How We Can Eliminate Oil Taxes and Stimulate Production: The 100% Solution

Debate about Alaska’s oil and gas revenues has been too much about short-term gain and not enough about long-term interests. The result is a system that fails to optimize outcomes for either the state or industry. Alaska can do better – we can have a system that reduces development risk, increases production and jobs, gives Alaska a fair share for our oil, enforces budget discipline in Juneau, strengthens the Permanent Fund, and takes the politics out of the state’s relationship with the oil industry. Doing better, however, requires a new approach.

Agriculture

Alaska’s remote location, the high cost of transportation, limited agricultural infrastructure, and shrinking farm acreage all pose major challenges for the agricultural economy and our state’s ability to become food secure. At any given time, Alaska has only a three-day supply of food on our shelves. However, with strong leadership, targeted investments, and community outreach and education, we can protect and strengthen Alaska’s agriculture and food supply and help make farming and ranching an attractive way of life for the next generation.

Education

We can improve opportunities for Alaska’s students when we: Expand access to early childhood education; teach kids to think and solve problems, not just to take a test; intensify drop-out prevention initiatives; recruit and retain the best teachers; make college affordable, accessible and relevant to Alaska and the Arctic; and increase vocational education and skills training.

Energy

Here, in this resource-rich land, something isn’t right. Alaska produces a considerable quantity of America’s oil, and yet we pay the highest energy prices in the country. We have great abundance of untapped gas and renewables but look at your utility bill. Check out the price of gas at the pump. Remember how much it costs to heat your home. And the financial burden on Alaskans doesn’t stop there. Because of high energy costs, consumer goods get more expensive. Food prices go up. As those high prices squeeze us tighter, it’s harder and harder to pay mortgages or student loans, or to make car payments.