Alaska Legislature passes $1,200 energy rebate
Originally published Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 9:06 p.m.
Updated Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 11:25 p.m.
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Stumble It!By STEVE QUINN
Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU — Most Alaskans are $1,200 richer.
That’s because the Alaska Legislature backed Gov. Sarah Palin’s call for an energy assistance package in a special session that ended just hours before its 11:59 p.m. Thursday deadline.
An energy bill and an accompanying appropriations bill are worth close to $1 billion. Both await Palin’s signature. The Legislature also supported Palin’s suspension of the state’s 8 cent a gallon fuel sales tax.
In a statement, Palin praised lawmakers for 60 days of special session work that also featured the approval of a license to a Canadian company to pursue a natural gas pipeline project.
“Legislators provided Alaskans with a strong and diverse package of short-term energy assistance,” Palin said. “We can build on this good work as we bring forward a much more comprehensive energy package for consideration in the next regular session.
“It is also important to remember that all Alaskans have a tool already available to them to help with high energy costs: conservation,” Palin said. “As Alaskans prepare for winter, there are some immediate steps that we can take to help reduce energy costs and lower the burden of these high prices.”
The energy assistance bill also enables rural villages to borrow as much as $750,000 — a $250,000 increase — for bulk fuel purchases. That required a $20 million appropriation.
And lawmakers agreed on a one-year enhancement of a state-funded program that assists rural Alaskans with utility costs that far outstrip the national averages.
On Wednesday, the House gave preliminary approval to a bill that lacked the utility assistance, but on Thursday added it to the bill and passed the package 33-2; the Senate concurred in an 11-5 vote.
The utility assistance program is called Power Cost Equalization, or PCE, and it helps subsidize those paying between 12 cents per kilowatt hour and $1 per kwh. The $1 cap will replace the current ceiling of 52.5 cents per kwh.
What this means is, if a resident pays 70 cents per kwh, the state will cover 95 percent of the difference between the 12-cent base rate and the 70-cent cost.
House Finance Committee Co-Chairman Rep. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, said the energy bill is “something that will keep the lights on in rural Alaska.”
Meyer and others who supported the bill said the one-year measure is generous to residents statewide, plus offers supplemental help to those whose situations were becoming dire.
“This is kind of the missing piece,” Meyer said of the utility assistance that accounted for $23 million of the bill. “That is still a significant dollar amount, but we’re helping people who need it the most.”
Meyer said that another strength of the bill is that it added money to an existing program without creating additional bureaucracy that could bog down the plan.
Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, said she was concerned that the energy package lacked enough long-term planning, but said lawmakers will begin working on those issues between now and when they return in January.
“Truly addressing energy relief requires long-term solutions,” McGuire said. “My concern is we ended up with a program that gets enshrined and is not sustainable in the long term.”
Many lawmakers were torn about voting either way.
Some didn’t like the energy package for various reasons, but they also didn’t want to return home having to explain why the state’s coffers are filling up with billions from oil revenue, but there was no help for the state’s residents.
“It was not the package I would have constructed,” said Senate Majority Leader Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage. “But I wasn’t willing to go home empty-handed. So this gives us time to plan for the longer term.”
The bill’s most high-profile component is the $1,200 payout to most Alaskans.
Lawmakers knew residents had come to expect that sum would be added to the annual Permanent Fund Dividend, the check from oil revenues that most Alaskans receive just for living in the state.
What could the extra money mean?
In the Southeast town of Haines, with its 130-vessel fishing fleet, fishermen might take a few more trips out to sea. Fleets worldwide have been beset by fuel costs. Many captains have tied up their boats because it was no longer worth fishing.
In the Yukon region’s Chalkyitsik, $1,200 can buy up to six cords of wood, enough to heat homes into spring, said Rep. Woodie Salmon, D-Beaver. Salmon said the extra money could go to even the smaller items such as gassing up a chain saw to cut down wood.
In Wasilla, about 50 miles north of downtown Anchorage, the $1,200 could be just what residents need to ease the costs of commuting 500 miles a week. Rep. Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, said residents there were paying about $4.60 a gallon for gas, about 75 cents above the national average.
Community Discussion
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Well that will pay for the fuel I just got.
After all, the Governor had it right in the first place.
THANK YOU, Alaska Legislature. I know a number of Alaskans that would have had an extremely difficult time making it through this winter without the help.
It is about time!!! Wonder when we will see it? Will it just be 1200 per household or 1200 per person?
Coupled with the record PFD we will each receive, this will certainly help, especially families where expenses are shared. I am anxious to see how the Interior delegation voted, given how hard hit we are by the cost of heating oil.
on adn.com says it will be added to the PFD's this year and they will be sent out early, leading you to believe per person. Also leading me to believe that they changed the qualifications and unless you qualify for the dividend you will not qualify. Can someone out there verify that? Sucks for my family. This is winter #2 here.....sigh.
How did each representative and senator vote? Where's the roll call?
There is a lot of fat in the bill that will help more than it will hurt. It is $1200 per resident. The bill is linked in the Article. Thanks to the people for speaking up and writing their Legislators and the Governor for quick action or none of this would have happened. We still have to deal with long term surplus questions and long term energy solutions. I am currious as to what the Governor's team has developed for the regular session.
reading the bill itself, quick math of 744M and some change divided by 1200 per equals 620K and change. Seems like it will be 1200 per individual, not 1200 per household.
PFD recipients, I assume. good on the state for not letting this go by the wayside when we have residents in peril.
Pixy, don't loose hope, you may still qualify for the rebate or assistance from the other programs if not the dividend. There was early talk about a seperate application process and I think that will be addressed in the administration of the rebate program.
Glad to see it work out this way; all Alaskans will appreciate the help over this upcoming winter. Thank you Sarah Palin for leading the way; you have always done what is right; why so many Alaskans support you.
I would have hated to see the anger at the polls this fall. Thanks again to the legislators for following the Governor's lead and getting this passed.
ONAPA, thanks... it was a tough one last winter, I can only imagine how tight things might be this winter.
If Mike Kelly had his way we would have nothing. He voted against every thing in the energy rebate debates. He called the programs morphine, the more you give the more "they" want. I dont think he would even deny it, he is so proud of wanting every one to be swinging in the wind.
I hope you all enjoy losing your spirit of self-reliance, being on welfare, and nodding off on smack per Rep. Kelly. Sold our souls for a relative pittance according to our local John Galt who rode the free enterprise stallion for decades at Golden Valley. Eight-to-fiver in a suit running an outfit with no competition. Real Alaskan who is terribly confused about rebates being welfare.
Thanks Sarah!
Thanks to the DNM also for such a good forum for the residents to express their opinions on our government and community issues. We don't always agree, but word is getting out and this is a good place to bring ideas together and get a broad perspective on the effects of legislation. I don't doubt that our Legislators have read a few of the comments and may eventually find this a good place to get honest opinions from their constituents, with a grain of salt from the phone calls and e-mails they receive of course.
This extra will be nice for sure for all of us. But my problem with this is I am landlord, each of my tenants will receive this extra money, but explane to me how that helps me pay my fuel bill?? When heat is included in their rent. Do I raise rent to help pull in some of this extra? No, can't do that, so my tenants will be laughing all the way to the bank with their windfall, and I will still be stuck with huge heating fuel bills.....
You know, I can think of a few uses for the money we'll be getting.
I can think of a great deal more uses for the $750M that this program is going to cost. Some things that would negate the need to ever even consider a program like this in the first place.
