Alaskans have a right to vote on legislation gone wrong

To the editor:

Former Gov. Jay Hammond’s image popped up on TV last night, from a 2004 tape. He talked about defending our Alaska Permanent Fund and being wary of attempted oil tax giveaways that could put our permanent fund at risk.

Attempts to change the permanent fund and pass oil tax giveaways have failed in the past. But a potentially multi-billion-dollar tax giveaway passed this year without requiring any new oil production, jobs or projects. The governor has said he will ask for money from the Constitutional Budget Reserve or the Permanent Fund Reserve account to meet next year’s huge budget shortfalls from giving the tax break. Not good.

Fortunately, Alaskans have the Constitutional right to vote on legislation gone wrong. Petitions, now being gathered across the state, need 39,000 Alaskans to sign within the next 30 days to get the issue on the ballot so Alaskans can decide.

As we celebrate Colony Days in Palmer this weekend, it reminded me that the fight for statehood freed us from territorial colony status and allowed Alaskans to control and get benefit from our own natural resources. We cannot afford to let our hard-won legacy go. Sign the petition at Colony Days in Palmer this weekend and other public events this month. It is the only way we can make sure Alaskans have the right to vote on this issue.

Jim Sykes

Palmer