation "on Alaska's terms and in Alaskans' interests."