Alaska News

Alaska lawmakers' priorities draw White House veto threats

WASHINGTON -- Two House bills that are the focus of Alaska's lawmakers -- on crude exports and Native energy -- drew veto threats from President Barack Obama Wednesday.

Both bills are still likely to advance in the House, though an early veto threat is often a death knell for a bill's ability to move through the Senate.

On Wednesday, the White House issued a "Statement of Administration Policy" on a House bill, introduced by Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, to remove restrictions on exports of crude oil, saying advisors would recommend the president veto the bill.

"Legislation to remove crude export restrictions is not needed at this time. Rather, Congress should be focusing its efforts on supporting our transition to a low-carbon economy. It could do this through a variety of measures, including ending the billions of dollars a year in federal subsidies provided to oil companies and instead investing in wind, solar, energy efficiency, and other clean technologies to meet America's energy needs," the White House statement said.

Removing the barriers to exporting crude -- limits placed on U.S. oil outside of Alaska -- has been a key focus of Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who chairs the powerful energy committee.

Murkowski's energy committee spokesman Robert Dillon said the senator is still set on lifting the ban on crude exports -- in place since the 1970s. She argues the move would raise the price garnered for Alaska North Slope crude, while lowering gas prices for consumers.

While Obama has expressed opposition to the legislation, his press secretary, Josh Earnest, said in September the White House believes the decision to lift the ban could and should be made by the Commerce Department.

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"It doesn't require an act of Congress to make this policy decision," Earnest said.

Also on Wednesday, the White House issued a policy statement threatening a veto of Alaska Rep Don Young's "Native American Energy Act," arguing it would "undermine public participation and transparency of review of projects on Indian lands" under environmental law, "set unrealistic deadlines and remove oversight for appraisals of Indian lands or trust assets," and cut off some fee payments under the Equal Access and Justice Act.

The bill also exempts Indian lands from the Interior Department's hydraulic fracturing rule.

The White House said it backs the bill's intent to address the need for energy revenue and quicker development on Indian lands, but threatened to veto the bill.

Young's bill is up for a vote in the House Thursday, where it is likely to pass.

"The Judicial Review provisions are crucial for Alaska Natives, whose ability to develop their land claim settlement lands has been abused by special interest groups filing lawsuits from outside," Young said Wednesday. "These lands, given by this Congress to Alaska Natives, are now being interfered with by outside interest groups."

Rep. Rob Bishop R-Utah, who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said the veto threat shows the White House is "fine with the status quo."

"The White House's opposition will not erase the black mark against Interior for its neglect of Indian Country. Native Americans are being denied opportunities due to the federal government's incompetence," Bishop said.

Erica Martinson

Erica Martinson is Alaska Dispatch News' Washington, DC reporter, and she covers the legislation, regulation and litigation that impact the Last Frontier.  Erica came to ADN after years as a reporter covering energy at POLITICO. Before that, she covered environmental policy at a DC trade publication and worked at several New York dailies.

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