(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Thursday, Alaska Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell certified 13SB21, the referendum application to reject Senate Bill 21 on Alaska’s oil taxes passed during the legislative session that adjourned April 14, 2013.

The lieutenant governor signed the certificate after consultation with the Division of Elections, which determined the application included a sufficient number of sponsor signatures, and the Department of Law, which concluded that the proposed bill is in the proper form under Article XI of the Alaska Constitution and AS 15.45.

The lieutenant governor notified the primary sponsors of the petition, Victor Fischer, Bella Hammond, and N. Jim Whitaker, Jr.

The referendum petition was filed last week by Vote Yes – Repeal the Giveaway, which is a grassroots Alaskan group formed to challenge the controversial new law known as Senate Bill 21.  The group said in a prepared statement, the certification by Lt. Governor Treadwell now allows a signature drive to move forward to put this oil wealth giveaway to a vote of the people in 2014.  The group is now waiting for petition booklets from the state.

Quoting a news release from the group, "SB 21 dramatically lowers Alaskans’ oil income, transferring billions of dollars from resource owners to the multinational oil companies.  It eliminates incentives for oil exploration and does not include requirements for new production."

“Since statehood we have been fighting for control of our resources and our destiny,” said Vic Fischer, a framer of Alaska’s Constitution and a prime sponsor of SB 21.  “By repealing SB 21, we will protect the constitutional guarantee that Alaskans derive the ‘maximum benefit’ from resource production.”

“Hundreds of Alaskans have signed up to volunteer, and we look forward to receiving petition booklets so that we may move forward with collecting the signatures necessary to put repeal of SB 21 on the ballot,” said Pat Lavin.

The legislators passed Governor Parnell’s bill, Senate Bill 21, to simplify Alaska’s oil tax structure and to provide the right balance for Alaskans at both high and low oil prices. Senate Bill 21 significantly improves Alaska’s competitive standing said the Governor in a news release highlighting the session.

“This session, we took major steps to grow our economy and create opportunities for Alaskans,” Governor Parnell said. “Senate Bill 21 sets the course for an oil production comeback on the North Slope. I thank the many Alaskans from across the state who made their voices heard and testified on the importance of oil tax reform and what it means to their future.”

The Division of Elections will prepare petition booklets for the sponsors to gather signatures from around the state. The petition must be signed by qualified voters at least equal in number to 10 percent of those who voted in the last General Election, who are resident in at least three-fourths of the House districts of the State, and who are equal in number to at least seven percent of those who voted in the preceding General Election in that House district.  Based on the 2012 General Election, sponsors will need to gather at least 30,169 signatures from qualified voters.

The referendum petition must be filed on or before July 13, 2013.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

On the Web:

Alaskans who want to help repeal the giveaway
http://www.facebook.com/VoteYesRepealTheGiveaway

Source of News: 

Office of Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell
www.ltgov.state.ak.us

Vote Yes – Repeal the Giveaway
www.facebook.com/VoteYesRepealTheGiveaway

Office of the Governor
www.gov.state.ak.us

 

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Ketchikan, Alaska

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