A Citizen’s Guide

From the Senate:

Before the Senate Resources Committee voted on the bill this morning, Sen. Thomas Wagoner tried unsuccessfully to pass three amendments.

First, he tried to raise the tax rate to 25 percent. When that failed, he tried to raise it to 22.8 percent.

Gov. Sarah Palin wants the tax rate at 25 percent. It’s currently at 22.5 percent.

What’s up with that extra 0.3 percent?

Several Senators on the committee voted for the 22.8 percent tax rate during the Petroleum Production Tax debates last year, Wagoner said.

Wagoner also tried unsuccessfully to change the progressivity rate, the surcharge that lets the state tax a larger share of profits when the price of oil rises.

In a press release this afternoon, Wagoner called out some of his fellow committee members.

“It has become quite apparent that the Majority Coalition leadership has scripted a process on this legislation that is designed to scuttle the efforts of Gov. Palin,” Wagoner said.

Senate Minority Leader Gene Therriault, who is part of a caucus with Wagoner, also isn’t happy.

“This kind of backroom dealing in the past amongst some of the same individuals and the previous senate president is partially responsible for the cloud of suspicion that hangs over the current tax,” Therriault said.

From the House:

While the House Oil and Gas bill won’t increase the tax rate, it probably will increase the progressivity rate even higher than the proposed bill.