Alaska Patriots Submit Petitions for SB21 Repeal (VIDEO)
An energetic crowd gathered at an the obscure office of the Alaska Division of Elections on Ship Creek Avenue today. The sunny Saturday did not keep the hardcore advocates, and activists away. They gathered to submit 898 petition booklets filled with the signatures of Alaskans who want to see the Parnell oil tax rollback overturned by the people via ballot initiative. The bill would give billions from Alaska’s coffers to oil companies with no strings attached.
Jack Roderick, Ray Metcalfe, and Vic Fischer
A total of 30,000 signatures were required from 40 separate districts across the state to get the repeal measure on the August 2014 primary ballot. The count is not official, but approximately 50,000 signatures were gathered, and the organizers of the repeal effort are optimistic that the measure will move forward.
Hal Gazaway, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker, Senator Bill Wielechowski.
Jack Roderick and David Gottstein.
There were hotdogs, hamburgers, and smiles everywhere as organizers, legislators old and new, and supporters shook hands, hugged and simply enjoyed each other’s presence after a 60-day effort requiring hundreds of volunteers across the state.
Rep. Andy Josephson and Ray Metcalfe
Some of Alaska’s most revered pioneers and patriots were present: Vic Fischer, Jane Angvik, Malcolm and Cindy Roberts, Jack Roderick, Bill Walker, Ray Metcalfe, Jim Sykes, Senator Bill Wielechowski, Rep. Andy Josephson, Rep. Chris Tuck, and former Rep. Harry Crawford.
A big thank you from Ray Metcalfe, Jack Roderick, Barbara Gazaway, Cindy Roberts, Malcolm Roberts, Jim Sykes and Vic Fischer.
Two backbones of Backbone – Malcolm Roberts, and Bill Walker
Former legislator and current signature gatherer extraordinaire, Harry Crawford.
Lead organizer of the campaign, Pat Lavin.
An impressive group of speakers and organizers.
Vic Fischer takes the mic.
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Jim Sykes.
Barbara Gazaway
Jack Roderick
After the organizers of the recall effort spoke in turn to loud applause, the crowd dispersed, and the core group got ready to submit the petitions. One after another they each took a box, and walked inside the building, led by Cindy Roberts carrying the Alaska flag.
Senator Wielechowski gets ready to deliver a box of petition booklets.
Vic Fischer was the first inside the office, and rang the bell at the desk. “We have some work for you,” he said, smiling. Down the hall, David Gottstein began singing the Alaska Flag Song and didn’t get past, “Eight stars of gold…” before everyone joined in, as box after box was set on the counter. It was truly an amazing moment, and since you couldn’t be there, we made sure to get the whole thing on video for you to enjoy. Here is some real Alaska history.
If all goes according to plan, the referendum will appear on the 2014 primary ballot next August. Ten percent of the registered voters in the state have already signed the petition, and signature gatherers reported long lines waiting to sign at recent events.
Workers at the Division of Elections count booklets of signatures.
Counting went on in teams of two.
Director of the Division of Elections Gail Fenumiai (right) counts signatures.
Ceezar Martinson, Jim Sykes, Ray Metcalfe, David Gottstein, David Dunsmore, Pat Lavin, Vic Fischer, Jack Roderick, Malcolm Roberts.
The oil companies have deep pockets, and will likely be using some of their new found Alaskan wealth to run an expensive, slick ad campaign against the repeal measure. The oil companies have money to gain – money that will be used in other locations around the world not as profitable as Alaska. The men and women who have come together to repeal this measure have nothing to gain but the good of the state. Nothing is going into their bank accounts. All they want, and all that every Alaskan should want, is to have schools, and parks, and public safety, and infrastructure projects fully funded. What we deserve are lawmakers who respect our Constitution that tells us our resources must be developed “for the maximum benefit of the people.” If this giveaway is allowed to stand, it is Alaskans who will suffer.
And if the recall succeeds, and we get our future back, Exxon, Conoco, and BP will be just fine.
