THE PERMANENT FUND

"Protect it for the generations to come"

One Republican Opinion

Maurice Byers - January 25, 2004

My family and I are saddened by the latest scheme to raid the Alaska Permanent Fund.  The POMV is a bad idea and nothing more than smoke and mirrors.  Many of you were elected on a platform of protecting the PFD.  Regardless of “spin,” this is clearly a raid on our Permanent Fund and a renege on many of your campaign pledges.  Giving government more access to money is like giving liquor to a drunk.  This Republican is dead set against any action changing the status quo with regards to the PFD except to support SJR 19.   NOTE:  The voters overwhelmingly shot down the first attempt to raid the PFD and I must wonder why your administration persists in pushing this agenda?

You have made NO substantial cuts to state government spending.  Public sector salaries and benefits far surpass what many of us have in the private sector and ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS (That security alone warrants more reasonable pay scale in the public sector).  Just glancing at the Alaska State Directory in the phone book gives any reasonable person a good idea about the oversize state government we have. Bottom Line:  State government should be cut by at least one-third. 

The proposed natural gas pipeline should have its origin and terminus in ALASKA!  Running the pipeline through Canada would be a grave mistake.  The Canadian Government would see this as just another way to bilk America.  Take a look at all the bureaucratic nonsense they put us through at the border.  I read Business Week, The Economist, and the WSJ on a regular basis.  Hence, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind there will be a hefty market for Alaskan LNG in both the US and Asia.

 I do not support road building in the Tongass.  If it isn’t economical for logging to take place without government subsidized roads, then logging should not take place.

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