JUNEAU -- Outside of the Alaska state capitol building on Wednesday, a group of legislators and citizens waved signs, sang songs, and demanded justice for the botched prosecution of former Alaska U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. Gov. Sean Parnell, among others, gave a speech about Stevens, the longest-serving Republican U.S. senator in history. Wearing a replica of the famous "Incredible Hulk" tie given to Parnell by Stevens's daughter Lily, the governor promised to, like Stevens, fight for Alaska, and see justice done.
Because a straight line can be drawn between the prosecution of Stevens and the oil tax debate in Juneau in 2005-06, that the rally took place during the thick of yet another heated oil tax debate might have struck some as ironic. Particularly since the current debate, the third in seven years, is an indirect spawn of that Murkowski-era one, one that will live in infamy.
Acknowledging the irony, however, wouldn't bode well for Parnell's agenda. And irony wouldn't fit the mood inside the state capitol Wednesday, anyway, where another oil tax bill -- one that doesn't enjoy the governor's blessing -- was in the process of jump-scotching from one Senate committee to the next.
As details were hashed out that would at long last move Senate Bill 192 -- the Senate's answer to Parnell's demand for state oil-tax reform -- to a full vote on that chamber's floor, groups hovered in the capitol's halls, oil executives and lobbyists huddled and harried senators walked around, whispering to their aides.
To the dismay of some, senators aren't debating whether Alaska should cut taxes on its oil producers. Rather, the debate revolves around how much of a break to give some of the most profitable businesses in the world.
Parnell has pushed hard for tax breaks of up to $2 billion a year when oil is priced at $120 barrel, which is where its hovered recently. If oil rises to $150, that tax break would increase to nearly $3 billion a year under Parnell's plan.
Parnell has repeatedly said the tax break means more investment by industry in Alaska, a state where more than 85 percent of state government is funded by oil taxes and royalties.
Others, who are more skeptical of the oil companies, want these commitments in writing before giving away so much.
Under the current structure, Alaska's oil industry -- dominated by Exxon Mobil Corp., BP and ConocoPhillips -- makes a combined annual profit of about $4.8 billion off of Alaska's reserves when oil is priced at $110 a barrel. When it's $120, that total is more than $5 billion.
The state's take is roughly double that.
2011年7月20日星期三
Abortion a Grit election distraction
The hypocrisy of the Liberals' attempt to turn abortion into a campaign issue is shameful--but understandable.
In the wake of the disastrous HST, their ecofee mess and their horrendous eHealth boondoggle, the Liberals know they can't run on a record of good government. Because they don't have one.
What's left is the tried and true Grit strategy of implying the Tories have a hidden agenda.
Their latest hideous attempt to smear PC Leader Tim Hudak is not only the depths of political cynicism, it reeks of a government so desperate to divert attention from its record, it'll scrape their shoes for whatever muck they can find.
Fair enough, Hudak flubbed his answer on Monday, when he was asked if he'd signed a petition calling for an end to abortion funding.
"I may have signed a petition from my riding in that respect, but listen, let me be clear, we are not re-opening this debate," he said.
Abortion is a personal issue that individuals view through their own moral, ethical and religious prisms. And, yes, it's possible for a political leader to hold the personal view abortion is wrong while publicly supporting his party's policy that abortion should be funded.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has always done so.
And while Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday he thinks voters are looking for "clarity," on abortion, he's been less than clear himself over the years. McGuinty answered a 1995 Campaign Life Coalition questionnaire saying life begins at conception. Surely if one believes that, it logically follows one believes terminating a pregnancy is killing a life.
McGuinty's father was pro-life and the premier, a Catholic whose wife teaches in the Catholic school system and whose children attended Catholic schools, can hardly be totally averse to the Catholic church's teaching on abortion.
This week, though, he was prodding Hudak over the petition.
"I think as aspiring premiers, all the party leaders owe clarity to voters, on that issue in particular," he told reporters.
What's revolting is the Liberals' deliberate attempt to take what is an emotional personal issue and turn it into a political football.
Heck, some Liberal MPPs are pro-life and support the de-funding of abortions--and certainly I respect that view.
As someone who gave birth to a very premature baby, who saw tiny babies struggling for life, I know life doesn't begin after 40 weeks of gestation. But I also remember a time when women's lives could be destroyed by unwanted pregnancies, or their health put at risk by botched backstreet abortions.
There's no black and white on this issue. Some believe abortion is murder. Others say it can be justifiable homicide.
Either way, it predominantly affects only women and should concern only two people-- a woman and her doctor.
That's why it's appalling that the men in the Liberal party (Finance Minister Dwight Duncan also opined on it this week), who'll never have to decide on terminating a pregnancy, would casually use it as a wedge issue to win votes.
Last election was all about faith schools. The Liberals want to make this one about abortion.
It's a nasty, mean-spirited campaign tactic. But it works.
You want to talk hidden agenda? What about the HST? Soaring hydro bills?
Eco fees? Remember that debate last election? No you don't. Because the Grits didn't tell us about them. Guess with hidden agendas you have to have one to know one.