The Legislature has just given us $1,200 worth of fish. We should be good for this winter. If only they'd have given us some lessons and a flyrod, we'd be set for all the winters to come.
I feel VERY self reliant ! This is not welfare OR a hand out! We work hard up here in the frozen North to preserve a way of life found almost nowhere else. If my family is going to freeze to death to make a point about how cold it can get here or how tough we are up here, I want some of the finances my husband fought so hard to bring forth and worked so hard for many years to back in my pocket! Well, actually in the fuel companies pocket.
We are going to build an outside heater for our house w/ our dividends and use the fuel $$ for some fuel until we are done!There will be no BIG SCREEN TV, car pymt., new shoes, or other needed items. ONLY FUEL!
No it's not a hand out or welfare. It's money the state has, that is available to us and my family is staying warm this winter!
Thank you Sarah!
Figures you'll be the first to thank her. Hasn't gotten to her yet...Are you going to feel that when prices go 3 times they are now? No you won't I wouldn't expect you to. The temporary solution passed....Why do you think this is a permanent solution? It's was never written into law. It's has a one year life expectedly. Humm what can happen in one year.....(Take the pin outta her hair and put it to paper! NEW TRADEMAKE)
ONAPA-- Thank you for so eloquently saying "thank you" to DNM. They do provide an excellent forum for the public to voice their concerns and opinions.
I truly hope that a few of our leaders read our thoughts and concerns. Not just in Fairbanks, but Bethel, Anatuvik Pass, Nome, Anchorage,.....
The people speak.
Does anyone hear?
Evidently YES!
A heart felt Thank You.
THANK YOU SARAH !!! ; )
$$$Can you say cha ching!!!$$$ Now for all those in the state senate who only wanted to give us $500 a piece. Let's not forget when comes time cast your vote in November. For those that voted for the $1200, thank you!!!
Yes Aklady you raise the rent, most businesses pass on the increased costs. If you cant do that then you have a poorley run business.
AKLADY, if you can not raise the rent yet, IE lease, talk to an attorney about a fuel surcharge, everyone else is doing it, in the future I would suggest you make them responsible for the fuel costs or put a cap on how much you will pay per gallon, sending them the bill for the rest....
This is welfare plain and simple. I do hope those that continue to drive their huge vehicles and live in their very large homes enjoy the handout. I side with Mike Kelly we will not learn to manage our lifestyles if the government continues to subsidize us.
Pat
I give you a hand full of money in that hand fill the other two of coal which is more valuable? (Take the pin outta her hair and put it to paper! NEW TRADEMAKE)
Night Shade I will take the coal as that is how I will heat my house in the future. I will never again depend on fuel oil as my main source of heat. And any that do deserve what they get.
Pat
Nightshade,
This temporary solution is step one. The Governor's team is studying proposals from across the state for step two. One thing that she shouldn't forget to study is "Limiting Government by empowering people". The legislature added a lot of additional spending to the current energy programs in this bill. I doubt we will see the legislature take up any more action until January. Then we will see what the state does when they have 20 billion dollars to spend. It would be nice to see some long term energy projects start construction next spring and not just a bunch of studies and planning, but actual construction. Also, if they get our in-state energy plan right, the state will have plenty of cheap energy to export forever. Thus leading to a perpetual surplus, meaning we will be paying even more federal income taxes... and tigers and bears, oh my!
We are installing a wood stove as we speak in my household. this is such a big relief.. Felt like a weight was off my shoulders this winter. lets hope we have the same hope next winter.. and beyond.
This is a temporary savior. Thanks. THe only issue I have with this article is the examples given at the end of the story. Haines, Chalkyitsik, and Wasilla. WASILLA???? Come on!!!
Reflections, here I come!
Thankyou, I consider this a Blessing from the Lords hand to those of us that will intend on using it in the proper way and that is to heat our homes regardless of the heat source wood or fuel or what have you...
I just encourage those who are thinking of what else they can use it on pleasures instead of keeping their families warm this winter. Think of your wife and kids please...
God bless
Snowwolf
onpana, what are you talking about? are you saying nothing works?I'll go to your house and make it work what are you saying? Welcome to Native American Lifestyles where nothing works right as I might say. You seem intelligent like well mediator. But you seems to be missing the Native American Friend in your life I'm Most defff isn't it. I try to take the most neutral view. But I see the need for everyone to see what we care about it's not as diabolic as you'd think. In a simple phrase is called neutrality.
I see now everyone scurd.
totally scurd of oil.
all that fricken land and skurd of oil.
so skurd oil you can't tunk strait.
in fact happy when you think they be helping you all out right?
Do you think I'd help you you if you mind wasn't in the right place? See the problem? Your just one hearing away from having Sarah doing a pile dance before the democratic comity. But the here and now 1200 well should be fore everyone I can't wait to dvd this dance!
Ok, anyone, I'm sure this posting of mine will be deleted before long, but . . .
Nightshade, will you not even consider educating yourself in how to better communicate in the English language?
Your postings are painful for me to read. Mostly because we seem to be on opposite philosophical sides of any given issue.
But damn, grammar has got to count for something, if nothing less than a reader's ability to understand exactly what you've got to say.
Nightshade, from your many postings over time, apparently you feel like you've got a lot you need to express. Please, *please* make it easier on those of us who would try to understand you. Seems to me like you're passionate about the views you hold. I guarantee you that if you brush up on your writing skills, a heck of lot more people would understand where the heck you're coming from.
It'll be worth your effort. Guaranteed.
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Allan I care what you think... what can we do to help you? What can I tell them to t9o change everything in everywhere? tell me I'll make sure they most def. see it.
Allan you think I'm A board member? But I never said I was I'm Not that i'm a share holder.
You have no leverage. Ok because you have nothing t gain or lose in any anything. But you priers do gain you a losing neutrality. See I can share this what We have is the land the gasline will be built on and the royalties that will be taken. Take the pin outta her hair and put it to paper! NEW TRADEMAKE) I have 100 share the lands ownership of any gas line built. From Validies!
It is like they are trying to speak to me......
Folks, we have four months to get a long term plan agreed on. Lets do the prudent thing and help our State figure out the right solutions. Meanwhile the surplus still rolls into the general fund at an average above $90 per barrel which is the price that put us in the position where we have money to transition from oil to other energy sources.
Petition your representatives to get their ideas for energy published in the paper so we can kick them around. If you have ideas send a letter to the editor. Opinions not voiced won't be considered. As for those that don't want the "welfare", please donate it to the local shelter of your chosing and write it off of your federal taxes. I would not want you to have to spend some of your welfare check to pay for the war or federal welfare programs that might help someone less fortunate that you.
In America the Government's purpose is spelled out in the preamble to the Constitution. Now that we have taken care of ourselves temporarily, it's our responsibility to ensure all future generations of Alaskans (our posterity) are taken care of equally well.
"...in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common DEFENSE, promote the general WELFARE, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
A reminder to all, especially our representatives that they take an oath, "...that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Alaska, and that I will faithfully discharge my duties as...to the best of my ability".
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pixyfae?
as hair petroleum maybe?
I was being sarcastic at the bickering back and forth....YAWN....
Nightshade is also ranting and babbling on ADN
wow such deletion for any second thought your almost great to bad I'm native that speaks better then you tho i'll droven mine where option matters not here one sides nm but adn thnks
I can already see the "REBATE SALE" signs from Compeau's and the rest.
