Posted on 01/27/2010 6:27:54 PM PST by ASOC
JUNEAU -- The oil industry has launched a $100,000 ad campaign aimed at convincing the Legislature that Alaska needs to roll back its oil taxes.
The advertising offensive by the Alliance, a trade group for Alaska oil and mining contractors, comes with the Legislature divided over oil taxes in the second week of its 90-day session.
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
No oil drilling this season, just one gas drilling rig - AK now has the highest oil taxes in the US and it shows in the loss of jobs. Now that business can fight back, expect to see more of these kind of ads.
ping
Now, I might not know all the intricate economic changes facing the oil industry in Ak but it sure has looked awful corrupt to me; always has too. They didn't roll over Palin; but now she is gone I guess it's back to business as usual.
I just don't trust any political up here that sings big oil's song too loudly; usually means another decrease in state revenues from oil industry and calls for state taxes on the populace to fund state government.
Year after year of oil tax decreases introduced by our legislators, then Palin stopped them dead in their tracks; now back to the original game I guess.
The state lost money after ACES. Most exploration/drilling work occuring now is offshore in federal leases where the taxes are less.
I can’t figure out why the state hasn’t diversified its tax revenue base, oil is roughly 85% of the state’s revenue.
The jobs going away are a fact.
How this will play out could be most instructive...
47% is an insanely high tax/fee combination. Then the Feds add their taxes.
It is the reason Canada oil investments are going up and Alaska is loosing jobs.
You have apparently fallen for the liberal talking points hook, line and sinker. The fact is that the oil industry is the most heavilty taxed industry in the country. The phrase “tax breaks for big oil” is a great example of liberal propaganda. Any reductions that they manage to get are simply mitigations in their obcene tax rates.
I love Sara Palin, but her actions in this regard when she was governor were not something to brag about.
Careful there FRiend, talk that will get you ‘botted....
I'm not buying into any Dem talking points. Year after year, have watched another group of state legislators submit another tax plan that further reduces the taxes. I guess we should just give the oil away to them, have all kinds of state taxes upon taxes and be happy.
I never thought much about the oil taxes until a brother-in-law who was head of test engineering at a big United Technology plant that built turbines for oil industry got into it with me over oil industry. I mean this guy traveled all over the world, knew his stuff. He believed the oil industry controlled everything. I remember him telling me about one company paying off all their corp debt in 6 months of high prices. So now, I keep an open mind about what I see & hear when it stinks.
Do you all remember when Phony Tony the dem gov wanted to build a nat gas pipeline with 20 billion of pfd money, for the oil companys.
Just my opinion, Palin seemed to concur too.
I think that a big part of the problem is that the degree of government involvement in the oil business in AK is extremely high, almost to the point one could consider it state-run. I’ve heard plenty of people who work internationally make that analogy. Its easy for politicians to stir the pot claiming that people are being taken advantage, especially when gas prices are soaring.
In my opinion, levying steep tax hikes on an industry or individuals claiming you’re stepping up to a demon and have the best interest of the public at heart is misleading. The consequences to the public are far worse. If a company was tapping wells outside outside of a lease and profiting as a result, that would be a different story but is not the case.
When regulations and taxes prevent a business from being profitable they move elsewhere. The AK state taxes, combined with the fed, put Alaska near the bottom of the ladder globally in terms of doing business. Another problem in the US as a whole, is I don’t think people have a good understanding of what it takes to produce oil. A 2” valve can cost over $1000, which pales in comparison to building lines and drilling wells.
I don’t mean for any of this to be personally, and it is not directed that way. As much as I’d love for the economic slide drive the Anchorage populatioin down, I can’t claim its a realistic or worthy expectation:-)
Careful now; Longer term Alaskans might stop considering you an outsider...
LOL, Take care.
I miss it enough to keep a Chugach State Park the center point of attention in my office. And overwhelm any that ask about it with tale from "Far North".
Have you hiked Crow Pass Trail entire length yet?
LOL! I think I’ve far surpassed that level of ‘grizzledness’!!
Haven’t done that hike yet, but many have told me I should. I got a flat bottom last summer, and try to go exploring rivers as often as possible. Been getting ready to build a shop this summer too, can’t wait to be able to park inside.
It is kind of amazing the questions you get asked outside, no? You coming back to visit anytime soon?
No joke though, ask anybody who has been here 20 years if every year, there isn't a state political introducing a new tax scheme to lower oil taxes; after awhile people get to wondering why none of the tax plans make them happy?
Ya know, I can keep an unbiased opinion as I'm not directly involved; and that's all it is; an opinion. No hard feelings meant to any Alaskan's anyway.
Ordered a Redding Press; and got that 5 inch S&W 460 on the list. Saw a BAR safari 338 mag on there too for a gran; maybe in a couple weeks. Thinking about nx fall too.
In my opinion, most all of that has been game playing for making political sound bites, but very little difference occurs in the total take, until the last round. Then the tax jump was absurd.
Each year the Alaskan government counts out separately the total money collected from oil companies, and the total amount of oil produced. Someday I'll get ambitious enough to research many years together like I did for 2006 and 2008. It would be interesting for all the claims and complaints, how much or how little difference has previously been made.
Take care out there this winter. I will pray the Yukon does a better job staying in its banks for a few more decades for you and those around you.
In my opinion, most all of that has been game playing for making political sound bites, but very little difference occurs in the total take, until the last round. Then the tax jump was absurd.
Each year the Alaskan government counts out separately the total money collected from oil companies, and the total amount of oil produced. Someday I'll get ambitious enough to research many years together like I did for 2006 and 2008. It would be interesting for all the claims and complaints, how much or how little difference has previously been made.
Take care out there this winter. I will pray the Yukon does a better job staying in its banks for a few more decades for you and those around you.
Sounds like good democratic talking points there bubba.
I certainly would not call myself an expert by any means, but it does amaze me how complex the industry is and what all is involved. That is challenging to comprehend.
If Palin runs and wins the nomination in 2012, this could be an easy campaign target for the ‘rats and potentially cause a rift in Republicans. Despite being unpopular and dropping, I don’t think it will be a slam dunk for the GOP.
Redding presses are awesome, and that 460 is sweet! I am thinking about getting a kimber montana m84 in .308 as a mountain rifle for sheep/goats. Be a nice caribou round too. If you see anything you want me to pick up and hold for you, let me know.
Woahh FRiend, I know FReeper Eska quite well and can assure you he is not a dem, and is one of the most independent/individualist folks I know!
I had ordered a 5 inch 460 back in October from gun store in fairbanks; then he couldn’t get one in. Saw one last week on the list and had owner take it down gun shop. The guns I have been interested in, were all in fairbanks. I’ll see one sooner or later in anch and take ya up on it.
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