Palin's Bribe To Alaskans (The Rest Of Us Foot The Bill)

"sarah palin has got this unusual way of running alaska--she bribes her residents. on friday every alaskan is going to get a check for $3,200 and where that money comes from is that she taxes the oil companies so much that the oil companies pass that on to us in the lower 48. not a barrel of oil leaves alaska without exorbitant taxes being placed upon it. then she takes those tax dollars and bribes alaskans to like her--essentially. we pay the price at the pump.

"if you believe what conservative talk show hosts have been telling you--which is that you cannot tax business because they will just pass that tax onto you (so you're really taxing yourself)-- this is their theory; this is what they always say. and of course mccain is out there saying obama is the one who wants to raise taxes on businesses but sarah palin IS the one who raised taxes on business and that tax, on crude, is gouging you at the pump. but it's benefiting the people of her state (which comes first and the lower 48 can bite it!)

--randi rhodes 9/10/08

I am sure that what you say does not feel like the Alaska I lived in. She did not give this fund to the people. It was a payback back in the 70's when I lived in Ak. My take was that if the oil companies make a profit so much has to be re-turned to each person and the state as the oil co. were using up the states natural goods.

... the money comes from the oil companies based on how much oil/gas is sold.

Not based on the sale of the governor.

The PFD comes from a portion of the royalties the oil companies pay the state each year that has been set aside and invested in a fund owned by the people, which invests the money in different things just like a mutual fund. The return each year is averaged over the fund returns over three (or 5?) years.
SOmetimes the PFD is low, other years its high like this year because of the average returns on the investments over those years.
The 1200 extra is a one time thing to help offset the cost of energy (though you can spend it on anything you want) We still are paying well over 4.00 for gas, and in the villages they pay over 8.00 to heat their homes.

The rest of it as a wellfare state is true in a way because we get lots of fed dollars, and the repugs beat their chests that we are such independant folk. On the other hand, being a new state we dont have the infrastructure (like roads, rails, bridges, electricty, villages with no sewers, or schools. Its really a third world country when not in fairbanks or anchorage heh)
tib

Some people are like Republicans and just can't stand the truth

The dividend comes from the permanent fund...from investment income, and not off of the backs of other Americans.

Our gas on the Kenai Peninsula has been almost $5 per gallon all summer and our grocery prices and building supplies certainly reflect these prices as well. The extra $1200 this year is to help offset these prices, and mainly because the state has been raking it the $$ because of the cost of oil.

What is strange is how confused the 'Conservatives' are up here. They took the 'tax rebate' from the federal government (which is more money borrowed from China) but complain about the energy rebate, which comes from revenue generated and should belong to the people of Alaska. Why do they want the government to keep their money? Then they support pork barrel spending, the more the better!! ... and continue to elect Ted Stevens and Don Young despite their obvious corruption because of the money they bring in. All the 'conservative' talk shows bash Sarah Palin because she is not one of the good ole boys.

places cost over 2100 a month to heat a house.

Doesn't some of it come from oil?

It was a LONG time ago, but for a very short time I worked for a bank that handled the State of Alaska's daily income, and I remember processing payments from the Aleyeska Pipeline, big crab operations, and big fish processing operations (back before some fishing seasosns were as short as a few hours).

shared? how come we have to be ass whipped because our leaders 25 years ago had foresight and did a good thing? Jeez, I wish all states had a few good leaders in them who cared about people.

So, I don't think which state I'm in is a mystery.

Does my state have any resources that could be shared--don't make me laugh.

But Sarah could have easily wasted the extra billions on government or given a small portion to the people...so you can see why Alaskans are happy with the decision.

The thing is, the oil companies are working with the oil speculators(maybe the oil companies hire their own speculators) to rip off Americans through the Enron Loophole....that is the real problem. It is absurd to say that Alaska getting a fair deal on the oil proceeds is responsible for high gas prices. The oil companies were planning on ripping off America no matter what. This might be their last chance for a while and it is such a great opportunity to loot the country.

palin gave everyone(including children) an extra $1,200.00 dollars to offset the high cost of fuel. So, she did give everyone a "bribe".

in the media.
I want to hear McCain explain this to the American people.

Usually the Republicans buy their votes by giving government contracts to their buddies in big business, but here Palin had her hand in the till and was buy votes directly.

I just wonder why the MSM doesn't run this story on the front page? -oh I forgot, the MSM in in the tank for McCain.-

read up and then chat. right now, you are wrong. I knew Hugh Hays who was on the board and helped develop it with Jay Hammond and the others. Jeez. Know what you are talking about.

There is an old saying where I come from, "Sometimes it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt" You are saying things that are blatantly false. Educate yourself before making such ridiculous statements.

or read it again--since you missed the fact that it was a quote. maybe you missed something else.

let me guess--you live there?

knows what they're talking about. It its randi, she's wrong. I love her to pieces but she's wrong.

so that is really not the case? palin raises taxes on oil companies and you don't get more money in that yearly check? and the oil companies are glad to pay the higher taxes and NOT pass that loss onto the rest of us?

it's interesting that i've noticed only posters from alaska defending this.

"Palin Raised Taxes On Oil Company Profits To Give Citizens ‘An Equitable Share’ — Will McCain?"
http://thinkprogress.org/wonkroom/2008/08/30/palin-raised-taxes-on-oil-company-profits-to-give-citizens-an-equitable-share-will-mccain/


"Alaska collected an estimated $6 billion from the new tax during the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. That helped push the state's total oil revenue — from new and existing taxes, as well as royalties — to more than $10 billion, double the amount received last year.

"While many other states are confronting big budget deficits because of the troubled economy, Alaska officials are in the enviable position of exploring new ways to spend the state's multibillion-dollar budget surplus.

"Some of that new cash will end up in the wallets of Alaska's residents.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html

Tax on oil is not the reason that prices have gone through the roof.
Oil speculators in cohorts with their friends in the oil industry are using the Enron Loophole to rip us all off. Maybe she should go after the real root of the problem...

now she's after palin--and this is, apparently, part of the palin story on the crap she does

ago.

Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK), saw nothing dangerous about raising taxes on the profits of oil companies.

Last year, she “raised taxes on oil profits by $1.5 billion a year” in Alaska, “a step that has generated stunning new wealth for the state as oil prices soared.”

In a statement released after signing the tax bill, she said the tax increase would give Alaskans “an equitable share for our resources”:

By receiving an equitable share for our resources, we are now in a position to demand more accountability and seize opportunities to save for future generations.

The Seattle Times wrote earlier this month that the higher tax “helped push the state’s total oil revenue — from new and existing taxes, as well as royalties — to more than $10 billion, double the amount received last year.”
http://thinkprogress.org/wonkroom/2008/08/30/palin-raised-taxes-on-oil-company-profits-to-give-citizens-an-equitable-share-will-mccain/

apparently the higher she taxes the oil companies, the more money you get. right?

from the price of oil which fluctuates.