I’m going to defend what Palin did here back in 2007 and 8.
Aside from dumping a huge surplus into Alaska’s coffers, ACES was a reasonable response to a deeply corrupt political culture, as was Palin’s stillborn attempt to build the pipeline through Canada. Both were victims of changing market conditions, especially in North Dakota. However, few people recall that petrol prices were well north of $120.00 a barrel in the Spring of 2008 when ACES passed. Now it needs adjusting down so Alaska can attract business back from the Dakotas.
It’s for Parnell to change the ACES structure to lower the tax to keep AK competitive with North Dakota and other shale states in the lower 48. The Bakken Formation is simply too productive for Alaska to keep the old structure that worked quite well through 2009. Indeed, had Palin remained Governor, she probably would have revisited ACES given the competitive pressures of the North Dakota oil and LNG industry.
ACES was in no way, shape or form a reasonable response. The empty shops prov that while Texas and North Dakota cannot get enough workers, housing, etc.
They are strangling their golden goose.