tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342171110691845876.post6615954580721186141..comments2023-10-10T03:33:08.428-05:00Comments on Little Blog on the Prairie: Will ACES Be Discarded? Whitney Pitcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490756857309833446noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342171110691845876.post-68394600619288561402013-03-22T15:38:30.215-05:002013-03-22T15:38:30.215-05:00I also want to point out that those in the Senate ...I also want to point out that those in the Senate who voted for HB 21, the Governor's tax revision, RAN THEIR CAMPAIGNS on that pledge. The people knew, when they voted for Sen Coghill and Sen Kelly that they were voting for men who would support the Governor's plan with revisions. The people voted and that was how they voted... to produce our way out of the whole and cut spending. <br /><br />If you don't believe that, go back and look at their ads from the campaign. This was not a cloak and dagger thing, it was openly debated during the campaign. Barbara Haneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697312501296330840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342171110691845876.post-78754954533986467702013-03-22T15:14:07.484-05:002013-03-22T15:14:07.484-05:00was due to changing times.. not wasn't due. So...was due to changing times.. not wasn't due. Sorry. Barbara Haneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697312501296330840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342171110691845876.post-77413410981026607432013-03-22T15:12:29.333-05:002013-03-22T15:12:29.333-05:00Clearly, you are not an Alaskan or you would have ...Clearly, you are not an Alaskan or you would have a better understanding of the issue. <br /><br />When Aces was written, the big competitors of Alaska were Hugo Chavez, Vladamir Putin, Momar Kadafi, and a group of other dictators. Back then, as long as we kept our tax rate under 95%, we were the superior choice. <br /><br />Times change. The Balkans came on line, and most of Alaska has moved to North Dakota (where they just gave a person rights at the moment of conception). PA, WY, TX and a host of other places now effectively complete against Alaska in global markets. They have a tax rate significantly lower than 75%. Our pipeline is virtually empty, and our state revenues dwindling. <br /><br />The need to change ACES wasn't due to changing times, not due to any flaws of Governor Palin. At the time ACES was written, it was clear that it would have to be changed "someday." Who knew when that someday was? Well, it happened... and these reforms were a last ditch effort to keep the state solvent. <br /><br />I am sorry you feel this change is a slam on Governor Palin. She was a marvelous Governor, and if she were still in office, things might be different. Sean Parnell is a great administrator, but he is not a builder like Palin was, nor is he a fighter like her. <br /><br />By either temperament or disposition, Gov. Parnell believes that cutting the corporate tax rate from 75% to something slightly under 50% was the wisest way to spur production. Remember, the oil companies work for us, and if we cut their pay for producing more, they have a clear incentive not to produce. Hopefully, the changes, along with the GRE and per barrel component will give producers an incentive to produce and generate more state revenue for Alaskans. <br /><br /><br />You seem to be influenced by the narrative of Sen. Wolechowski and Hollis French that Alaskans need to be like "hard nosed Norwegians" and run our economy like Norway. Alaskans are not Norwegians.... we are Alaskans. Barbara Haneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697312501296330840noreply@blogger.com