Senate bill would benefit all Alaskans

The path proposed legislation takes from introduction to passage in Juneau is often long and filled with obstacles. It is no accident - and usually for the better - that far more bills are introduced each year than ever become law.

Even bills that propose laws clearly in the public interest sometimes fall victim to partisanship or petty personal squabbles. Still, it is difficult to not be enthusiastic about a just-introduced Senate bill that seeks to prevent oil giant BP from essentially billing the people of Alaska for repairs to a pipeline damaged through company negligence.

Sen. Tom Wagoner, a second-term Republican from Kenai, introduced his Senate Bill 80 on Friday. The bill is less remarkable for its contents - which most folks would likely qualify as being of the &#8220no-brainer” variety - than it is for the measure of support immediately shown it from a body not exactly known in recent years for having its finger on the pulse of public opinion in Alaska.

Still, Wagoner deserves the thanks of all Alaskans for putting this important bill into play in the Capitol. That fifteen of his 19 Senate colleagues signed on as co-sponsors should grease the skids for its easy passage.

Valley voters should take note, too, that all three of their senators - Lyda Green, Charlie Huggins and Gene Therriault - are among this worthy bill's co-sponsors.

The issue of tax credits for repairs became a concern last year when faulty pipelines led to a massive oil spill and, later, a shutdown of production. These events raised the question of how repairs would be handled under the new petroleum production tax passed by the Legislature during a special session in August.

This bill addresses what happened last year, as well as similar incidents that may arise in the future.

In his sponsor statement, Wagoner noted that his bill has the potential to save the state and its residents tens of millions of dollars. That's money that could otherwise be invested in sorely needed infrastructure or returned to cash-strapped communities in the form of municipal revenue sharing.

While the support of a huge majority of senators would appear to make this bill a slam-dunk for passage, it is important to remember it still has some distance to go before it becomes law. It must first pass through two Senate committees - Resources and Finance - before it comes to a vote on the Senate floor. Then the House has to consider it, too.

Each step of the process will give the bill's critics a chance to weaken or kill it. The oil industry, for example, is not likely to sit idly by and let this bill become law without a fight.

This may not be the most important legislation considered in Juneau this year, but it is hardly insignificant. We encourage lawmakers, then, to stand up to the pressure and remember that all Alaskans stand to gain from SB 80's swift and complete passage.