CONFLICT OF INTEREST: CASE STUDY
Would the following situation be an appropriate case study on how some consultants deal with conflicts of interest?
Former Governor Murkowski repeatedly told the legislature and the public that a 30-year lock-in on oil taxes and a 45-year lock-in on gas taxes were absolutely essential for the “fiscal stability” needed for his proposed gas pipeline contract. Now we learn that the governor’s own consultant told him otherwise.
In a letter to the governor dated February 1, 2006, Pedro van Meurs, the governor’s highly paid gas pipeline guru consultant, stated that such a tax lock-in was not necessary. Yet the same Pedro van Meurs briefed the legislature that the tax lock-in was critical for a successful pipeline contract. Apparently that’s how some consultants make the big bucks.
It’s a good thing that ethics bills and ethics training has been at the top of the legislative agenda since we gaveled in on January 16th.
Former Governor Murkowski repeatedly told the legislature and the public that a 30-year lock-in on oil taxes and a 45-year lock-in on gas taxes were absolutely essential for the “fiscal stability” needed for his proposed gas pipeline contract. Now we learn that the governor’s own consultant told him otherwise.
In a letter to the governor dated February 1, 2006, Pedro van Meurs, the governor’s highly paid gas pipeline guru consultant, stated that such a tax lock-in was not necessary. Yet the same Pedro van Meurs briefed the legislature that the tax lock-in was critical for a successful pipeline contract. Apparently that’s how some consultants make the big bucks.
It’s a good thing that ethics bills and ethics training has been at the top of the legislative agenda since we gaveled in on January 16th.
posted by Blogs by Rep Bob Lynn | 11:38 PM
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