GOOD PROGRAM GOOD PEOPLE

Dropped in this evening and said “Hello” to the “Women Helping Women” ladies group sponsored by the Alaska Women’s Recovery Project (AWRP) in Anchorage. As stated in the group’s informational flyer, “Peer-led support is based on the principle that competence and wisdom reside in those who have lived the addiction/recovery experience.” I agree. For more information on this worthy program, call 907-729-5190.

"SANTA” SIGNS CAPITAL BUDGET

I attended the governor's signing ceremony of the capital budget this morning in Anchorage. The governor came in wearing a “Santa Claus” hat! No comment.

The budget is based on the assumption that the price of oil will remain high, with resultant large revenue to the state. As a practical conservative, I think it’s best to base budgets on conservative assumptions.

A chunk of the capital budget went to roads and bridges – and roads and bridges are typically as controversial as politics and religion! In general, I’m a supporter of roads and bridges. If the gas pipeline ever comes to fruition, we’re certainly going to need better avenues of transportation throughout Alaska.

HELLO - IS ANYONE LISTENING?

I certainly understand why the oil producers want a 30 and a 45 year gas tax lock-in on taxes they may be required to pay to Alaska. It’s for fiscal certainty. Who can blame them for wanting their taxes locked in? Afterall, I imagine everyone of us with an IQ above a clam would likewise like fiscal certainty in our own their personal finances, including future taxes - but that's unlikely. And what about the State of Alaska? Couldn't the state also use some fiscal certainty?

The bottom line is, whether the 30 and 45 year lock in is, or is not, a good thing probably doesn’t make much difference. I may be wrong, but regardless of whatever merits there may be to the lock-in proposal, I doubt the 21 votes in the House and 11 votes in the Senate are there to make it happen. "Wants" don't always yield results. My grandmother told me that.

A couple of representatives from one of the oil producers were in my office yesterday, and I told them the same thing. One of them looked up astounded and exclaimed, “Well, if we don't get the "lock in," we'll have to go back into negotiations again.” To which I relied, “YES.” Hello! Is anyone listening?

VICE-PRESIDENT CHENEY - ALASKA PEN PAL

Yes, along with the rest of our Alaska Legislature, I received an epistle from Vice President Dick Cheney on gas pipeline issues. Somehow I don’t think the veep woke up in the middle of the night and thought, "Gee whiz, I need to drop a note to Bob Lynn and his friends in the legislature." I’d bet my housecat someone in the administration invited the vice-president to write the legislature. No, I'm not going to speculate. The suspects are too numerous.

In all seriousness, however, Mr. Cheney's letter does indicate that a successful gas pipeline project is important, not only to Alaska, but to the entire United States. And I agree with that. But the reality is, I don’t think any votes in the legislature are going to be changed one way or the other because of Mr. Cheney's letter.

Alaska is a sovereign state. The Alaska legislature doesn’t work for the vice-president of the United States. Likewise the legislature doesn't work for the administration - we work to represent our constituents. And that’s the way it is, and the way it should be.

OUCH!

My wife Marlene had surgery yesterday at Alaska Regional Hospital to remove bone spurs in her left shoulder rotator cup, and to re-attach disconnected shoulder muscle that somehow had been torn loose. Ouch! Her arm will be in a sling for a month or so, with physical therapy after that.
The sling is the most complicated contraption I’ve ever seen – with various Velcro straps going thisaway and thataway. When I try to help her take this super-dooper sling off and on, I feel like I’m flunking an IQ test – and I am.

Marlene’s doing OK, but the operation wasn’t one of the fun things she wanted do this summer. My son John and daughter-in-law Ann will be coming up from Frankfort, Indiana to help his mom while I’m back in the second special legislative session.

POLITICAL MULTIPLICATION

By nature, the oil tax and the gas pipeline contract proposal is “political.” But the “last minute” insertion of Governor Murkowski and former Governor Knowles into the 2006 gubernatorial campaign mix has multiplied gas pipeline and oil tax politics in the order of magnitudes. The political fallout from "governor versus governor" situation is an addition to the political fallout from the other very strong candidates seeking the governorship. This is simply an observation, and not meant to cast stones at anybody.

It concerns me that now, whatever anyone of these candidates – or the legislative candidates for that matter – do or say on the proposed oil taxes and the gas pipeline proposal will be blamed on “politics” rather than issues. Not good.

I’m afraid that some folks may be attempting to deliberately delay culmination of the tax and pipeline issues until after we know who the next governor is going to be. I think that is totally irresponsible. We need to look at the oil tax and the gas contract on the merits – regardless of who the governor is, and regardless of who’s running for election or re-election. And that’s exactly what I plan to do.

OBVIOUSLY, I'M PLEASED

Remember the bumper sticker, "Lord help me be the person my dog thinks I am"? For my self, I would say, "Lord, help me be the good representative (at least) some of my constituents think I am!" At 5:00PM today I learned I'll be running re-election unopposed in both the August primary election and the November general election!

Obviously, I'm pleased - I'd be less than truthful if I said otherwise. I'll continue doing my job to the best of my ability. I'd say more, but this is NOT a campaign blog site. Thanks!