A Citizen’s Guide

To the editor:

Allowing the public to vote on the proposed gas line deal instead of the normal legislative process is as bad a deal as the deal itself.

We put our trust in the Legislature to study the issues, especially the fine print, and make the best decisions that affect our state. Murkowski tried to expedite the fact-finding process by borrowing a page from Bush’s playbook. Does anyone remember Iraq? Weapons of mass destruction? Imminent threat? Bush didn’t allow Congress time to study the validity of the intelligence and now we are paying the price. We can’t afford this kind of government. Nice try Frank.

The public will not do the legwork that it takes to thoroughly understand the issues. The oil giants understand this and are already pumping millions of dollars into scare tactic advertisements that catch the attention of the voters. It’s obvious that the legislative body is looking out for the best interest of our state. All they wanted was time to look at this contract and they were ridiculed for that.

The oil companies stand to make an enormous amount of money over and beyond the ridiculous profits now being realized. They will continue to try to scare the public by twisting reality and making us believe that these inflated fuel prices are not going to remain. That they are taking an enormous risk without the giveaway incentives that Frank allowed in his personal agreement with them. Our legislators should be congratulated for not buying into Frank’s behind the scenes package and for exposing the true nature of this slippery deal.

Our energy reserves are our ace in the hole. Hammering out a fair deal for both the state and the oil companies is necessary. Exactly what that entails is what the negotiation process is all about.

Our next governor will be better qualified and certainly more willing to work with the Legislature. Anyone can get this gas deal done but as long as this governor is in office it will not get done right. Let our legislators do the job we sent them to Juneau to do.

Michael Quinn

Fairbanks