[Dr. Sivana]

There are good reasons for an oil-rich state to tax oil production, but a fiscal conservative would usually use any tax increase to reduce taxes elsewhere.

Those $1,200 tax rebate checks constitute a pretty serious (though one time) tax cut. Severance taxes are more like user fees. The oil companies are taking a resource out of ground that they don't own . . . fine. It is not unreasonable to get a fair value for it.

[waverna]

Those $1,200 tax rebate checks constitute a pretty serious (though one time) tax cut

By taking lease revenue from the oil companies and giving it to the citizens, its not a tax cut. Its a wealth transfer. The citizens of Alaska have given up private property rights for $1200 by allowing the government to own the land and sell those leases instead of private citizens.

[redhead]

The best tax break she could give us is the one we already have: No State personal income tax.