Yes, but side two's babbling was well, just that a bunch of babbling garbish that said well....nothing
leave blank
just-me, seriously I understand your point, however I do not qualify for the PFD yet. This will be my second winter in North Pole. I pay for my house, taxes, electricty and fuel more than someone that does qualify for the PFD and lives in the lower 48. So,they really need to look at is as an Alaskan household or resident. I am a resident I just do not qualify for the PFD yet. I have been searching all evening and can not find whether or not I will qualify fot the resource rebate?
you'll bug for the change and the scrapes? But was it to much to ask for it all? (Take the pin outta her hair and put it to paper! NEW TRADEMAKE)
Why under this are you asking for almost nothining whine it all can be sent to you soon before winter. Why I just came up with it......i'm sorry.I was to late but I have no power to make it thro. I'll take that sorry Alaska it should be there! (Take the pin outta her hair and put it to paper! NEW TRADEMAKE)
I just caught up with the conversation. Wholy Female Bovine. Pixy I am still laughing, what movie is that line from?
Nightshade please slow down and spell it out for us. Someone has a share of Doyon and the Valdez gas line is planned to go on their land. The Governor needs to make a new deal for the state with who for what? Or are you trying to tell us that we should encourage the governor to sign the bill that just passed.
To explain my comment about the tigers and bears... the Government can't please everyone, but they came about as close as I have seen since I got here in 2001.
ONAPA< as discouraging as it may be that my family may not qualify, I do agree with you. I think it is a very good thing, but I will keep my fingers crossed. OH and BTW, it was "Finding Nemo", I have two yr old twin girls and watch it almost daily..LOL
I'm pleased. It's simple, straight forward, equal and fair. It was the only way this "crisis" would end without alienating many voters in an election year.
I'm surprised, that it wasn't more. We could afford more. But it was enough.
I'm expecting our leaders to now do more to invest in our future energy needs with the huge surplus that is accumulating.
I'm thankful. Not just for my family and me, but for all Alaskan who deserve their fair share of our oil wealth. We should be dancing in the streets with the windfall we are accumulating.
Sara deserves credit for proposing and cheerleading the proposal through a long and winding road.
I'm going to use my $1,200 to pay part of the oil bill. I just got my winter delivery.
just_me, got it now.... I am not but the husband would be HOH.
Please consider the possibility that some posters might be under the influence......
Henry's comment above is something to think about. I think they (Sarah, etc.) want to subdue us. Although, we are just leveling off to most other developed countries prices of fuel. Its time to figure out how to thrive with rising fuel prices. This check is a band aid, but one we need to give us all a little more time to figure out how to do it on our own.
I'm Beyoind saking asking doesn't help obliviously why ask of I can go before beyond and above you them real people doesn't matter? The problem is I'm lewded to you all everywhere I'm nothing just someone that care you don't know me but Doyon will. The Gasline will go thru what was once ours.Which won't be again. Is it fear? most might see it maybe. For helping themselves. But for how long? 10 yrs's 20's yrs? maybe when it becomes to expensive for you to fix? You ask me was it all worth it I ask was you grandmothers and grandfathers graves worth it?
Nightshade and Allen....Thanks so much for the laughs I have just gotten from reading this...Sigh, what a life!
just_me,understood completely
if you think the price of fuel is high now, wait until israel attacks iran over the nuclear weapons program there. maybe that will happen this fall or winter. but i'd say it is almost sure to happen.
I'm happy to see so when the walls are coming down i find it so funny when I don't live there to see when I ask a seriours ? you find so much humor. It's so hilarious. I can't stop laughing when it's you i should care for... I keep laughing and laughing.
Polarmark, I hope you are wrong, unfortunatley I think you are spot on. My Husband will be in Iraq, and I do not want him in the middle of that. When it happens and it will. It will be an ugly thing!
Sooooo, those of you calling it welfare, handouts, etc. Will you be giving it back?
Ok I think I am putting Nighshade's comments together that we should have got the entire surplus but settled for a pittance. I disagree because we have to think about our future energy sources.
But you are correct in your assertion that the entire surplus belongs to Alaskans first, not the Government. Following the main line of logic for the payout would mean that the government should let the people decide how to spend the surplus individually. However, our collective surplus can do things that we cannot do with the individual shares. You are right about us (the people) being share holders and that the government is the board of directors. We all have an equal stake in the State's future.
Pixyfae I hope your husband comes home safe from Iraq...
and all I can say is that this money will go to a good use in our household will go to heat our home this winter...as I was worried about how we would heat our home this winter...haveing to go from an apartment in town that included heat to moveing out of town to a place where we have to supply our own heat as well as propane for out stove...
IRAQ ALASKA? that'll be a change.gl with that..
pixyfae kibbles and bits? What where you thinking 75% natives said it was stupid but well they don't know nothing?
50 percent chance they'll be pixie food...
So much I could say here, but I will choose to be bigger than that. You are entitled to your opinion and I am mine..
oponaha you really might have a point I was made I might never end I was mad a little about a few things but reviewing maybe not..... i might have been to hasty maybe but some wheren't here of left when i said them.
I'm Beyoind saking asking doesn't help obliviously why ask of I can go before beyond and above you them real people doesn't matter? The problem is I'm lewded to you all everywhere I'm nothing just someone that care you don't know me but Doyon will. The Gasline will go thru what was once ours.Which won't be again. Is it fear? most might see it maybe. For helping themselves. But for how long? 10 yrs's 20's yrs? maybe when it becomes to expensive for you to fix? You ask me was it all worth it I ask was you grandmothers and grandfathers graves worth it?
Thank you to all those legislative members who worked to pass this.
I didn't want a direct check to me, causing me to have to pay federal taxes on the assistance, but I'm still content.
Distribution should be easy. Just add the amount to the PFD's comming out in october..
YEA!!
Wow, this discussion is all over the place..lol. Everyone must be giddy from the free $$, which i support. We, as individuals, are in the best position to decide what we need and how to help ourselves the most.
On the Electric part...the earlier comment was never answered. GVEA base res rate is about 11 cents kw/hr, below the 12 cent program min. But, if I read the site correctly, the actual KW/hr charge that includes all fees and stuff is closer to 20 cents per KWHr. Will we be subsidised at about 9 cents per KWHr? Any of your big ole brains happen to know? Thanks.
what I though this wouldn't last...but a few seconds....
Native American? why?
Nightshade your vote counts just as much as mine at the polls. So if we aren't together then we cancel each other out.
I don't know the answer to the GVEA question and the bill isn't clear enough and we didn't get to kick the tires on all the appropriations in it. We could always ask GVEA to raise their rates and lower the surcharge so we can qualify for a lower overall electric bill. We are talking about a member owned coop correct?
The journal entry for the House indicated "power costs" (plural) to be subsidized above 12 cents kw-hr at a rate of 90%. So it appears the GVEA "energy charge" and "fuel adjustment" would be combined for the power costs.
The GVEA customer charge is a flat rate overhead; the regulator charge is set by the regulatory commission.
(I had a GVEA billing on the desk)
The final bill I saw just listed appropriations.
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THANK YOU GOV. PALIN, THANK YOU LEGISLATURE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! It shows that there are still some politicians out there care about the wellbeing of their constituents, Alaska's are the best.
Hmmmm...
So some folks will probably go out and party away, and steal fuel from the rest of us anyway.
Gotta put more ammo and padlocks on the list I reckon.
Check.
