Alaska's triad

House Republican leaders peg the session's top three issues as keeping budget growth in check; exploring whether the oil tax structure is really working; and developing an energy policy.

Those issues aren't anything new to Alaskans.

There's an annual debate between those who believe state spending is out of control, and those who say surpluses should be spent on a backlog of social issue, education or infrastructure needs, instead of saved.

Energy took center stage last session, yet little new was actually done to bring costs down long-term for people paying the highest energy bills in the nation.

And while changes to the state's oil tax structure, ACES, are on everyone's lips, there's a real break between Republicans and Democrats, and somewhat of a split within the Republican party itself, on how far that ought to go. It remains to be seen whether lawmakers will spend their political capital in a tax review that goes beyond the superficial in a campaign year.

Talking to the press Tuesday morning, House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, Rules Chairwoman Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Eagle River, and Majority Leader Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan, offered their insights on what issues may emerge as the focal points of the session that starts this afternoon.

A significant share of the House Majority - which includes Republicans and a handful of rural Democrats - signed onto or are otherwise backing a move to revisit the state's oil tax, Alaska's Clear and Equitable Share. They sent a letter to Gov. Sean Parnell seeking answers to a long list of questions about how the tax scheme is working for Alaska's oil industry, jobs, support businesses and treasury.

Chenault said this morning that he hasn't received a formal reply from Parnell, but would meet with the governor this afternoon and may have a better idea then.