Rep. Olson: Exxon Got a Bad Rap
Last week Exxon went to Juneau. Not just to lobby, but to appear for questioning at a hearing. The company has long kept a low profile in Alaska. Why? Maybe because its front men would rather not run into any of those Alaskans who waited 20 years for their 10 cents on the dollar. And what would legislators want to ask the company that sat on its Point Thompson leases for three decades — until the state finally tried to take them back? Maybe some tough questions about how to incentivize oil production, and what specific projects would come…
UPDATE: Exxon Wins Safety Award. No, Really.
In this weeks “No really, this is not an Onion article,” Exxon Mobil proudly announced that the National Safety Council awarded it the “Green Cross for Safety medal at its annual fundraising dinner in Houston last night. The dinner honored ExxonMobil for its leadership and comprehensive commitment to safety excellence.” While the award winner was decided earlier last year – one might question the safety record of Exxon after the growing Mayflower oil/tarsands spill. But to the National Safety Council I guess that’s not a safety issue. The award was given at a fundraiser for the National Safety Council sponsored by UPS,…
“Stop the Giveaway!” Backbone Rally Photos
This just in from Juneau: Last night, under the cover of darkness, the House Resources Committee made the Governor’s oil wealth giveaway an even BIGGER giveaway. Just after 2:00a.m. the House Resources Committee amended the bill, reducing the tax rate from 35 to 33 percent, giving away an additional $300-$400 million dollars a year. This rate applies to all oil, whether it is already in production or not. Today, hundreds of Alaskans all across the state showed up for a “day of resistance” to stop the oil wealth giveaway.There were rallies in Juneau, Fairbanks, Sitka, Homer, Dillingham, Soldotna, Sterling and Anchorage. Today,…
The Exxon Valdez Radio Call (Videos)
It may be a while since you’ve heard this. It may have been 24 years. That’s how long it’s been since the Exxon Valdez made this radio call after it “fetched up hard aground” on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989. It’s always a tough anniversary. This commercial is aimed at those living in British Columbia, but it’s a powerful message and a good reminder for all of us. And their estimates of 10-15% recovery for spilled oil is sadly optimistic. It’s more like 7% if you’re lucky. More than two decades later, the stench and…
GOP’s Slash & Burn Values
“Family values.” It’s something we hear a lot around election season from the Republican Party. It’s code for “queers are bad and ladies are baby ovens.” It has nothing to do with healthy families. Case in point: This past week, the Republicans in the Alaska House of Representatives, on some sort of “look-how-fiscally-conservative-we-are” display, slashed and burned the state operating budget. The hypocrisy of their campaign stances comes into pure light when you see how they are spending our money. Pre-kindergarten education was slashed, as was funding for Best Beginnings early education and the Parents as Teachers program. A two-year…
Congress, Meet Tongass
By Geoff Mueller Washington D.C., rife with politicians and paved with legislative hurdles, is a far cry from the Alaska backcountry. But that hasn’t stopped Juneau-based flyfishing guide Matt Boline from ditching his waders, donning a suit, and entering the melée. Earlier this week Boline traveled to the nation’s capital as part of a commercial and sport fishermen delegation pressing Congress to enact stronger protections for salmon and trout in the country’s largest national forest. The Tongass National Forest is located in southeast Alaska, home to one of the world’s largest and healthiest wild salmon fisheries. Currently, 65% of…
They Think We’re Idiots. Are We?
BY: SHANNYN MOORE I will admit to outrage fatigue. The “Shock and Fraud” campaign in Juneau is working. Legislators, drunk on one-party power, are trying to jam so much crazy through — well, it’s mind-boggling. We’ve just passed the halfway point of the session — think of it as solstice; Alaska’s future only gets darker from here. We had it too good for too long and didn’t even realize it. The petty, preposterous, personal-issue bills were ignored for years. But now that we’ve solved our energy issues, jobs are plentiful and every education challenge is behind us, the Legislature has…
Good News for Chuitna Salmon
I present to you, in the middle of chaos and frustration… (drum roll please)… a small victory! In a decision issued February 25, 2013, the Alaska Superior Court ruled that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) violated its own rules by denying Alaskans’ their right to keep water in streams to protect wild salmon runs. The decision in Chuitna Citizens Coalition vs. Dan Sullivan, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, takes on special importance as the Alaska legislature considers bills introduced by Governor Parnell (HB 77/SB 26) which will strip Alaskans of their right to protect “instream flows,” which are…
Sen. Backpedals About Alaska’s Dimwit Voters
There’s backpedaling, and then there’s Backpedaling. Sen. Lesil McGuire (R), my friends, is a double-down Backpedaler. It’s actually quite impressive. It’s almost… what’s the word I’m looking for… “Palinesque.” With the current legislature out of touch with actual Alaskans on so many issues, it’s a skill the majority of Republicans are going to have to master. House Majority Leader Lance Pruitt, and Speaker of the House Mike Chenault have already backpedaled to varying degrees that they laughed out loud at the thought of legal same-sex partnerships, despite the fact 70% of Alaskans think it should happen. This time it’s about…
Legislature Takes Dump on Alaska
Despite massive public outcry, and good efforts by Democratic lawmakers, the legislature has voted to pass a bill that will loosen restrictions on the cruise industry, and lower water quality standards for coastal waters. HB80 now heads to the Governor’s desk. None of the Democratic amendments which would have required dumping at least 3 miles offshore, not next to marine parks or game refuges, public notification of the location of dump sites, and water monitoring passed. The bill was voted through as it was, and zipped through the senate with a vote of 16-4. The yes votes included Democratic Senator…