Sarah Palin emails: Palin stood with Democrats over oil profits tax, pressed GOP

Los Angeles Times ^ | June 11, 2011 | Kim Murphy

[UniqueViews]

"Sarah Palin was presiding over a legislature in open warfare in 2007 over what would become her singular lawmaking legacy - a substantial boost in the petroleum profits tax that would force oil companies to share billions of dollars more of their profits with the state.

Palin had initially proposed a modest hike, coupled with a crucial new "progressivity" component that jacked up the rate when oil prices rose above normal market levels. But her Democratic allies in the Legislature saw the chance to do more and raised it to 25%, with Palin's enthusiastic support."

[UniqueViews]

This would not make me change my support for Sarah, if I thought she could actually beat Obama.

Remember, GHW Bush lost the election over giving in to the Dems and raising taxes, despite his promise.

The reason I am posting this, is to show that no conservative, is perfect, one can find something to criticize about anyone.

Just think if one of the other R presidential candidates would have supported increasing taxes, the "RINO" chorus would be deafening.

I think that when evaluating candidates we need to look at the full picture, including their ability to beat Obama and seek the best, but not necessarily "perfection", because it does not exist.

[Bikkuri]

IBTZ

[UniqueViews]

Why?

Do you believe in sticking your head in the sand?

We are discussing facts — and I made a point of explaining the reason for my post.

[cripplecreek]

no conservative, is perfect

I'll second that.

[Bigtigermike]

What? You didn’t know about this? This has been out there publicly for years and Palin did a good thing by restructuring the Oil Tax code that was progressive but lowered when the price of oil drop, so that it helped not only people of Alaska but kept the oil companies from walking away

[hinckley buzzard]

The Constitution of the State of Alaska dictates that the state has a significant stake in oil profits. Yes it is sort of socialistic, but the law is the law. History is that the oil companies, in collusion with the republicans, had shortchanged the state dramatically for years. Palin sought to redress the balance, and the democrats of course joined in for partisan reasons. When the oil companies threatened to take Palin to court I'm sure she lost any sympathy for their arguments.

[hsalaw]

I think the bigger pictures is “So what?” The LA Slimes is looking for dirt, and this is all they found? We all knew Sarah wanted to increase state revenues from oil production, which is a whole lot different than the Obozo’s shutting production down entirely.

[Cicero]

This has been known for years.

Sarah is pro-oil development. But she is anti big-oil corruption.

In Alaska, there were corrupt dealings between the crooked Republicans and the big oil companies. Exxon was sitting on vast oil reserves and refusing to develop them, because they hoped for bigger profits after the world ran out of oil.

Sarah made it clear that either they developed the oil and a pipeline, or they would lose their lease.

The taxing issue is somewhat similar—merely correcting earlier corrupt deals between politicians and big oil.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Yep there is even a book about Sarah and the oil industry already out..people should check it out

[Navy Patriot]

Calculated misrepresentation by the Marxist LA Slimes. Sarah screwed the crony capitalists, banished corruption, and got a good deal from the oil companies for and to the ordinary Alaskan citizen, instead of leftist political patronage, or RINO graft.

[FrankR]

If these lefty, media, potheads would ever look at anything other than gossip, they would know that if anyone was "bi-partisan" and fair, it was Governor Palin. Repeatedly it has been said that he routed out corruption in BOTH parties, cut spending on both sides of the aisle.

This bill - as I understand it - was to give the Alaskan people a share in the profits from the oil companies for their exploration and drilling.

[UniqueViews]

I think the bigger pictures is “So what?”

That was one of my points, exactly.

But if this article would be about another R governor, FReepers would be jumping all over him/her, as “unacceptable RINO”.

People need to keep perspective about Sarah and other Republicans as well, and judge them based on the big picture, not one single item or decision.

[Cementjungle]

This would not make me change my support for Sarah, if I thought she could actually beat Obama

Of cousre she can beat Obama... otherwise you guys wouldn't be acting so scared of her.

[Cicero]

Sorry, I should have said natural gas. But it was all part of the same corrupt system that needed to be broken down.

[Noob1999]

And, even with the higher taxes, the petroleum industry is salivating on developing domestic oil production in Alaska, blocked be the greenies

So, what’s your point??

Palin wanted her state to get a piece of the action, unlike Zer0’s minions who want to shut down the hydrocarbons industry to save the planet, while your TV goes blank at sunset or when the wind doesn’t blow.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I’m no Kreskin, but I did stay at a crummy, sub-standard apartment complex last night, and I predict that July 2011 will roll around without a poster called “UniqueViews” at FR.

