TUNE IN FOR THE NEXT EXCITING EPISODE

I listened in on radio this afternoon (in amazement) to the governor’s press conference regarding Commissioner of Natural Resources Tom Irwin’s questioning memo regarding Alaska’s gas pipeline negotiations with the producers, and a request that the Attorney General render an official legal opinion on the matter.

From the press conference we learned that Commissioner Irwin has resigned, and six top level executives in the Department of Natural Resources followed suit with resignations. Next, the governor lavished pro forma praise on the seven administration departees. Then the Attorney General assured us that Commissioner Irwin’s eight stated concerns were matters of “policy” differences rather than something more serious. This was followed by the governor and attorney general responding to questions from the assembled frenzied media.

Hopefully, right-minded Alaska government and business leaders can overcome the “difficulties” (in delicate military lingo, the “Charlie Foxtrot”) that will be tomorrow’s headline, and bring home a gas pipeline with a contract that will benefit all Alaska both in the short and long term. Hope springs eternal. No one belongs in the legislature unless they are an optimist.

“Tune in for the next exciting episode.”