Why is governor courting Outside labor?

Frontiersman Editorial Board

Governor Frank Murkowski, on a recent trip to Florida, spoke to members of several trade unions. He urged the unions to join the fight to open ANWR to responsible exploration. The carrot -- high-paying, union jobs.

"Opening ANWR will produce a positive ripple across Alaska, and the nation," Murkowski said. "Every barrel of oil we produce in Alaska is one less that we must import from overseas."

The governor explained that it sometimes takes a long time before "one can recognize the benefits," but he assured those present that the fight will be won. It's unclear to whom Murkowski was referring when he made the recognition of benefits statement, and we're also left to wonder if he meant recognize or realize. If he actually meant recognize, we must assume he's speaking to those opposed to oil exploration in the refuge. He surely must feel that those who don't agree with him simply don't understand the situation surrounding ANWR oil production. It's the old argument, "I know I'm right, and since you disagree with me, you must be wrong."

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, however, we might assume the governor meant to say realize instead of recognize. In that case, he must have been speaking to those who agree with him about ANWR exploration and development. Indeed, given the cost and extent of exploration required, the massive task of developing an infrastructure to begin producing and moving oil, and the fluctuating nature of oil prices, it may take quite a long time before Alaska realizes the benefits of the project. With so many front-loaded expenses at a time when the state faces large potential budget deficits, it may be a very long time.

It is also interesting that the speech to labor happened in a distant state. It is significant that labor is being so openly courted to begin with, and it's also a bit telling that the speech occurred Outside. Can there be any doubt that many of the jobs created by oil production in ANWR will be awarded to people from other places? As in the past, many of those workers will come here as long as the jobs last, pay no income tax to Alaska, spend much of the money in their home states, and then leave when the work taps out. BP doesn't even give preference to Alaskan workers anymore. Yes, it does take a long time to recognize all the benefits. Let's just hope Alaska gets to realize its fair share of them when ANWR does begin producing oil.