Alaska’s Budget Crisis Dominates Legislature’s Weekend – Alberta’s In A Similar Boat! Will Alaskan and Albertan Officials Seek To Keep Government Special Interests ‘Whole’ At The Expense of Taxpayers, Ratepayers and Consumers?

Alberta Premier Rachael Notley, CBC Photo "Tax it, regulate it, subsidize it" Added by ANCHORAGE DAILY PLANET Editor on April 8, 2016. Saved under Editorial Watching some of Alaska’s most wealthy, powerful people and organizations with a dependency on state government as they push for all manner of taxes and offer plans to tap into the Permanent Fund earnings to help the state make ends meet and protect their bottom line is not a pretty sight. Ronald Reagan Sculpture Rather than suggesting we should [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:29-09:00April 9th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Canadian Energy Policy, Commentary, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Alaska Is Making Critical Decisions That Affect Its Long Term Investment Climate

Alaska is making critical budget decisions that will affect its investment climate for a generation! With its unsustainable spending we have long recommended that Alaska decision makers not increase taxes or impose new taxes until significant cuts are made in entitlement programs and employee costs. As the current legislative session nears an end, we see pressure mounting for new taxes.  We see no decisive movement toward containing employee CPI and step wage increases or negotiating more prudent state employee contracts.  And, we see no significant effort to cut entitlement programs [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:29-09:00April 8th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Canadian Energy Policy, Commentary, Government Waste, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Alaska And Alberta Struggle To Save Oil Patch Economies – Scroll Down For Today’s Commentary, “U.S. & Canadian Environmental Laws/Regs Have Moved Beyond ‘Reasonable’ To Becoming Weapons Against Capitalism”

Calgary Herald/CP.  Canada’s environment minister won’t say if the country can meet its climate change commitments and at the same time green-light new pipeline projects.  Catherine McKenna told reporters.... Larry Persily, former Alaska gas pipeline federal coordinator. NGP Photo. See Larry Persily's just released energy links, mostly dealing with Alaska's LNG competitors.  Meanwhile, we urge readers to absorb the wisdom in the AK-HEADLAMP report below: Increasing oil & gas taxes in a low price or any environment is not a strategy that will attract investment [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:29-09:00April 7th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Arctic Policy, Commentary, Competition, Enviro-Industrial-Governmental Cabal, Federal Coordinator, Federal Obstruction, Global Warming, Keystone XL, LNG, NEB, Rule Of Law, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Alaska OCS Threatened. Here’s How To Weigh In!

Our CONSUMER ENERGY ALLIANCE friends warn us that, "Alaska is under attack!" CEA Alaska President Anne Seneca reports that, "After convincing the Obama Administration to remove the Atlantic from the 2017-2022 offshore oil and gas leasing program (Proposed Program), anti-energy extremists are now trying to remove Alaska as well."  (Note that these are the nationally elected and appointed democrats whose socialist presidential candidates Alaska democrats now support.  -dh)  Seneca says that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is holding public meetings next week in Anchorage (Tuesday, April 5 from 3:00 pm [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:30-09:00April 2nd, 2016|Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Arctic Policy, Enviro-Industrial-Governmental Cabal, Federal Obstruction, OCS, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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ISER Research Announcements 6:59 PM (20 hours ago) to iser_publicati. ​ISER Research Matters is our effort to quickly let Alaskans know about research findings from the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), at the University of Alaska Anchorage. We post these periodically on our website and also distribute them by e-mail. If you’d like to be removed from or added to our e-mail list, visit http://matrix.uaa.alaska.edu/mailman/listinfo/iser_publications, or send us a message at ResearchMatters@uaa.alaska.edu. Research Matters No. 99: Short-Run Economic Impacts of Alaska Fiscal Options March 31, 2016 A report analyzing the potential short-run economic effects of eleven options for reducing Alaska’s huge budget deficit is now complete. The authors are ISER economists Gunnar Knapp, Matthew Berman, and Mouhcine Guettabi. They looked at potential effects of several kinds of state spending cuts, new taxes, saving less of Permanent Fund earnings, and reducing the Permanent Fund dividend. They emphasize that they don’t advocate or oppose any option, but rather intend to help Alaskans understand and compare the potential short-run effects on income and jobs of different ways of reducing the deficit. In the big picture, they found: • Different ways of collecting money from Alaskans affect those with higher and lower incomes in significantly different ways. • Anything the state does to reduce the deficit will cost the economy money and jobs. But spending some of the Permanent Fund earnings the state currently saves would not have any short-run economic effects. In the longer run, saving less would slow growth of the Permanent Fund and reduce earnings. • Because the deficit is so big, the overall economic effects of closing the deficit will also be big. To see their detailed findings, download the report, Short-Run Economic Impacts of Alaska Fiscal Options​ (PDF, 4.3MB). If you have questions, get in touch with the authors: Gunnar.Knapp@uaa.alaska.edu, Matthew.Berman@uaa.alaska.edu, and mguettabi@alaska.edu.

