A Citizen’s Guide

State lawmakers have been working seven days a week on Gov. Sarah Palin’s oil tax proposal, ACES. The bill has made it through two committees and has four to go, with the 30-day session halfway done. Here are some of the highlights and a few related events.

Oct. 18 (Day 1)

• Consultants Pedro van Meurs and Daniel Johnston, both involved in the tax debate last year, testify before Legislative Budget and Audit

• Lawmakers gavel in; some like Palin’s plan, some want a different tax structure, and some would rather stay home

Oct. 19 (Day 2)

• Senate Resources and House Oil and Gas committees start hearings on ACES, taking testimony from oil producers, the administration, and the public

Oct. 22 (Day 5)

• Former Rep. Vic Kohring goes on trial for corruption charges relating to last year’s oil tax debate

Oct. 25 (Day

• BP agrees to a $20 million criminal settlement for the Prudhoe Bay oil spill last March

• Alberta, Canada, significantly increases its royalties on oil

Oct. 27 (Day 10)

• Senate Resources moves a pared-down version of ACES that removes elements dealing with the tax rate; the bill moves to the Senate Judiciary committee

Oct. 28 (Day 11)

• House Oil and Gas moves a version of ACES with a tax rate that starts out lower but increases faster than under Palin’s plan; the bill moves to the House Resources committee

Oct. 31 (Day 14)

• Alaska oil hits $93.23, a record high

Nov. 1 (Day 15)

• Kohring is convicted on three of the four charges against him