Alaska News

Some thoughts on Art Hackney's oil tax referendum opinion

30,000 signatures. 90 days. 586,000 square miles.

Just like an elusive monster King salmon, this one is tough to land. But it does happen from time to time.

The Alaska Constitution permits direct democracy actions (initiative, referendum, and recall) that do indeed allow Alaskans to instigate for change. These tools are available to all Alaskans who feel compelled to advocate for their beliefs and values. As someone who signed the Pebble initiative petition that Mr. Hackney is managing, I find it amusing that he is saying Alaskans should not have a vote on this issue.

Hackney's commentary covers a wide range of thoughts about oil taxes. However, the Vote Yes! Repeal The Giveaway campaign is technically about "An Act Relating to the Oil and Gas Production Tax, Interest Rates on Overdue Taxes, and Tax Credits," as determined by the lieutenant governor's office and printed on the front cover of the petition booklets.

Contrary to the Hackney's statement, this is a referendum petition (once again -- see the front cover of a petition booklet for proof), not an initiative petition. It does not create any new law. A yes vote rejects the law (SB 21), a no vote approves the law. This referendum is going to give Alaska voters the ability to have a say on the primary piece of legislation that the 2013 Alaska Legislature passed and the governor signed.

Fortunately, Ray Metcalfe is an integral part of the Vote Yes! Repeal The Giveaway campaign and is a driving force behind it, but Ray Metcalfe has not been hired by the campaign to oversee it. Pat Lavin is the campaign coordinator. Apparently, the Hackneys did not even take a look at the Vote Yes! Repeal The Giveaway campaign website, where this fact can be easily confirmed.

And what about the "minions?" Personally, it has been an honor to work with so many fine Alaska minions across this great state. Hundreds of patriotic Alaska citizens are the backbone of the Vote Yes! Repeal The Giveaway campaign and their hard-work and dedication to their state is a stellar example of Alaskans' ability to properly govern themselves.

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As for the Vote Yes! Repeal The Giveaway campaign being full of "treasonous" liars, the people of the state of Alaska will have the final say on this point.

In closing, I would like to thank the Hackneys for moving the conversation and the referendum petition forward into the ballot phase. It would have been tougher to make it happen without their civic engagement on this vital issue.

Dave Metheny is a campaign volunteer for the "Vote Yes! Repeal The Giveaway" campaign, but he does not speak for the campaign -- the preceding words are his own.

The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, e-mail commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.

Dave Metheny

Dave Metheny is a campaign volunteer for the "Vote Yes! Repeal The Giveaway" campaign, but he does not speak for the campaign -- these words are his own.

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