Parnell selections show bias for SB 21
Gov. Parnell's appointments to the Oil Tax Competitiveness Review Board tell us quite a lot about SB 21, the oil tax bill. The board's mission is to impartially evaluate results of the oil tax law and determine whether or not the people of Alaska are getting fair value for their resource. It is a chance for SB 21 to either stand up under legitimate scrutiny, or be found to be a raw deal for the people of Alaska.
But apparently SB 21 can't withstand impartial scrutiny. Parnell's appointments are all aligned with and dependent on the oil industry. Even the financial analyst position goes to a former Veco VP. Those appointments tell us quite a lot about Gov. Parnell also.
User fees would protect fishery
Last year 35,211 Alaska residents received personal use permits (dipnetting) for Cook Inlet waters. This is a household permit. Considering that most households include more than one person, that's lots of stakeholders for this fishery. What this constituency needs to more effectively claim its share of Cook Inlet reds is to begin paying a modest user fee.
Managing the harvest of Cook Inlet red salmon is a delicate balancing act between meeting escapement goals and demands of commercial, sport and personal use fishers, which requires adequate funding. Unfortunately, the ability of the state Department of Fish and Game to pay for managing this fishery is compromised by declining fishing license revenues and state general funds. Here is where dipnetters can provide needed support.
Although dipnetting permits require a resident fishing license, the permit is free. What I suggest is that dipnetters support a $10 fee for a permit. That's the same as a king salmon stamp and less than the value of catching just one red salmon. A small price for sustainable management.
While getting a permit, dipnetters should also have to pass a simple test demonstrating they can identify a red salmon and are familiar with the regulations.
-- George Matz
Fritz Creek
Transition yields shades of gray
Puh-leeze. Black print on top of gray highlights nothing. Otherwise the transition from the Daily News is OK.
Moores comments crossed the line
Thanks to Craig Medred for his article on Shannyn Moore, who went too far about Parnell. Governors, both Democrat and Republican, of this state have demonstrated respect.
Gov. Parnell knows respect. Moore and her vitriol crossed the line. No joke. Experience tells me self-centered people do not apologize or feel shame. To Gov. Parnell, I apologize for Shannyn Moore's disrespect.
Free speech? In my opinion, criticize without attacking one personally.
Editor, I would tell Moore, "That's 30."
-- Margaret Hansen
Anchorage
Dispatch News is minimizing Moore
The Dispatch News has taken quick action to minimize the popularity of Shannyn Moore and her weekly column. She is their most popular community op-ed author. First, they moved her from Sunday to Saturday. Then Craig Medred wrote a column to embarrass her publicly. Wow! I have never seen anything like that in the news before. They wrote an editorial going after an editorial that they decided to put in their paper. What?
Medred gushes about Parnell's respect for women. He knew about how Parnell sat on his hands for years hiding sex crimes in the Alaska National Guard, protecting old white guys in command.
I hope this is just a poor example from the new ADN's startup. We do not have enough editorial voices from women, particularly those willing to speak truth to power.
-- Rod McCoy
Anchorage
Dont get rid of our tax law; its working
It is really discouraging to see the growing bitterness surrounding Ballot Measure 1. Before Prudhoe Bay, Alaskans did not have half the amenities, services and infrastructure that exist today, nor did we have the Permanent Fund. According to a University of Alaska study, without oil, Alaska's economy would be half its current size.
Some Alaskans will vote yes on Ballot Measure 1 because they simply do not want more oil development in this state. Others, however, will vote yes because although they support development, they may not understand the concept of competing for investment, where Alaska must lure investment dollars away from other, lower taxed opportunities in the U.S. and around the world.
Our new tax law was designed to make Alaska a compelling place to invest, put more oil in the pipeline, and bring higher revenues to the state over the long term. Since it passed a year ago, the steady 6 percent to 8 percent production decline under the old tax system has been nearly erased; major investments in production-adding projects are moving forward.
I am voting no on Ballot Measure 1 because oil tax reform is working. We need to give it time, just like we gave the old tax, which did nothing to stop production decline in its seven years.
-- Carl Portman
Anchorage
Moore tells truth and some dont like it
Shannyn Moore, bless her heart, calls a spade a spade. Anyone offended by her comments doesn't really want to hear the truth.
-- Jan Odhner
Moose Pass
Moore overstepped but her point was valid
This is one of those cases where both sides are correct. Craig Medred called out Shannyn Moore for going overboard with hyperbole in her Sunday column. I think her reference to Hansen was a bit much, too.
However, the point that Shannyn was trying to make is correct; the only thing that matters to Gov. Parnell is to further his own interests and those of his corporate benefactors. It matters not that by almost any objective standard the person is unqualified -- in a state that has one of the premier fisheries schools in the country, the governor chooses a public relations person from a mining company to fill a fisheries position … or to fill a board position whose qualifications require Alaska residency -- by statute -- the governor prefers to change the statute rather than find a qualified Alaskan.
As for the governor's record on respect for women, it is likely a representation of expedience rather than real concern or respect. And when confronted with considerable evidence of rape and sexual abuse in the Alaska National Guard, the governor chose obfuscation over respect.
Mass murderers? Yes, too much. Seven hundred and eighty words to point that out? Yes, too much.
-- Wigi Tozzi
Anchorage
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter for consideration, e-mail letters@adn.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity.