Parnell talks to reporters three months into office

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: October 29, 2009 - 5:35 pm

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From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage –

Gov. Sean Parnell met with the press today in a wide ranging discussion in his downtown Anchorage office. Here are some excerpts.

On Sarah Palin:

I think I have a calmer existence here than Gov. Palin experienced. Being able to speak with two, four, six, eight, ten, 13 of you instead of having a crush of national reporters. It’s easier in that sense for me to actually get to the issues before the state... She doesn’t call and offer advice. We have communicated a number of times on just personal issues, just greetings. We became personally acquainted with each other and just inquire about our families and the like.

On whether the state might pursue its own prosecution in the corruption scandal:

You know, I've left that in the attorney general's hands, that if he believes that violations of state law occurred than I expect that he will follow up. I have not had that conversation with him since (Bill Allen's sentencing) yesterday.

On oil taxes:

No oil company has made a proposal to me to change the oil taxes…with the companies having taken roughly $20 billion in profits in the last three years under the existing tax structure, they haven’t come forward with a proposal for change. And frankly my pitch has been stability of a tax regime is more important to job creation and investment by these companies over the long term.

On changing the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act:

I’m working within the AGIA framework. I’m committed to the AGIA framework. In the end, if something different is required to get a gasline, I’m open to listening. Until some companies together as a project are willing to say, here’s what’s needed and here’s why it’s justified, I’m not going to sit here and pit Alaskans against ourselves.

On Native dissatisfaction with state subsistence management:

I think it’s rooted in a lack of human dignity and respect that’s afforded one group to another. When a culture and a lifestyle isn't affirmed, whether it's mine or whether it's yours, then we feel diminished as a people. And we sometimes spring up and say as a people that, show me that dignity and respect by implementing a particular policy, when I don’t think that’s necessarily the only answer. And instead what I’ve said is I will listen to you, I will respect you as a person.

On Alaska's domestic violence and sexual assault epidemic:

The most visible (initiative) so far is to improve law enforcement in the rural areas, the VPSO commitment. It’s for 15 additional officers this coming year provided we can fill the funded vacancies we have now.

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