From Sean Cockerham in Juneau –

The state House next week will take up two of the biggest issues of the legislative session: whether to lower oil taxes and what to do about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling requiring states to allow unlimited corporate and union election spending.

The House Resources Committee on Monday at 1 p.m. will hold the first hearing of the legislative session on a bill to lower oil taxes.

It will take up House Bill 308, sponsored by Anchorage Republican Rep. Craig Johnson, who is co-chair of the resources committee.

Johnson's bill could result in a billion dollars less in state revenue in a year when oil prices are as high as they are now. The bill is co-sponsored by the other chair of the resources committee, Mark Neuman, as well as Republican Reps. Jay Ramras. Charisse Millett, Kyle Johansen and Mike Hawker.

The House State Affairs Committee a week from today (Thursday) at 8 a.m. will hold a hearing on the Supreme Court ruling that effectively strikes down Alaska's ban on corporate and union election spending.

“It’s irrelevant whether we agree or disagree with the Court decision,” said State Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Lynn, an Anchorage Republican. “The court’s decision has created a political earthquake with repercussions that must be resolved before the upcoming 2010 elections. It’s probable that new legislation will be required to comply with the court’s decision.”

His hearing follows yesterday's hearing on the issue in the Senate Judiciary Committee.