I think I understand now- If I get it, it's a rebate. If you get it, it's welfare. If everybody gets it, then the legislature has successfully bribed the entire state to return the incumbents to Juneau in this Fall's election and continue the status quo. I would expect nothing more from that corrupt bunch, now that they have bought off the entire state. We the people are no different than Kott, Allen, Kohring, Cowdery and the rest of the CBC. What do you think we would get if this wasn't an election year?
I'm gonna keep that $1200 though, at least the part the IRS will let me have. Fill the tank and then PARTY!
YEAS: 33 NAYS: 5 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 0
Yeas: Buch, Chenault, Coghill, Dahlstrom, Doll, Edgmon,
Fairclough, Foster, Gara, Gardner, Gatto, Gruenberg, Guttenberg,
Harris, Hawker, Johansen, Johnson, Joule, Kawasaki, Keller, Kerttula,
Lynn, Meyer, Nelson, Neuman, Olson, Ramras, Roses, Salmon,
Seaton, Stoltze, Thomas, Wilson
Nays: Cissna, Crawford, Doogan, Holmes, Kelly
Excused: LeDoux, Samuels
YEAS: 9 NAYS: 8 EXCUSED: 3 ABSENT: 0
Yeas: Bunde, Dyson, Hoffman, McGuire, Olson, Stedman, Stevens,
Thomas, Wilken
Nays: Davis, Ellis, Elton, French, Green, Huggins, Kookesh,
Wielechowski
Excused: Cowdery, Therriault, Wagoner
Like I have said before, it would be a good time to sell your house and rent. Your average landlord will never be able to recoup the cost of fuel this winter. We thought about switching our 2 units to electric heat so the tenant has to pay and that is a possiblility for the future. Having one boiler to heat 2 units would not be as easy or cheap to separate. The only choice is to raise the rent or "eat it". But with so many troops being deployed this Fall, the rental market could tank so be careful. We stand to lose $700 in January alone - oh well, it's just money!! Glad to hear the help is on the way.
now i can make to february but what about march and april and i don't have it in my hand yet so don't coun'nt your chickens yet this could be the worse winter yet look at our summer coldest on record and you could freese to death yet wake up you oakers your not thro winter yet keep on talking the hot air sould keep you warm
now i can make to february but what about march and april and i don't have it in my hand yet so don't coun'nt your chickens yet this could be the worse winter yet look at our summer coldest on record and you could freese to death yet wake up you oakers your not thro winter yet keep on talking the hot air should keep you warm
It's money coming to us from revenue taken from land the people own.
I don't see a problem with it.
I guess fire service is a handout too, right?
Thank you Sarah Palin!
KMdotcom-
If you really owned it you could sell your part of it or live on it. That owner-citizen stuff makes as much sense to me as the gibberish that comes out of the mouth of a Marxist.
I really don't have a problem with the rebate either, and I like fire protection etc, but it's bread and circuses for the masses while the elite continue to stuff their pockets with our money and we keep electing them over and over again and wonder why things keep getting worse. They throw us a fish or build a bridge now and then but we get the scraps and Exxon makes record profits. The supreme court's finding in the Exxon case tells you who really owns America. And now it turns out that Trans-Canada does what Exxon wants too!
Sorry for the rant but I got started and couldn't stop.
hstkmtn, I don't disagree. I guess I have a little bit of a "flowery" perspective as far as public land ownership goes. The same can be said about the money gained from that land. :/
I guess my point is that, I just don't view it as a handout(per se).
The issue of self-reliance seems to be coming up a lot in this case, but what is the difference between helping families survive the winter (a declared energy emergency) and people receiving funds from the government to repair their homes and businesses after the floods (a declared disaster)?
Would we be able to assume that even in Alaska, self-reliance is not possible in all cases?
It's early in the AM. Time for sleep.
Call it what you will, no matter how you paint it it is still WELFARE, now what about the high cost of BEER ? Damn it you OWE me more, just look at how much money you have, some of it must be MINE .
Will this finally end the cries that the children will freeze this winter. Let's see how many will actually pack up and leave or will the expectation of another windfall next year keep them around. Wonder if the family of 8 is complaining now. Foreward to complain about politics and candidates.
Of course this is welfare, just like the PFD. Steal from the rich, and redistribute the wealth. We need the long term solution of overriding the environmentalists who have imprisoned us in their search for the primitive life, and their worship of nature.
Now we're all just a little more dependent on the government, I'm sure the liberals are very happy since their idea is for the government to run it all.
It looks like the rebate will be attached to the Permanent Fund check, so it appears only those who qualify for the APF will receive the rebate. Can heard the complaints now from those who have not been here long enough to collect this years check. Wonder if the bill collectors, those who didn't pay child support, etc. will have the rebate garnished.
What will we do when fuel is 3 times more expensive?
Gee, that would place the state's take from oil at around $100 BILLION dollars. After we paved the streets with gold, we could spend $30,000 per resident for a complete wind and solar setup and could supplement this with 10 new hydro dams. With free power we could all heat with electric and by then the new electric cars will be on the market and we could all buy one with our dividend check.
Oh it's welfare alright but I won't be giving it back. Somebody gives me $$ I'll take it but I'm not delusional about whether I've earned it.
I just hope the numerous conservatives in Fbks that have railed against welfare in the past keep this payment in mind the next time they are tempted to complain about those freeloaders on public assistance.
I think everbody should go out and buy a pellet stove ($2000) and 5 tons of pellets ($1500). Home Depot and others carry both. This will get you through this winter and greatly reduce your oil bill. Pellet stoves don't require an expensive chimney--just a vent--and can be installed in hours by anyone handy. They are extremely safe and easy to install.
Thank to the state legislater, and Gov. P. I know that my family will appericiate the help. We fully intend on giving every dime of it to the Fuel company.
NOw for thos e of you landlord who are whinning that im a land lord and think that it isn't fair that the tenants will be laughing all the way to the bank, well news flash, this grant that everyone is going to be given is for more than just fuel. It is to help pay for gas and your electric bill. QUIT WHINNING and just be thankful that the state is helping out it's residents, because they DON'T have to do this, and like i said the is a personal affair, not a business one.
EVERYONE ENJOY THIS HELP BECAUSE IT IS ONLY A ONE THIME THING.
HAVE A GREAT WINTER AND STAY WARM!!!
Thank you legislators and Governor Palin for the energy relief. We can use all the help we can get. High crude oil prices made the energy package possible and at the same time pushed up fuel costs. The governor and legislature recognized that fact and I believe that the January regular legislative session will address heating fuel costs and long term solutions for affordable and reliable alternative sources of energy. I hope that the state adopts an energy policy and plan so that we can approach our energy development in a coherent manner and begin working on an energy grid that ties as many of our communities together as possible.
All you people need to quit calling this welfare. It's Beer Money!
(Wow, hckywtchr, thanks for the stats. Mike Doogan and Mike Kelly voted the same way on something. I suspect even God was caught off guard by that one.)
The_Alaska_Curmudgeon,
Call it what you may, it is still WELFARE.
Arabic: مُساعَدَة إجْتِماعِيَّه
Chinese (Simplified): 福利
Chinese (Traditional): 福利
Czech: sociální dávky
Danish: bistandshjælp
Estonian: toetus
Greek: (κοινωνική) πρόνοια
Hungarian: állami támogatás
Indonesian: tunjangan dari pemerintah
Italian: assistenza
Latvian: sociālais pabalsts
Lithuanian: pašalpa
Norwegian: sosialtrygd
Polish: zasiłek
Russian: пособие
Slovak: podpora
Slovenian: socialna podpora
Spanish: asistencia social, prestaciones de la seguridad social
Swedish: socialunderstöd
Turkish: sosyal yardım
Allan_Riston-! 12:03 am
"The power of Hoodoo?"