Since Alaska's Fiscal Crisis Involves Oil & Gas Industry Investment Security (i.e. will government seek a higher take from the private sector in order to preserve public sector spending), we provide the economic report, below, from Gunnar Knapp (NGP Photo) of the University of Alaska-Anchorage's Institute of Social and Economic Research.  -dh http://matrix.uaa.alaska.edu/mailman/listinfo/iser_publications, or send us a message at ResearchMatters@uaa.alaska.edu. Research Matters No. 99: Short-Run Economic Impacts of Alaska Fiscal Options March 31, 2016 A report analyzing the potential short-run economic effects of eleven options for reducing Alaska’s huge [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:30-09:00April 1st, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Government Waste, Uncategorized, You Read It Here First|0 Comments
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Alaska’s Fiscal Crisis Is All About Irresponsible Spending and Responsible Natural Resource Development

Alaska's Fiscal Crisis: Irresponsible Spending vs. Responsible Resource Development  *     *     * i.e. Socialism vs. Free Enterprise *     *     * Socialism seeks to control the means, transportation and distribution of production.  Two socialists are competing for the Democrat presidential primary.  One of those socialists has been endorsed by Alaska democrats.  Alaska's democrats are in a partnership with Alaska's "independent" governor.  The Governor wants equity control over a gas pipeline project and exercises bureaucratic control over [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:30-09:00March 30th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, ANWR, Arctic Policy, Canadian Energy Policy, Commentary, Enviro-Industrial-Governmental Cabal, Federal Obstruction, Global Warming, Interior Energy Project (IEP), Intrastate Gas, Keystone XL, LNG|0 Comments
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Help Hilcorp Today!

Hilcorp Alaska, LLC is currently pursuing the necessary permits and authorizations to develop the Liberty reservoir several miles offshore the central North Slope.  The first major step in this process is the approval of the Development and Production Plan (DPP), which Hilcorp recently filed with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). BOEM has extended the public comment period on the preparation of a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) to Monday, March 28, 2016.    Click here to provide comments. Then click on the "Comment Now" button. [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:31-09:00March 28th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, ANWR, Arctic Policy, Competition, Federal Obstruction, Fracking, Global Warming, Interstate Gas, Intrastate Gas, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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3-10-16 Alaska’s Fiscal Crisis – Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan BREAKING NEWS....ADN by Rashah McChesney.  Alaska Governor Bill Walker (NGP Photo) had a press conference today.  It seems to have been much ado about?  Please enlighten us on what this report means aside from some consolidation and a little elimination of duplication, maybe.  Pardon us if we are confusing "political optics that something is being done to courageously face 'Alaska's Fiscal Crisis'," with something important that is, indeed, being accomplished -- like eliminating one or more of these agencies.  Of course, any action will have to be delayed until a [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:31-09:00March 10th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Canadian Energy Policy, Commentary, Personal|0 Comments
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3-9-16 Alaska’s Fiscal Crisis

Alaska's Fiscal Crisis by Dave Harbour Yesterday, I met with a number of Alaskan friends who are private sector leaders. *     *     * All readers of our news and commentary know that since the turn of the century we have been warning of the perfect fiscal storm preparing to ravage the 49th State. We have described the reasons for Alaska's pending fiscal crisis which have been as clear as "neon painted handwriting on the wall": Today's related Alaska Fiscal Crisis news: ADN, by Alex DeMarban.  (NGP Photo) [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:31-09:00March 9th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Commentary|0 Comments
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2-12-16 Credit Worthiness Downgrades Affect Public & Private Sectors