The hard work of collecting signatures to put this on the ballot is only the beginning. Now comes the harder part: GETTING OUT THE VOTE. Talk to your neighbors, families, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances. Explain how important this is. Register voters, and help them get to the polls, if necessary. Turnout for elections everywhere in this country is notoriously low; Alaskan turnout is even lower than the national average, which is dismal.
As someone who carried petitions door-to-door as a teenager, working to get 18 year olds the right to vote, and as someone who turned 18 in 1972 and voted in my first election that year, I am disgusted by low voter interest (and don’t even get me started on people who have never even registered). EVERY election, primary and general, is important. The RWNJs understand and exploit this fact. Progressives must learn to do the same.
Zach, thanks for the terrific video. I’d never heard the Alaska flag song before, and it was very moving to hear it sung by all these Alaska patriots.
This is what democracy looks like.
You show us the power of citizens truly united.
Keep up the good work, Alaska Patriots, and many thanks.
From afar I must say how impressed I am with peoples of the Northland. You done good and I now confer semi-official iowa statehood upon all of you-with the usual exceptions of rwnj,fauxknee christians,etc. Which brings up this question I’m sure I’ve asked before. Is Et Cetera related to Peter Cetera,the once and former bass player/singer with the 70s group Chicago?
Et Cetera comes from one of those cultures where the surname lands first and is related to Et Alii, Et Sequentia, and Et Alibii so, no, not related to Mr Cetera. Dang.
Was hoping you’d come through,again. I have use for Etcetera,the other guy,not so much. Send rain if you can. Thanks.
We’re 9″ above average rainfall for the year here in the forest.
Our mushrooms are growing mushrooms!
Sending some showers your way, mikey,
but I can’t guarantee delivery.
tcw
I had to (sickly) chuckle at the sidebar of AdChoices now showing…listed is one for BP. And, from/on that link, I came across this 3 June 2013 release, titled: “BP Plans $1B in New Investment, Adding Two Drilling Rigs and 200 Jobs in Alaska.” The release says, among other things:
BP announced today it is planning to add $1 billion in new investment and two drilling rigs to its Alaska North Slope fields over the next five years due to changes in the state’s oil tax policy signed into law this month by Gov. Sean Parnell.
These plans call for an increase in drilling and well-work activity, the upgrading of existing facilities and the addition of up to 200 new jobs in the state, giving a boost to both the company’s operations and the state’s economy.
In addition, BP has successfully secured support from the other working interest owners at Prudhoe Bay to begin evaluating an additional $3 billion worth of new development projects. These projects, located in the west end of the Greater Prudhoe Bay Area, could continue for nearly 10 years, further increasing the state’s oil production and providing additional jobs.
“With this new tax law, the Alaska legislature and Governor Parnell have taken an important step toward improving Alaska’s long-term economic future,” said BP Alaska Region President Janet Weiss. “Our announcement today should make abundantly clear that BP is committed to being a part of that future and to continuing to extend the life of North America’s largest oil field.”
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. will issue a request for proposals (RFPs) beginning this summer for the two additional rigs in Prudhoe Bay. The first drilling rig is expected to be in place by 2015 and the second in 2016. This will increase BP’s rig fleet in Alaska to nine. [emphasis, mine]
The entire release is here: http://tinyurl.com/p2sl87l
[The ‘subtitle’ of the piece states: “Recent state tax reform also spurs Prudhoe Bay working interest owners to evaluate additional $3 billion of development projects”]
Incredible how BP is able to use AKs money to do THEIR job…all with NO strings attached. And with NO guarantees of one damned thing *other than* BP won’t take a hit (any losses) on it. Even the wording of the release, “is planning to“, “up to 200 new jobs in the state”, “to begin evaluating“, ” could continue for nearly 10 years,” isn’t a guarantee that the pie-in-the-sky Parnell et al are so pleased as punch they’ve made possible, will actually come to fruition. And BP knows it; BP very carefully knows it. There’s nary a definite “will” or “is” (without qualifiers!) in the entire thing. For some reason, I’m not really surprised.
