PONDERING GAS PIPELINE SURVEY RESULTS
Today, the governor’s office released "public" responses from folks who were present to comment at various presentations of the governor’s gas pipeline proposal. According to Alaska Department of Revenue Commissioner Bill Corbus, 65% favored the governor's proposal, while some 29% opposed it. Very very interesting.
On July 17th (see my Blog for that date) I mailed a survey to 6,985 (Republican, Democrat, Independent) constituents who voted in the 2004 primary election. Two hundred and fifty five (3.65%) responded to the unscientific survey, as of July 16. About 350 have now responded. That's a large response for a mail-back survey.
In Question 7 of my survey I asked, “Should the legislature make necessary and prudent compromises on the oil taxes proposals and gas pipeline contract and move forward now?” To which 50.46% answered “Yes,” while 49.54% answered “No.” In other words, it was about 50-50. That’s much different that the 65% versus 29% released by the governor. One must ponder why.
The difference between my survey and that of the governor’s may result from our south Anchorage District 31 being closer to a cross-section of Alaskans (even though our district is “oily” due to a relatively high number of oil industry residents).
In contrast, the administration’s “public” responses came from people who attended “dog and pony shows” orchestrated by the governor’s people throughout the state, with ample opportunity for audiences favoring the governor’s pipeline proposal to attend. Whatever, there’s a big difference between 65/29, and about 50/50.
I agree with Commissioner Corbus that “We as a state must proceed expeditiously with a gas line and move Alaska from an oil - to a gas-based economy.” However, I hope (I hope. I hope. I hope.) the commissioner means when the next governor takes office on December 4th, and not precipitous action by the current administration.
On July 17th (see my Blog for that date) I mailed a survey to 6,985 (Republican, Democrat, Independent) constituents who voted in the 2004 primary election. Two hundred and fifty five (3.65%) responded to the unscientific survey, as of July 16. About 350 have now responded. That's a large response for a mail-back survey.
In Question 7 of my survey I asked, “Should the legislature make necessary and prudent compromises on the oil taxes proposals and gas pipeline contract and move forward now?” To which 50.46% answered “Yes,” while 49.54% answered “No.” In other words, it was about 50-50. That’s much different that the 65% versus 29% released by the governor. One must ponder why.
The difference between my survey and that of the governor’s may result from our south Anchorage District 31 being closer to a cross-section of Alaskans (even though our district is “oily” due to a relatively high number of oil industry residents).
In contrast, the administration’s “public” responses came from people who attended “dog and pony shows” orchestrated by the governor’s people throughout the state, with ample opportunity for audiences favoring the governor’s pipeline proposal to attend. Whatever, there’s a big difference between 65/29, and about 50/50.
I agree with Commissioner Corbus that “We as a state must proceed expeditiously with a gas line and move Alaska from an oil - to a gas-based economy.” However, I hope (I hope. I hope. I hope.) the commissioner means when the next governor takes office on December 4th, and not precipitous action by the current administration.
posted by Blogs by Rep Bob Lynn | 9:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home