"Who do?"
"You Do!"
Too funny! I assume you are acquainted with the Goblin King also...?!
ONAPA- 12:20 am
if you are correct, (and even if you aren't), you are a much better and more patient puzzle figurer outer that I am...!
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Here is one problem I have seen no one mention. With rural power subsidized above 12 cents a KWH, it becomes cheaper to heat with electricity. The oil powered generators making that electricity are less than half as efficient as their home furnace, so the villages now have a higher oil need!
I have a suggestion for the DNM...as much as I do enjoy reading these articles I think there should be a clipping of the basics that people want to know without reading the entire article. Just the simple who, what, when, where, and a short why. It's hard with longer important articles like this one to sit down and read the whole thing but if there was a shorter version that you could skim over and get the details from that would be great!
Just a thought..
Also will military folks living on base recieve this??
They do not pay for any heating or electric at all living on base.
I don't why they should benefit from this if they have no utilities to pay for.
So tell me this...everyone here that is saying how this and the PFD are "welfare handouts" are you going to send your checks back? I didnt think so. So why are you making such a big deal of it? Let the people who need the help accept the help without criticism. And I would love to see you actually not accept the money...but fat chance of that happening isnt it???
The way I see it is when something gets broke, you make a quick temporary fix and immediately prepare for a long term fix. This rebate is the duct tape job designed to help families make it through the winter. Now, we need plans for long term fixes to curb our dependence on oil; be it coal, hydroelectric, nuclear etc.
Nightshade,
Lady NYC is right - although perhaps unfair, grammar and spelling do count, even in this forum. Take a little time to proof your comments.
Also, drinking a lot and calling people is a bad idea - it also applies to blogging. I notice the comments get progressively hmmmmmm - whiskey soaked - as the evening progresses.
Ulises: I call it Swellfare!
To answer the questions on who is getting it and who isnt. If you go to adn.com there is a little artical about who qualifies for it or not and there is no exceptions except for veterans.
From Wesley Loy in Juneau –
I've been bombarded tonight with e-mails like this:
"We moved to Alaska in August '07, so we do not qualify for the dividend. Does that exclude us from the resource rebate?"
"What about the people who have lived here for more than a year, but are not eligible for the PFD because we have not lived here a full calender year? I moved to Alaska in June of 2007. Am I going to receive the resource rebate?"
"I have been in Alaska for a year and a half now, and I live here. However, I have not been here long enough to qualify for the PFD. Do I still qualify for this money?"
The short answer to all these questions is no, you won't get the resource rebate.
Only those people who qualify for the Permanent Fund dividend will get it. The only exception, as I understand it, is a small pool of about 400 disabled veterans who haven't applied for this year's dividend.
Sorry!
I really wish they would change the laws to get these checks. Perhaps if there was a way you could show that you intend to stay in Alaska for some period of time either through a signed rental lease or a signed lease for a car, or something! Or show that you have gained employment here in Alaska. (I have all of these) And if you leave before some period of time you must pay back the checks. I just know that we are aching for these checks as much as everyone else. :(
ffsgirl,
yes we do pay electric now that we are under privatized housing. The military is no longer our "landlord", there are outside companies that are our landlord and we do pay electric. And like someone else said this isnt just for electric and such its also for gas.
aklady - your renters are paying the same amount as you for gas at the pump, for food at the store, for all those other things that have gone up in price too. If you are not making ends meet as a landlord then YES you raise the rent. My rent was just raised by $100/month because of increased fuel costs, so my landlord will already be getting his cut of the $1200. Renters are absolutely NOT getting a free ride during this time of increased fuel costs.
I am SO sick of people thinking renters are living on easy street right now. I have chosen a lifestyle that I can frugally afford right now, which is to rent. Maybe many of these homeowners shouldn't have gotten in over their heads in the first place and stuck to renting a little while longer.
Why are you guys complaining about every little thing. If you dont want the money dont take it. It will helpe Alaskas families this winter.
Everybody that is complaining about the "welfare check" can just send the money back and it can be divided between the people that actually can make use of the money to help heat their home this winter.
Micheallwagner... you should research the cfl's better, you make it sound like you will die if you clean one up. they are not as toxic as they used be and there are special ways of disposing of the cfl's.
ffsgirl... I said the same thing about the military that live on post and base and was ridiculed for it. In my opinion they shouldn't receive one but the temp solution is in action now so.... Hopefully the long term plan will look at distributing the monies in a different way... I say a larger amount per house hold.
At any rate, thank you sarah for standing up for the people of Ak and helping when it is needed. Seems like you are the only one that is trying to help and actually doing something to help, temporary or not at least you are walking the walk instead of talking the talk.
I understand they passed $1,200 per person.
I am curious how a new born baby drinking mother's milk can consume $1,200 dollars worth of #2 fuel or 5,217 Kwh worth of electricity at 23 cents per Kwh or 6 cords of birch at $200?
As a mater of interest, IRS will probably end up getting $300 of the $1,200. And, flat screen TVs will sell very well.
Be sure and get a good one ie 1080p with 120 refresh rate - less then 8 ms refresh rate - 25,000:1 contrast ratio LCD.
Any thing left over will go for crack, pot, and to price gouging fuel dealers who will NOT cut the price till they get your PFD and $1,200.
Also, the state of Alaska will continue to collect $3-$4 royalty oil fuel tax on each gallon.
If you buy 1,000 gal @ $5 for $5,000 you are STILL paying $4,000 in royalty oil tax!!!! The state of Alaska will get most of the $1,200 back. Ha!!!
"Fools and their money are soon parted!"
Well I'm glad our legislators came to a conclusion. Won't make a difference for me and my family since we got here just a few months too late last year. Thankfully, God's provided for us and we're not hurting. But for those of you who will not be receiving a pfd or this energy rebate and you truly don't have any money for fuel, there are churches in Fairbanks who are prepared to help you.
One reminder, this is a one time only check right now. Most likely the legislature will develop alternative energy plans next session. You probably will never see another check like this one again.
Since when is Eielson privatized??
And the check is not meant for gas also it's meant to offset heating fuel costs. I don't see why someone paying for no electric, no heating fuel, should get a check for $1200 to help throughtout the winter when the only thing they pay for is gas to put in their cars.
Are you people serious??? How can you be so flippin negative at a time like this? I was very happy to see the newspaper this morning known that I will have a full tank of fuel for at least a few months this winter. I am a single mother of 3, (not by choice) and have been struggling for months trying to make ends meet. (I work a full time job and on call for another job). Every little bit of help I can get is very much appreciated at a time like this. God Bless Gov. Sarah Palin for thinking of our people and for not going on a spending spree and buying a plane or some off the wall toy.
I can understand anyone thinking that this is a great idea. Who doesn't want $1,200 to pay for oil and gas? Out here, we're paying $7 per gallon for gas and likewise cost for diesel fuel. We'll use our money to pay for the outrageous cost of electricity, too.
But I'm not really richer. I've just pushed my problems off for another year. In fact, no one in Alaska is really richer. We've really just thrown a lot of money away.
According to my quick estimates ($1,200 X 650,000 residents), the state has just given away $78 million. The money will vanish within the year.