[mnehring]

This is a tough one because most of the land there is federal land so the principle comes down to should the government be a revenue generating business or should the revenues made on federal land be returned to the taxpayers. The problem there is that the Republicans in Alaska for a long time were part of a good-old-boys network in with the oil companies and the taxpayers didn’t reap anything from this profit made on federal land.

The Dems wanted to hurt the oil companies.

Palin wanted to return the revenue to the taxpayers.

This is an issue other States don’t have so I don’t think everyone has the full perspective on it.

[9YearLurker]

Yes, by the Alaskan constitution the oil belongs to the people of the state, which is a different circumstance from the rest of the country.

UniqueViews is a big Perry supporter.

[SatinDoll]

We need to keep in mind that natural resources belong to whoever owns the land it is found on, or under the surface.

If the oil belongs to the people of Alaska, then the wealth should be shared by the oil companies.

My father owns land with natural gas underground. When it is tapped, he receives royalties. By no means is he growing wealthy with the small amount the gas and oil companies pay. However in the case of a state, with millions of acres involved, the royalties can be huge.

[onyx]

Educate yourself, PDS troll. She was the GOVERNOR OF ALASKA!



About the Book Sarah takes on Big Oil: The compelling story of Governor Sarah Palin’s battle with Alaska’s ‘Big 3’ oil companies, as told by longtime Alaska oil and gas writers, Kay Cashman and Kristen Nelson. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s nomination as the vice presidential running mate of John McCain launched Palin and her family into worldwide renown. As people seek to learn more about Palin, a recurring question emerges: What is Palin’s record as an administrator, and more particularly, how did she meet the challenge of balancing the interests of the people of Alaska against those of Alaska’s three major oil and gas producing companies? “Sarah takes on Big Oil” by Kay Cashman and Kristen Nelson delivers the story of Palin’s record in dealing with BP, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil as governor of Alaska. This book is a must read for those who seek to understand Palin’s qualifications for national leadership. “Sarah takes on Big Oil” illuminates Palin’s rise to power in Alaska, along with her concrete successes and failures in dealing with the industry that is the lifeblood of the state’s economy. A stunning eight-page color insert with photos of Alaska's oil industry by noted Alaska photographer Judy Patrick graces the center eight pages of the book. Patrick, a personal friend of Palin, was a Wasilla city councilwoman when Palin was mayor. More Patrick photos appear inside the book. Also included in the book is a map of Alaska showing major points of interest, such as the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. Unlike many articles that have appeared in the news since Palin became McCain’s running mate, “Sarah takes on Big Oil” is a factual account from the editors of Alaska’s only standalone oil and gas publication. Neither author is a Republican. Neither author has a private agenda to discredit or promote Palin. About the Authors Kay Cashman and Kristen Nelson are uniquely qualified to tell the story of Sarah Palin and her dealings with the oil and gas industry in Alaska. With years of experience providing journalistically balanced and fair coverage of industry in Alaska, Cashman and Nelson have a rare grasp of the nuances of the state’s oil and gas issues. Cashman is the publisher and executive editor of Petroleum News—an independent news-driven weekly. She knows the people in Palin’s story. Nelson, editor-in-chief of Petroleum News, has maintained a long-time eye on Alaska government and its interactions with the state’s most lucrative industry. Cashman and Nelson bring a perspective rarely available to general news reporters. As a result, “Sarah takes on Big Oil” is a good read, full of interesting personalities and verifiable facts—facts which back up the compelling story of Alaska’s first female governor.

About the Author Authors

Kay Cashman and Kristen Nelson are uniquely qualified to tell the story of Sarah Palin's dealings with Alaska's 'Big 3' oil companies because of their years of independent reporting on the state's oil and gas industry, and their rare grasp of the nuances involved in Palin's relationship with the Alaska's three largest oil producers BP, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil.

Cashman is the publisher and executive editor of Petroleum News an independent news-driven weekly. Cashman is also a novelist and a people person. She knows the people in Palin's story, and people know Cashman as a journalist who can be trusted with sensitive information, on and off the record.

Nelson, editor-in-chief of Petroleum News, has maintained a long-time eye on Alaska government and its interactions with the state's most lucrative industry.

Cashman and Nelson are the ideal team to deliver a three-dimensional portrait of Palin, the people around her, and the unusual circumstances that have bracketed Palin's leadership. The authors bring a perspective rarely available to general news reporters.

As a result, Sarah takes on Big Oil is a good read, full of lively personalities and verifiable facts facts which back up the compelling story of Alaska's first female governor.