(AK) Native corporations join forces to oppose oil tax referendum

http://www.adn.com/2014/05/28/3491089/native-corporations-join-forces.html?sp=/99/171/



David Marquez, Chief Operating Officer of NANA Development Corp., speaks at the announcement that six regional Native corporations plan to spend $500,000 to defeat the referendum in August that would repeal the Senate Bill 21 oil tax cuts. The announcement was made at a news conference at Arctic Slope Regional Corp.'s fabrication shop in South Anchorage.

Native corporations join forces to oppose oil tax referendum
By RICHARD MAUER
May 28, 2014 Updated 4 hours ago

Six regional Native corporations, some with substantial oil-field business, announced Wednesday they have formed a coalition to oppose the oil-tax cut referendum in August with at least $500,000 in campaign spending.

The new group, "No One on One," joins two other business-backed organizations in opposing the referendum, including one in which Alaska's three big oil producers have already provided millions of dollars.

Supporters of the referendum say they expect to be outspent many times over but believe voters will still vote to repeal Senate Bill 21, passed by the Legislature in 2013.

The Native corporation coalition announcement was staged in the cavernous South Anchorage fabrication shop owned by a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corp., one of the coalition members. Workers in white hard hats stood as a backdrop to the podium, and dozens more supporters, including House Speaker Mike Chenault, were in the audience.