That's the same money which could have been used to create hydroelectric power - perhaps get a start on that Susitna River project. That's money which could be used for mining coal. That's money which should have created infrastructure, such as a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Fairbanks and Anchorage. That's money which might have supported that small nuclear reactor out in Galena, or wind farms along the Bering Sea and Aleutian coasts, or helping create a local wood harvest industry for pelletized stoves. More roads would reduce fuel costs by allowing fuel trucks to get to remote villages.
The problem is the high cost of energy, and that's a problem which will continue while the state delivers welfare payments to its residents. The solution to the high cost of energy is creation of more energy resources; an increased supply of natural gas, electricity, coal, or wood will drive down costs.
No doubt everyone's happy. My wife, for one, is ecstatic about being able to fill the tank without busting the bank, but in 2009 we'll be back to same problem.
Short term thinking at its best. This is money that could have been spent better.
ffsgirl,
We do pay for housing even though we live on base.
Reason being... we do not receive Base Housing Allowance.
People who live off base do. So in all reality they are paid to live off base.... we take a pay cut to live on it.
I am a landlord with 4 units in Fairbanks and I don't feel this is the best solution for all. I am not getting $1200 per unit to offset my costs...I am not thinking for myself but for my tenants and all the tenants out there. I have had to increase my rents to offset the cost of energy. Some are students and others have just arrived in town, so they won't be getting aid to offset increased energy costs(as I have read and understand the $1200 rule). It just seems to me that if the gov't is going to help...go to the source and stop the bleeding. Don't just get a blanket $1200 that a lot don't need and a lot won't get. I know it is something and will help many many families in AK, but I think there is a better answer.
And what if oil costs bomb??? as the have in the last week. Again, the adjustment should be taken at the source and not just fixe it with a bandaid.
Thanks to (some) legislature the kids may now own an Ipod - that should keep them warm this Winter. I don't want to sound pessimistic but the first thing i interpreted was for an individual receiving $1200, and then another household with a single mother with 4 kids - thats amounts to $6,000! Now is that really going to carry them over for that year? I want to know if it's a one time deal or a yearly thing. I live alone and have heating expenses - thank you Legislature! The moral here is that $1.200 can supplement a HOUSEHOLD adequately for one year and for anyone for that matter. I'm not wrong here.
Scenario: Say if we gave the head of household the intitial $1200 and say $200 per child; we could use the rest towards identifying new alternative energy sources.
I applaud those that were nixed thinking about alternative energy sources. When i see money signs i like to think logically too.
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The check is a resource rebate. I wish Dana Van Dam was here to explain this. It is not welfare, it is not energy assistance. The State of Alaska (that's US - the residents of the state, not the "government") got so much money that the profits are being given to the owners - once again, that is ALL of us residents, not just those that own homes, or have civilian jobs, or are over the age of 18, etc....should receive an equal share.
Why is everyone whining about what others get? How does that affect what you get? I am grateful that the legislature was able to realize that returning profits to the shareholders is the appropriate thing to do. It doesn't make a dang bit of difference to me if someone's 12 kids each get it, if the military receives it, etc....
Everyone who is a resident should get it. If this was an energy assistance program I might feel differently, but it's NOT.
Correct on the "Alaska Resource Rebate".
The Senate muddied the water (and the press followed) by lumping the proposed resource rebate with special session proclamation line item to establish an "energy relief program".
Of note, Mike Kelly voted against the rebate. Check out the record at:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_b...
Voters: try to keep this in mind prior to the next time you re-elect Kelly.
1akfox... I have a new born baby he was not born in 2008 so he does not qualify for the 2007 dividend monies that are to be handed out this year. However let me tell you not all new borns breast feed. so with that said making hot water for their milk cost money, doing gobbs of laundry for the baby cost money, baths cost money, turning on the lights at 300 in the morning to feed cost money, running a humidifier so the baby doesn't get stuffed up cost money (not that we needed it much after june), keeping the house warmer for the baby... I could go on and on about how a newborns do use electricity and heating fuel. I could give you a list that runs into tomorrow if you want.
If all you are gonna do is complain and be disgruntled feel free to hand over your 1200 to me and I can use it for my newborn's bills since he doesn't qualify for the rebate.
Just a quick note, Nightshade does not speak for this Doyon shareholder. sheeesh
excuse me I meant to say he was born in 2008 not in 2007...
oh and upon further thought ffsgirl, that logic means anyone renting an apartment or condo that doesn't pay heat shouldn't have the money either? How about we not just single out military....thanks kids.
I recommend those new and some of the old timers read the Alaska Constitution to understand the nature of resources in this State. Then read the history of commercial use of fish wheels for an even better understanding of resources in Alaska. Then learn about the meaning of a winter's cache.
Tundrabunny,
EXCELLENT POST!!! Spot on with your statements. I wish more people could understand exactly what this money is from. And I also wholeheartedly agree that people need to stop complaining about what others are getting.
The cold hard facts are that it is impossible for the legislature and the governor to do anything that is going to make everybody here happy. Personally, I would have preferred to see something like the state subsidy on fuels that would have kept the price per gallon manageable. That plan has drawn lots of fire because it isn't perfect either.
The point is that the governor came out with a plan to help as many people as possible and the legislature acted on it. It's not perfect, as the posts here have pointed out. Landlords arent' getting any help here and renters with heat included might be getting a little more benefit.
I was going to be able to pay my own way before the rebate, but this will make it much nicer and I appreciate the intention of the legislature and the help.
The facts Just the facts
So if someone was put in jail for even one night for a wrongful felony charge that takes lawyers and thousands of dollars to fix
They do NOT qualify for PFD , which means they can't get the rebate??
North_Pole79, good post!
Tundrabunny & Allegheny as well.
So much complaining... "They did", "I didn't", "They shouldn't" Whatever! It's done, completed, finished, finis. Good, bad or indifferent, it passed already so there is no changing it.
To borrow from NoPo79, we have been given some duct tape for a quick fix. Instead of complaining about it we need to start rounding up ideas to put ALL of us in a better position next year & the one after that. We need to be riding herd on our legislators to work on some acceptable changes & plans. We have a chance not to screw this up & be in a better circumstance in the future. Can we PLEASE start to work & focus on that?
sptsgrl11...
renters pay inflated rents not to mention the fact that most places that are for rent do not include electricity or heating fuel they have to pay for that on top of the rental fee. And most landlords of apartment complexes have increased the rental fee to allow for the rising cost.
Condo owners pay an association fee that pays for the fuel and other things that the condo votes on... needless to say that most condo associations are putting the money towards the fuel costs before they start spending it on other things and or have raised the condo fee to help with the rising costs.
You may now pay for electric but you still don't pay for fuel to heat the house.
Your not compairing apples to apples. You are compairing apples to oranges.
Point in fact whether you live on base or off base the military is still providing you with a roof over your head. You say you take a pay cut for living on base... I used to be military I made the same money on base that I did off base where is the pay cut and not receiving bah doesn't count as a pay cut. Civilians don't get bah to live. Not to mention that you are able to use the bx/px and commissary for food and clothing, the prices on base are a heck of allot better then off base, oh and most places give military members 3-10% off all purchases... and most fuel companies offer military members a fuel discount that civilians don't get. You could not convince me that you are having a harder time then a civilian that has no where close to the ammentities that you are able to make use of.
fssgirl:
Why do you even concern yourself with those of us that live on a military installation in the state reguardless of the branch of service. Just because we do not pay utilities doesn't mean we shouldn't get the resource rebate. Exactly that, RESOURCE REBATE. You're going to get your utilities subsidized, that will not affect us who live on a military intallation. I do not understand why it is you are so concerned with military folks. You have made many negative comments in the past about people who live on base, so if you have problem with those that live on base taking a portion you what you feel is yours, too damn bad. Many of us incur additional costs from being stationed up here. Yes we receive a COLA, but it truely doesn't completely cover the additional expenses. Some chose to be up here, while others didn't. Bottom line is we still are faced with a higher cost of living, which is a negative aspect of living up here, the positive side is we qualify for the PFD(and now the energy rebate). We have to go through the same qualification process as you, and in some instances it is actually harder as a military member because of additional paperwork you have file to prove you live up here. If the state had a problem with it, they wouldn't allow us to collect it. I have raised all three of my children here, to them this is home and they are just as much Alaskans as you are. So what ever your problem is get past it cause all you're doing is making your self miserable.