For Alaska Legislators: see this relevant note today from a long-time Alaska friend and colleague, Terry Brady (NGP Photo). From Akheadlamp.com. Alaska House suspended action on all bills not related to the State budget.  Credit Worthiness Downgrades Affect Public & Private Sectors   by   Dave Harbour   We have covered Alaska's deteriorating credit worthiness as judged by rating agency analysts.   New York, February 11, 2016 -- Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) concluded rating reviews on 11 Ba-rated US exploration and production (E&P) companies. Moody's confirmed three companies' ratings, and downgraded [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:33-09:00February 12th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Commentary, Reader Comment|0 Comments
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1-19-16 Alaska Legislative Session Begins Today Amid Financial Crisis

John Sturgeon (NGP Photo), Alaska patriot, seeks justice from the Supreme Court of the United States. CANADA! See Additional Alaska Headlamp Coverage Of Some Items Below Of course, the price of oil and gas directly affects our energy constituencies in Alaska and Western Canada.  Here, our anonymous mid Atlantic energy consultant comments on yesterday's WSJ story  Anchorage Daily Planet/News Miner, by Max Buxton.   Misc. Comment: A friend of the Legislature tells us this morning that, "We think the governor has released his oil tax credit cut plan quietly and privately...but, [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:43-09:00January 19th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Federal Obstruction|0 Comments
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1-5-15 Alaska Is A Betting State – Aussie Oil & Gas Analyst Review & Outlook

You May Not Be A Betting Man or Woman, But Alaska Has Become A Betting State For years Alaska leaders have shunned warnings about overspending and being too dependent on volatile oil prices.  How many still think placing bets on the volatile gas market via equity ownership in an LNG project is wise? Commentary by Dave Harbour Today Standard & Poor's and Moody's credit rating agencies lowered the credit rating of the State of Alaska.   Here are today's Standard & Poor's and Moody's rating announcements. Here is Governor Bill [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:44-09:00January 5th, 2016|Alaska Taxes, Alaskanomics, Commentary, You Read It Here First|0 Comments
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12-15-15 Alaskanomics and Alaska’s Budget Plan

Today's page may be all about budget...but the budget is all about oil tax policy!  -dh TONIGHT: ALASKA'S GOVERNOR WALKER RELEASES MORE BUDGET DETAIL! FROM ALASKANOMICS: Governor Walker's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Plan Last week, Department of Revenue Commissioner Randy Hoffbeck, and Tax Division Chief Economist, John Tichotsky, gave a presentation to the Energy Action Coalition about the State's 2015 Revenue Forecast. The Alaska Department of Revenue this week released the first 2 chapters of the Fall Revenue Sources Book for 2015. It contains the annual forecast data that provides basic [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:27:45-09:00December 16th, 2015|Alaska Taxes, Alaskanomics|0 Comments
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11-5-15: A Review of the November 2015 Special Session of the Alaska State Legislature

One Observer's View of the November 2015 Special Session of the Alaska State Legislature (Revised following receipt of reader comment)   Offered on this, the last day of the Special Session, November 5, 2015   Special Session Audio & Video Archives   by   Dave Harbour     As the special session called by Governor Bill Walker ended this week, we did not oppose the Legislature's decision to approve certain appropriations.  The appropriations allowed the governor to reimburse TransCanada (TC) for its expenses to date, plus interest, to "buy out" its participation in the [...]

By |2017-01-03T11:50:29-09:00November 5th, 2015|Alaska's Fiscal Crisis, Alaskanomics, Commentary, Competition, Government Waste, Interior Energy Project (IEP), Interstate Gas, Intrastate Gas, LNG, You Read It Here First|0 Comments
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9-18-15 “Who’s On First?”

Petroleum News.  With Premier Christy Clark at the helm, the British Columbia government entered a two-day summit on Sept. 9 with about 500 First Nations leaders hoping to bridge the chasm on future economic, social and legal relations. Walker Returns to Japan To Market Gas He Does Not Control (But Japanese hospitality is so impressive!) Alert: Alaskans Concerned about a nearly 50% gap between state income and spending should attend Tomorrow's Forum On Alaska's Fiscal and Economic Future!  Here's the program and here's how to watch live. For additional reference, [...]

By |2016-12-22T22:28:01-09:00September 18th, 2015|Alaska Taxes, Alaskanomics, Arctic Policy, Commentary|0 Comments
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