A Citizen’s Guide

Gov. Frank Murkowski isn’t giving up hope of passing a gas pipeline contract before his term ends in December.

According to Jim Clark, the governor’s chief of staff and chief pipeline negotiator, Murkowski hasn’t ruled out calling another special legislative session to work on the proposed contract despite the disapproval of House members and an ongoing federal investigation involving lawmakers.

“From our perspective, there’s every reason to move forward,” said Clark, who argued that time was not on the state’s side.

Murkowski said Wednesday that he would call lawmakers back to Juneau on Sept. 19 as long as House and Senate leaders thought the session would be productive.

House members were to be polled individually on their willingness to move forward. Senators, according to Clark, had made their demands clear through committee work done during the last special session–don’t call us back before significant changes to the proposed contract are made and the agreement forming the joint pipeline company, or LLC, is completed. Read the rest of this entry »

House Majority Leader John Coghill, R-North Pole, said Thursday he didn’t expect another special legislative session to work on the proposed natural gas pipeline contract.

“I don’t think there’s enough support at this point,” he said.

According to other Interior representatives, Thursday’s federal investigation of numerous lawmakers only lessens the chances.

Gov. Frank Murkowski said at a press conference Wednesday that he would call lawmakers back to Juneau on Sept. 19 as long as House and Senate leaders thought the session would be productive. Read the rest of this entry »