That sound you are hearing is not the sound of gold coins but rather the sounds of chains tightening.
"The spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless. A single zealot may commence persecutor, and better men be his victims. It can never be too often repeated that the time for fixing every essential right on a legal basis is while our rulers are honest and ourselves united. From the conclusion of [their] war [for independence, a nation begins] going down hill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget themselves but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights. The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of [that] war will remain on [them] long, will be made heavier and heavier, till [their] rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion."
--Thomas Jefferson
getreal - I never said I am having a harder time than anyone else. My arguement is why does it matter where I live.....if I'm eligible for the PFD then I'm eligible for the $1200, was just trying to make a point to ffsgirl.
Not sure when you were in the military, but nowadays... you do get paid to live off base.
It's not a lot but it's something.... and it's something my husband and I chose not to do so we don't get that money.
Which can be upwards of $1000 based on your rank.
I think coldblooded said it well enough for me, thanks
I agree with those who say that if you don't pay utility bills, you should not get the 'bonus', including renters.This money is for a designated purpose. If it is not used ONLY to defray heating bills, it is simply another state handout, and Alaskans already get alot of those. I find it amazing how many moaners about teacher pay, UAF, public employees etc. totally change their tunes when THEY stand to get a public handout. Then it's 'gimme, gimme, gimme'. (And yes, I DO cash my PFD check; I just don't do alot of hypocritical whining about expenditures that are neccessary).
If renters want to benefit from this, they should arrange that with their landlords. It is definitely the case that utility bills get passed on to tenants; does anyone seriously think landlords pay those out of the 'goodness of their hearts' or something? Not likely. And landlords should be therefore be required to pass the fuel aid $$ on as well (without any of it sticking to their fingers!).
Ultimately, the simple fact is that a lot of Alaskans live an unsustainable lifestyle. It takes a huge amount of GOVERNMENT money and resources to sustain it. In Russia, whole Siberian towns are being evacuated for the simple reason that Russia cannot afford to support such isolated money pits. In AK, for now, we get to cash in on the oil industry to support us; but without that we'd be in big trouble.
Not everyone received the federal rebate based on income (made too much or not enough); some who 'qualified'for it didn't get it for it went to unpaid federal taxes and child support arrearages. My understanding for the federal rebate is anyone who didn't get the 2007 one can still qualify for 2008 and receive it. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Will our state government let those who didn't qualify this year, be eligible next year? Just a thought.
The lack of comprehension scares me...
coldblooded... your application for the alaska PFD should be harder.
People choose to be in the military, if you choose to be in the military then you have to accept where you are stationed it is all part of it, whether you like it or not.
I personally feel as though military members that apply for the dividend should have to be here for 5 years or more before they qualify for the dividend (and that is being generous). Most military members leave after the 3-4 year rotation. The AK PFD should have stiffer guildlines and be handed to those that truley are alaskans, not people that call them selves alaskans because the military puts them here for 3-4 years (and in some cases longer) take the money and then leave. That is by no means an alaskan.
Civilians don't receive COLA to help with our costs.
If the higher cost of living in Ak is such a negative aspect for you then you should leave now. If you choose to stay then you need to suck up the additional cost of living (already subsidized by the military) and get on with it your self. I am quite sure that ffsgirl is not making herself miserable over this she is mearly stating her opinion on the matter at hand, and if she is a tax payer then she has every right to concern herself with what the people that live on military installations regardless of what branch.
I just got off the phone with the PFD office on behalf of a friend who failed to file her pfd this year(as you can imagine on hold forever!)and was told that if you failed to file for the 2008 dividend, then you will NOT receive the rebate. I was advised by the PFD to talk to the legislation if I felt this to be unfair. Now, if it's an energy rebate as many here are calling it then I don't see why one wouldn't get it if they have been receiving the dividend for 15 years in a row but mistakenly (huge mistake!) didn't file this year. I understand the rules and can except them about not qualifing for the dividend if you miss the deadline but why can't these unfortunate people get the "energy rebate"? On another interesting note, I also asked this gentleman about military personell that have left AK and yet still qualify and will receive this years dividend, if they too will be getting this rebate even though they are not here in AK and his answer was yes. Now, how is that fair?
AK Lady: you're going to have a tough time convincing ANYONE you don't tack utilities onto the rent charges. When I was a renter I found that it was routine for many landlords to add utility cost to the rent, and tack on a little more just because they could. Your renters ARE PAYING UTILITIES, they are just lumped in with the rent. In fact I had one landlord who would have probably tried to snag his tenants heating relief $$ for himself. You will get your share JUST like everyone else.
getreal, Depending on the JOB people in Fairbanks do get COLA, and I am not just talking active duty military.
Well i must agree on mike kelly i was surprised to hear a poitician say in an open forum that the people of the interior should get a better education to get better high paying jobs if they want to live here and then vote against the bill.What's he thinking, I guess the people who fix his car ,sell his groceries, handle all the things he as a first class citizen won't should have a four year degree and charge three times as much, Good news the price of mcDonalds just went up 300 percent because the server now has a degree in business...
What world does this guy live in and why is he representing us???
Hey and for the post asking about the 8 kids, I've got that many and they've lived here since feb of 07 ,So big house and big morgage , huge fuel bill,and i'll be getting 1 rebate, because they didn't move here a month earlier, that seems fair...
getreal,
Read our State Constitution and then go the PFD site for an explanation on how Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines qualify fo the PFD.
Your ability to post your inane comments are guaranteed by the very people you would treat like second class citizens.
I seem to recall a study conducted in the FNSB that found that more than 50% of the wages paid in the borough come from two sources. Ft. Wainwright and Eielson AFB.
Only someone who has never spent a day in uniform would have the gall to write such drivel. REMF!
Henry - Well said.
There is a lot of folks who really don't need this, and and a few who do. Seniors on fixed incomes that Murkowski screwed, folks with major medical issues, and rural Alaskans(have you seen THEIR fuel and electric rates?) Fact is, most of the population(Anch., FBX, Juneau) only "think" they need it.
How about actually using it to research and develop some of those "sustainable" energy sources we ALL need? Oh, well, too late now.
Can't wait for next year when even more people come up here looking for handouts.
Alaska, Richest Welfare State in all of the U.S. State assistance=Welfare.
Allan_riston
Please tell me where I said that having a newborn was stressful for me and making me stretch the budget? I don't remember saying that.
And not that it is any of your business... but I was told that I would not be able to conceive, so my newborn that I was told I couldn't have is a mircale child for my husband and I and is by no means causing a hardship for us. But hey thanks for being rude about it.
