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Agia equation really can add up
Does 1+1=1?
Correction--A few weeks ago, in an undercurrent about a Harrison Ford sighting in Juneau, we identified Ken Leghorn as the founder of Alaska Discovery. That was wrong. Chuck Horner of Haines and Ward Hulbert were the founders of the iconic Alaska company way back in 1972. Bonnie and Hayden Kayden joined the Disco team a year later and several years later Ken joined the team. I've been reminded, and shouldn't have needed to have been, that the founders were an important driving force behind protections that have accrued to Admiralty Island, Russell Fjord and Chichagof Island. All the folks behind Alaska Discovery proved that there's a real economy in keeping things as they are.
Juneau celeb--Okay, we all have our Harrison Ford/Juneau story from last week but my favorite is the Sharon Gaiptman caper on the wharf. Sharon and some Alaska Discovery alums were sitting in the sun (last time it was out in Juneau, remember, July 2) trying to sneak peeks of Harrison Ford, actress Calista Flockhart and their luncheon companion Ken Leghorn--founder of Alaska Discovery, Alaska wilderness guide non pareil and Juneau fav. Those three were in that little room at Doc Waters. Ford and Leghorn walked out and Ford, a pilot, checked out the sightseeing float planes. Sharon and friends didn't want to invade Ford's privacy with any of that declasse star-tripping stuff so, when Ford and Leghorn walked past them and back to lunch, Sharon simply stood up and loudly gushed: "Oh my gosh! Are you Ken Leghorn?"
Road resolution--No, not as in finally resolved but in the sense of a legislative resolution. A top staff person in the office of my colleague Sen. Lyman Hoffman gave me a copy of 1962 Senate Resolution No. 45 that his dad co-sponsored. The resolution resolved "that the governor is respectfully urged to consult with the appropriate officials of the federal Canadian Government, the premier of the Province of British Columbia, the high commissioner of the Yukon Territory, and enlist their support and that of the state and federal agencies for the programming and construction" of the Juneau-Taku-Atlin Highway. The resolution passed and was filed by Governor Bill Egan. Education by the numbers--The 2008 edition of the 50 State Comparisons shows Alaska ranks 17th in public school expenditure per pupil ($10,392), 13th in average salary for public school teachers ($54,658), 42nd in student teacher ratio, and 34th in average ACT scores.
Bright reader, bright idea--A regular reader noted the light bulb in the newsletter's "got a scoop?" box is an incandescent bulb. Given Juneau's power crunch, the reader suggested we swap it out for a compact fluorescent bulb. We did it. New energy--And it's not just that Snettisham is back on. The flavor of the town is a rich mix of culture, commerce and politics with Sealaska's three-day biennial Celebration, Word crafting 101--When the administration presented its data supporting the TransCanada gas line application, the applicant all of a sudden became TC-Alaska. That sounds much less foreign, much Word crafting 201--When we convened, legislators and staff received a formal invitation to a reception hosted by the governor. The cover of the invitation noted the reception was at the "Governor's House" and inside the invitation it noted the location was at "the Residence". In Juneau, of course, we call it the governor's mansion but not the house or residence--especially now that the residence is further north in the other valley. Kudos--While we are sensitive to where the governor lives, it is worth noting Juneau needs to thank her for nipping in the bud a study that could have led to relocating the Permanent Fund Corporation headquarters to Anchorage. The board of the fund considered a motion to look at relocation of about 30 employees from the shores of Gastineau Channel to the upper reaches of Cook Inlet. She let the board know that was not a good idea. |
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Issuing a license to the TransCanada project and tossing it into the
equation with the CP/BP project makes it more likely we get one pipe
because both are committed to moving forward even though we all know
they won't both be built. Having two projects to get one pipe means
neither project can afford to lollygag. Having two projects moving
forward means both will be less likely to try and leverage more from
unnecessary concessions from Alaska (a la the Murkowski stranded gas
proposal from two years ago) for a project that most now believe is
very viable economically.
Got a
scoop? Call or email your tips and suggestions to any of the
email addresses below:
Hairy moment--Because
of a conflict, I missed one of my regular meetings of Senate Finance
so the co-chair invited Sen. Gary Stevens, our Rules chair from
Kodiak, to the table to sit at my assigned spot--between co-Chair
Bert Stedman and Sen. Joe Thomas. Just on the other side of Joe is
Sen. Fred Dyson. As Gary took my seat he said he'd be "happy to
provide some hair" on that side of the table. Gary has the only pate
of our foursome that doesn't shine on top. 
Oh, baloney--During debate on
expanding a program that gives electrical assistance to communities
with diesel-fired generators, House Finance co-Chair Rep. Kevin
Meyer asked Rep. Mary Nelson from Western Alaska if she wanted to
talk about Fred Meyer in Anchorage. "Is that your dad?" Mary asked.
Meyer held for the laugh, then responded: "No, he's my uncle. My dad
is Oscar."
Bearly worried--As legislators broke for lunch after a morning of AGIA hearings in the Terry Miller legislative office building Thursday, they were warned to watch out as they walked back to the Capitol because a bear had been spotted in the neighborhood. Make up your own punch line.
Other AGIA agates--1) My colleague Rep. Bryce Edgmon from Dillingham amended his Friday schedule. The schedule read: "9:00-5:00 Round Table Discussion". His amended schedule read "round and Round Table Discussion". Saturday will be the second day of the round table presentations. 2) When the AGIA road show was in Barrow, Rep. Reggie Joule's exploits during the blanket toss cowed the TransCanada official who began his presentation later by noting "it was very difficult to follow" the jumping Joule. 3) One legislator asked a question of pipeline experts Friday by beginning with "one of many truths first enunciated in the TV sitcom 'Seinfeld'".
cruise ships and the special legislative session. The kick-off parade for Celebration was Thursday morning and if you missed that Grand Entrance Procession, there will be a downtown parade Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and the Grand Exit at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Lots of other events are taking place at the old armory, Alaskan Native Brotherhood Hall, Centennial Hall and other venues around town in between parades and processions.
more Alaska-centric, doesn't it?