One thing’s for sure, the BIG winner in all of this is BP; the losers… “Tax Reform” my sweet Aunt Fanny! beth.
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130322/alaska-oil-jobs-hit-record-high-despite-governors-warnings
the deceptions are many, from beginning to now, beth.
they will get worse as the vote nears. way worse.
It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood, a wonderful day for a neighbor
Can anyone on here explain why the referendum will be on the primary rather than general election ballot in 2014? Have asked that in several other venues but no answer yet. Glad to see Bill Walker finally chiming in with his compass piece last week and now be featured at the signature gathering celebration. Best free advertising for the Repeal effort will be his head to head debates with Parnell that Sean won’t be able to run away from as he did with Senator Wielochowski’s challege to a televised debate.
Hi Bob, Jim Sykes can explain this. We talked about it at length yesterday. It has something to do with the fact that the legislature has changed its timeframe from 120 days to 90 days, and when the effort to start the petition drive was launched. (The referendum has to get on the ballot within a certain specified window after it the petition drive is launched or after the legislature adjourns or both). We even got so far as to discuss whether it would make sense to legally challenge the situation. Send him a note and he can give you the details ~ my memory is worthless these days. Libby
The primary is the first statewide election after the 180 days dealie.
Primaries are notoriously low in % of registered voters turning out.
We’ll have to work on that.
Alaska Constitution
Article XI: Initiative, Referendum, and Recall
Section 5
“A referendum petition may be filed only within ninety days after
adjournment of the legislative session at which the act was passed. The
lieutenant governor shall prepare a ballot title and proposition
summarizing the act and shall place them on the ballot for the first
statewide election held more than one hundred-eighty days after
adjournment of that session. ”
http://www.iandrinstitute.org/New%20IRI%20Website%20Info/I&R%20Research%20and%20History/I&R%20at%20the%20Statewide%20Level/Constitution%20and%20Statutes/Alaska.pdf
Thank you for the info. Having the referendum on the same ballot as the Walker/Parnell choice will be a good combo for the repeal of SB21 as well as the defeat of Parnell I hope.
Yeah… having a ballot initiative on the primary ballot in many ways makes it easier to pass. People who vote in primaries tend to be people who care a lot and are relatively well educated. On the other hand, liberals haven’t had much of a reason to vote in the primaries recently. When was the last time we had a closely contested race on the Democrat side of the ballot? I think that re-districting caused a couple close races, but that’s an anomaly.
We will need to remind our friends and family to get out and vote and be involved.
I am impressed with the organization and the will of the people!
Does Alaska still owe 500 million to TransCanada for AGIA thanks to sarah palin?
http://tinyurl.com/qj5vnbt
This is from PoliticusU.S.A a liberal site. It looks like Alaskans could pay more than 500 million bucks for a pipeline that may never be built. Fiscal conservatism crashes head-on with reality.From 2011.
Yay!
We did it!
Thank you to all the people who worked so hard to make this happen!
The hard work starts now. Not only will the oil companies throw a lot of $$s at a negative campaign but the various organizations which think big business farts rainbows ( a Jim Wrightism I dearly love ) and the sorry Legs who passed this will be working overtime to convince voters not to repeal.
Our Governor has already laid his first stink bomb on the subject :
“At this point I don’t think we should chase away Alaskans’ opportunity with an ill-advised referendum.” Parnell said. “The question has to be asked of referendum supporters … ‘what’s your plan for Alaska if you want to take us back to a system with guaranteed production decline?'”
http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-petition-to-repeal-sb21-moves-one-step-closer-to-ballot-20130713,0,1693208.story
to which I retort ” the question has to be asked of this Governor, what are you calling Alaskans’ opportunity?The opportunity to let our non-renewable resources go without you exercising your fiduciary duty to US? The opportunity to put our schools on life support? The opportunity to further pad the pockets of big oil because they just might hire a few folks, the Alaskan type folks?
What opportunity did we get from SB21 , sir, which can really be called opportunity ?
In the 2014 election we have the opportunity to dump this Gov, dump his current footlickin Leg , AND repeal SB21 folks.
Let’s do it.