Oil and gas industry ‘left harmless’ in Dunleavy budget, Democrats say
James Brooks, February 24, 2019
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed cuts to state services have drawn the ire of many Alaskans, but something uncut is drawing attention from the two minority members of the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, and Sen. Donny Olson, D-Golovin, said last week that the governor is leaving the oil and gas industry untouched even as he pursues cuts to education, health care and other state services.
Our Take: This is a horrible headline, meant to make readers believe that companies like BP, Exxon and ConocoPhillips are getting money in the state budget when others are receiving drastic cuts Nothing could be further from the truth. As Kara Moriarty points out, these are payments required by law and they are going to smaller companies – like Furie, BlueCrest and Caelus. Headlamp is disappointed that the ADN intentionally chooses to mislead people. A more accurate headline would have been “Alaskan support companies remain unpaid while state attempts to pay what it owes.”
Oil Falls After Trump Warns Crude Prices ‘Too High’
Dan Molinski and David Hodari, The Wall Street Journal, February 25, 2019
- Oil prices fell from three-month highs Monday after President Trump warned crude-oil prices are getting too high and could hurt the global economy.
- West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. oil standard, fell 2% to $56.11 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. WTI ended Friday at $57.26 a barrel, its highest closing price since Nov. 12.
Alaska GOP Gov. Dunleavy disbands state climate response team
Nathaniel Herz, Alaska’s Energy Desk, February 23, 2019
Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has formally disbanded the task force formed by his predecessor to guide the state’s response to global warming. In an administrative order this week, Dunleavy revoked a separate, 2017 order by Bill Walker, an independent, establishing the task force and a state climate change strategy. Dunleavy’s order was not publicly announced. The governor’s office sent letters to task force members around 5 p.m. Friday informing them that their work for the task force “has ended.” The state’s website dedicated to the task force and strategy also appears to have been taken down.
Our Take: Sloppy reporting by Herz. Governor Walker’s task force was led by someone who lived in Seattle, who was paid a six- figure salary in addition to the state paying for all of her travel to and from the state. And Nat, the website dedicated to the task force was removed December 5th and reported by numerous media outlets. We expect better….oh wait, no we don’t.