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Legislator foiled in public records request to stateJUNEAU -- Rep. Mike Doogan just can't seem to get any love from the Department of Revenue. The Anchorage Democrat has been waiting -- not so patiently -- for the department to get back to him on a request he made March 17 for a list of revenue department officials involved in drafting the administration's proposed oil tax bill, who they talked to and when. Doogan and Rep. Les Gara raised concerns at the March House Finance Committee hearing on House Bill 110 that the legislation may have been drafted by the oil industry, rather than the administration. They believe Revenue Commissioner Bryan Butcher and his staff were unable to answer some questions about the bill that they should have known. So Doogan, a former journalist, decided to ask for the list of who had met with who and when to see if he could figure out oil company involvement. Doogan took to the House floor on Thursday to inform his colleagues that he still hasn't gotten an answer. It's not the first time in recent weeks Doogan has used the open mic of the floor to criticize the department for ignoring his request. Doogan said the department originally only addressed who Butcher had talked to. He complained via a formal public records request re-stating his original question. "Then a cone of silence descended," Doogan said. A couple of days ago, he got a letter telling him the department doesn't have a list of "meeting dates or names of participants" of people involved in drafting the bill. "So, Mr. Speaker, I am left with one of only two things," Doogan said. "Either they don't actually keep track of who they talk to -- which raises some questions about how the department is being run and, frankly, how the administration is being run -- or if they have a list, they just don't want to give it to me." So Doogan says he will be voting against the confirmation of Butcher in Friday's joint floor session where both bodies will convene to give a thumbs up or thumbs down on Parnell's picks for myriad boards, commissions and agency commissioner posts. That decision, Doogan said, is "on the grounds that either his department isn't doing its job or he's not doing his job." Butcher and Parnell have said the oil industry was asked for input but that industry officials were not involved in the drafting of the legislation. The measure would revamp the state's tax structure, reducing the amount of tax paid on North Slope production. Estimates have put the cost to the state at $2 billion a year. Another section of the bill allows oil producers to take billions more in tax credits for work done in existing fields as well as for new exploration projects. It passed the House but is unlikely to get out of the Senate which prefers to wait for studies, due in September, that senators believe will provide much more information on which to base a decision. Contact Patti Epler at patti(at)alaskadispatch.com. Absolutely agreed. We should tax the hell out of the oil companies. Tax them to the point that the only reason they'll do any work in Alaska is because they can't find oil anywhere else cheaper. Alaska has a couple billion bucks in the bank, so what's to worry, right? Let's find some great projects propping up other segments of the economy and spend that, too, while we're waiting for the last of the oil in the pipeline to congeal. Eat the rich! The CBC lives on. I can't believe Parnell can get up in front of anyone and hawk this tax cut with a straight face. Having industry attorneys write legislation for shill legislators (and others) is not new, however. Evergreen Resources and coal bed methane, anyone? Evergreen had Ogan on the payroll as a "consultant" (puh-leeze). Ogan duped the House Dupe (Vic, I'll-do-anything-for-some Twinkies, Kohring) into introducing the bill. That didn't fool anyone and the pitchforks and torches came out after Ogan who dodged a recall by resigning. Before that there was John Tillinghast, former ass't AG who became a hired gun and front man for timber industry attorneys during the development of Alaska's forest practices act. I'm sure I could think of many more if I tried. I don't know why we put up with this crap. Industry has been running our governments (federal, state, local) for many years. Political Action Committees have allowed industry to funnel large sums in the form of "campaign contributions" to public officials; most of whom are more than willing to sell out for a few bucks. Now, following the Citizens United decision, the gloves are off and no holds will be barred. If Alaska wasn't already run by Oil, I'm sure another patron (Things go better with Koch!) would be willing to step in to grease the wheels of our government. Have you wondered why it is so hard to pass a real conflict of interest or ethics law that would apply to all three branches of government? There is a lot more that we need to know because we are being flim-flammed by Butcher and the oil companies; $2 Billion a year? You go Doogan. Doogan is honest and a straight shooter. There is no room for a man like that in Juneau. Doogan and Rep. Les Gara....Doogan and Rep. Les Gara.....Doogan and Rep. Les Gara....What else do you need to know. Foiled? Rats! |
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