Dr. Margo Thorning

 
On Friday, October 26th, Dr. Margo Thorning spoke to a full house about how U.S. tax and energy policy is affecting Alaska’s economy. Her lecture included in-depth analysis and statistics related directly to Alaska’s industries and circumstances. Her lecture sparked so much discussion that many attendees stayed well past the scheduled end of her lecture.

One suggestion, in particular was that Alaska might try broadening it’s tax base, in lieu of relying on heavily taxing oil companies to supply state revenue. Dr. Thorning argued that this would allow the state to ease up on taxing oil companies, which would in turn encourage more investment in the state on the part of oil companies.

To hear more of Dr. Thorning’s suggestions and analyses, listen to the podcast of her lecture, which will be available for streaming or download on KSKA's website shortly.

KSKA Fundraising Drive!

AKWorld Board Members Pamela Orme, Anne Lovejoy, Robert Artwohl, and AKWorld Staff Lise Falskow, Kari Gardey, Alyssa Bish, and Meneka Thiru, and a student from the UAA club Volunteers Around the World volunteered to help with KSKA’s fundraising campaign by answering phone calls at APTI early (to the tune of 6 a.m.) Friday morning. With a little coffee and friendly competition to fuel us, we met our goal of donations with ease! Check out some photos from the day!

 

Chris Abani

“The point of the purposeful narrative, of the ethical narrative is to draw all of the courage, kindness, goodness, and hope from world and all the darkness and hate and pain and death into the open where we can all share it.”

On October 5th, Chris Abani spoke to an intimate group at the University of Alaska Anchorage about narrative and its connection to humanity, and thus human rights. He shared with us one of his essays, called the Writer and the Goat. The evening was more conversation than lecture, more dialogue than monologue; Abani interacted with the audience, before, during, and after the lecture, welcoming questions and comments, and sharing his own experiences off the cuff.

If you missed Chris Abani, his lecture is now available on the KSKA website as a podcast. 
http://www.alaskapublic.org/2012/10/15/stories-of-struggle-stories-of-hope-art-politics-and-human-rights/

U.S. Energy and Tax Policies: Implications for Alaska's Economy

Dr. Margo Thorning is an internationally recognized expert on tax, environmental, and competitiveness issues and has testified as an expert witness on capital formation and environmental issues before various U.S. congressional committees. Dr. Thorning is senior vice president and chief economist with the American Council for Capital Formation and director of research for its public policy think tank.

Dr. Thorning writes for numerous online and in print publications. Below is an excerpt from a piece she wrote for the National Journal:

“Without question, the U.S. needs to do everything it can to promote domestic energy, especially oil and gas, to help meet our future population demands. And don't forget that enhanced energy production means an enhanced job market. Energy-producing states including Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and Nebraska are seeing impressive income and job growth gains mostly attributed to the growing demands for their robust commodities, including oil and gas. Allowing the Keystone Pipeline would also enhance our energy supply and create more jobs. We should also allow companies export our robust supplies of natural gas.

The private sector is already making strides in new business models that accommodate changes in climate and weather patterns through "no regrets" solutions (or changes that would be undertaken in the normal course of business). Examples of this might include companies that are developing more drought-resistant seeds or hardening coastal infrastructure at risk from sea level rise.

To promote more energy production and more "no regrets" business solutions, we need a tax code that retains robust capital cost recovery. Tax provisions including accelerated and bonus depreciation, Last In First Out (LIFO) and Section 199, and provisions utilized by the oil and gas industry which are all on the table as potential eliminations as a trade-off for reductions in lowering corporate tax rates should be preserved.

Finally, we need reductions in regulatory and permitting barriers that are often factors hindering U.S. companies from making investments to improve or expand their facilities. For example, in addition to permits to meet federal regulations there are often additional state and local permit requirements, which add time and cost to a project getting underway. Environmental regulations should meet a cost/benefit test--those that have minimal environmental impact but place a chokehold on businesses should be eliminated.”

Clearly, Dr. Thorning’s expertise and recommendations concerning tax and energy policy is extremely relevant to Alaska’s own energy and development issues. To learn more from Dr. Thorning in person about how the U.S. government’s tax and energy policies will be affecting Alaska’s economy, attend our luncheon on Friday, September 21st, at noon in the Anchorage Hilton Hotel.

If you are interested in attending, we strongly suggest that you RSVP to us by Wednesday October 24th. Admission is $23 for members, $26 for non-members if paid in advance, and $26 for members, $30 for non-members if paid at the door. All students are free, as are UAA staff and faculty. To pay in advance, click here.

If you would like to pay at the door, you can still RSVP by sending us an email (info@alaskaworldaffairs.org) or by giving us a call (907-276-8038).