In the wake of the disastrous HST, their ecofee mess and their horrendous eHealth boondoggle, the Liberals know they can't run on a record of good government. Because they don't have one.
What's left is the tried and true Grit strategy of implying the Tories have a hidden agenda.
Their latest hideous attempt to smear PC Leader Tim Hudak is not only the depths of political cynicism, it reeks of a government so desperate to divert attention from its record, it'll scrape their shoes for whatever muck they can find.
Fair enough, Hudak flubbed his answer on Monday, when he was asked if he'd signed a petition calling for an end to abortion funding.
"I may have signed a petition from my riding in that respect, but listen, let me be clear, we are not re-opening this debate," he said.
Abortion is a personal issue that individuals view through their own moral, ethical and religious prisms. And, yes, it's possible for a political leader to hold the personal view abortion is wrong while publicly supporting his party's policy that abortion should be funded.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has always done so.
And while Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday he thinks voters are looking for "clarity," on abortion, he's been less than clear himself over the years. McGuinty answered a 1995 Campaign Life Coalition questionnaire saying life begins at conception. Surely if one believes that, it logically follows one believes terminating a pregnancy is killing a life.
McGuinty's father was pro-life and the premier, a Catholic whose wife teaches in the Catholic school system and whose children attended Catholic schools, can hardly be totally averse to the Catholic church's teaching on abortion.
This week, though, he was prodding Hudak over the petition.
"I think as aspiring premiers, all the party leaders owe clarity to voters, on that issue in particular," he told reporters.
What's revolting is the Liberals' deliberate attempt to take what is an emotional personal issue and turn it into a political football.
Heck, some Liberal MPPs are pro-life and support the de-funding of abortions--and certainly I respect that view.
As someone who gave birth to a very premature baby, who saw tiny babies struggling for life, I know life doesn't begin after 40 weeks of gestation. But I also remember a time when women's lives could be destroyed by unwanted pregnancies, or their health put at risk by botched backstreet abortions.
There's no black and white on this issue. Some believe abortion is murder. Others say it can be justifiable homicide.
Either way, it predominantly affects only women and should concern only two people-- a woman and her doctor.
That's why it's appalling that the men in the Liberal party (Finance Minister Dwight Duncan also opined on it this week), who'll never have to decide on terminating a pregnancy, would casually use it as a wedge issue to win votes.
Last election was all about faith schools. The Liberals want to make this one about abortion.
It's a nasty, mean-spirited campaign tactic. But it works.
You want to talk hidden agenda? What about the HST? Soaring hydro bills?
Eco fees? Remember that debate last election? No you don't. Because the Grits didn't tell us about them. Guess with hidden agendas you have to have one to know one.
2011年4月11日星期一
Men march to support sexual assault awareness
Walking in four-inch high heels is something even many women have an issue with, but 200 men took on the daunting task of walking a mile in women's shoes Saturday for the Lubbock Rape Crisis Center.
The LRCC planned Walk a Mile in Her Shoes to raise money for the support the center provides to sexual assault survivors in Lubbock and the surrounding counties.
“I hope this brings awareness that sexual assault occurs and it’s a very serious thing,” said Leslie Timmons, community educator and volunteer coordinator for LRCC. “Most of our assailants are males, so we really want to get guys involved in prevention of sexual assault.”
The event began at the Lubbock County Courthouse with a men’s march, followed by a women’s stiletto “dash for cash.” Saturday evening the LRCC hosted a dinner and an auction.
Liza Hooser, a senior social work and music major from Houston, serves as an on-call advocate at the LRCC. She said she enjoyed watching the march because of all the men who supported a cause with which she is very involved.
“You have guys that are repeaters who come every year, and they are pretty comfortable and have the strut down,” she said. “We try to help the (first-timers) out and tell them how to walk in heels.”
Men of all ages participated in the event to support the LRCC during the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Hooser said. The women’s event consisted of four heats of four women, with the winner receiving a $500 cash prize.
At the after party, the LRCC honored four Lubbock police officers — Bill Carter, Ross Hester, John Lofton and John Thomas Gomez — for their involvement with sexual assault prevention in the community.
Timmons said the LRCC honors men each year who have spoken out against rape.
“I always tell the victims your body is like the church, and it’s very sacred; nobody should be abusing your body in any means or forms,” said Bill Carter, a detective with the Lubbock Police Department.
Carter said he works in the crimes against persons unit and is a supporter of sexual assault prevention in Lubbock and on the Tech campus. He emphasizes that male students need to set the example for other students about how to treat women.
“It’s a big deal to be able to stand up and say no and know what’s right,” Hooser said.
The LRCC provides a 24-hour hotline to assist sexual assault survivors and their family and friends, assistance at hospital visits following a crisis, and free counseling. These services are available to Tech students as well as residents of Lubbock and the surrounding areas, Timmons said.
Last year the LRCC helped more than 300 survivors and plans to provide their services in the future with funds raised at the event on Saturday.
“(The LRCC) is important because we have to support the victims,” Carter said. “They need a support system through family, counselors, the police department and anybody that knows about the situation.”
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