What I was trying to point out is the fact that newborns do cost money even though they can not do anything for them selves.
fOR ALL OF YOU UNGREATFULL PEOPLE IT IS NOT WELL FARE IT IS A GRANT. A GRANT IS NOT WELL FARE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO WHINE AND CRY ABOUT IT JUST CALL IP GOV .P AND TELL HER PALIN TO GIVE IT TO SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO WHINE!!!
Onapa -
"Social welfare provision, government programs which seek to provide a minimum level of income, service or other support for DISADVANTAGED peoples"
"Welfare (financial aid), financial assistance paid BY TAXPAYERS to people who are unable to SUPPORT THEMSELVES."-
From wiki
I'm not too sure the founding fathers wanted a LAZY, DEPENDENT America when they drafted the constitution.
"Welfare
welfare n. 1. health, happiness, or prosperity; well-being. Source: AHD It means to fare well.
Welfare in today's context also means organized efforts on the part of public or private organizations to benefit the poor, or simply public assistance. This is NOT the meaning of the word as used in the Constitution. -
From -
http://www.usconstitution.net/glossary.h...
In other words, onapa, it's a HANDOUT that we all paid for, and now giving away like a lottery that everyone won. Oh, and it's taxed, more govt next year, thanx...
ulises
Your facts about me are very wrong!
Actually I served for a long time in a branch of the military so I have every right to my opinion. I do not treat them like second class citizens, they treat them selves like that by acting as though they are in the poor house. I know how it is to be in the military and to be shuffled around not knowing where you are going from one minute to the next, having done it myself I do not contest that the military is rough, however every branch of the military is made of volunteers that choose that style of life. i accepted it when I was in the service and those who are currently serving should accept it or get out of the service.
But feel free to blow your top off at me if you like.
I have done my time in the service and I have the right to my opinion whether you feel it is "inane" (I am sure you meant insane) or not I could care less.
Call it what ever makes you feel good about yourself. Mirriam Wester calls it welfare. 2a: aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need. b: an agency or program through which such aid is distributed.
KS Spoken like a truely jealous person. Sorry you moved, no wait, no Im not. Do you cash your tax return? Is that welfare? Get off your high horse and get to work, you have too much time on your hands to write to another state and start talking trash every opportunity you have.
JB&Imuseless: Thank you for ignoring me and no I don't cash a tax refund. You see I'm 100% totally and permanantly disabled from the Viet Nam War and I have quite a lot of time on my hands. All I heard for weeks on end was whinning from most of you and finger pointing. Now you won't freeze to death this winter but cabin fevor will takes it's toll. Enjoy it while it last.
I'll say it again. If the legislature custom fit this bill to meet just the needs of just the people who pay for fuel or just the needs of people who "deserve" it. (whatever your definition of deserve" is) They would be in Juneau for months trying to get this straight and when they finished somebody would still be upset.
They did the best they could. There is no way that an energy rebate is going to please everybody, especially in an area where people are so worried that somebody is going to have it better than themselves.
Governor Palin proposed the Alaska Resource Rebate Program and Motor Fuels Tax Suspension (draft 6/20). The proposal included the one-time $1200 resource rebate as a supplement the PFD. All PFD recipients would be eligible. Individuals who declared residence for 180 days would have been eligible to apply under the proposal submitted to the legislature.
The proclamation for a special session of legislature included the following line items for action [summarized] 1 Approve AGIA license, 2 Establish a resource rebate program, 3 Power cost equalization changes, 4 Temporarily suspend motor fuel tax, 5 Renewable energy and alternative energy grant fund, 6 Appropriations.
From the Governor’s Office of Management & Budget website, proposed bills were submitted:
SB 4002 was the Alaska Resource Rebate Program Bill without the motor fuel tax and no payment time specified
SB 4003 was the Resource Rebate/Energy Appropriations Bill to allot additional resource windfalls to existing energy programs
SB 4004 was the Motor Fuels Tax Suspension Bill
Item 1, AGIA license and appropriations were handled and passed as a separate bill. The House and Senate both proposed the resource rebate as funds to be added to the PFD. The House and Senate fianally came to a consensus and the proposed bills can be reviewed on the legislature website.
The resource rebate funds added to each PFD check represent a small percentage of the oil revenues surplus. If it were placed directly in the Alaska Permanent Fund account, nobody would have benefitted this year. The Alaska Permanent Fund requires a 12 month calendar year Alaska resident requirement. Eligibility requirement are in part due to litigation in the 80’s, so it appears the legislature did not want to risk changing requirements.
Several existing programs have been supplemented to adjust for the 2008 oil price spike, and the government now has resources to responsibly implement long-term and alternative energy programs and other state services during the regular session in January.
I want to know if all the folks on here that are upset about the money and calling it a "welfare check" are you going to be giving yours back?
Our Governor is my sugar mamma! My HOT Sugar Mamma!
Benefits, Allegheny, they don't want to understand it, much less get over the fact that it is a done deal, regardless of anyones opinion of the decision. People just want to kvetch & complain. Which is fine I guess, but I REALLY wish people would start discussing/arguing constructive plans for the future.
All of this kvetching? It won't change anything. If anyone wants to discuss future ideas? State planning options? Post 'em & I'll happily join in. Otherwise I am out of this one,(with some exceptions) it's like a room full of cranky 8yr olds.
http://www.resourcerebate.org
Site isn't up yet, but the idea is for some out there who are truly concerned about conservation and sustainable energy to use some or all of their "rebate" to purchase renewables (solar, wind, hydro) and more effcient and clean devices to power and heat their homes.
With enough interest, not only could we purchase at a much lower (group buy) price, but we could also promote the change needed to get on the conservation/independence/reliability bandwagon.
I know, not all can fork over even some of this "rebate" for renewables and such, and that many need it to cover their current energy expenses...but if you have children who will receive this money, and if you really want to take a step away from the same ole' same ole' way of doing things, using some of this money toward supplying even 10% or your overall energy needs from renewables is a step in the right direction. Would like help to really make this happen...we can do better.
akprincess,
I know, I was just really bored today :)
I think there are also some GOOD things coming out of the high prices of fuels. For example, profligate use is way down. People who insist on living in McMansions and/or driving mega-vehicles are paying through the nose for it (like the guy I saw swearing a blue streak at the gas pumps yesterday....). Both big houses and big trucks are losing value like crazy, and MPG ratings have reappeared on car advertisements. Wasteful habits are dying out as well. Also, alternatives, which right wingers used to scoff at, are now getting started; and Alaska has GREAT potential all types of these.
As has been pointed out, though, this is only a temporary fix and should NOT be made permanent. Making it permanent would simply cause many people to just revert to wasteful ways.
Pixyfae: A lease is a lease. I don't believe one can weasel on such a thing. For my part, when I rented I would have been fine with paying the utilities, if the full amount (and any extra tack-on) were knocked off the rent. If I had to sign a lease, *I* would expect it to be honored, and would seek legal aid if its terms were unilaterally broken. *I* could not break mine's terms, don't see why any of my landlords should be able to either. If landlords don't like that, they shouldn't require leases.
Allan_R: when the price of fuel goes up GVEA should be allowed to up it's rates, but this 'fuel surcharge' is nothing but a way of making an end run around the regulatory process. I am thinking of deducting a 'stamp fee' and 'envelop charge' from my next payment . . .
BS: the Fair is . . . . wet.
Ulises: I agree, military should be well treated....here's a secret: I can tell you as a former serviceman, THEY ARE. But the bennies can't pile up ad infinitum, and I totally disagree with the idea that saying 'NO' at some point is "unpatriotic". This gift should go ONLY to those who pay heat bills (directly OR indirectly). Otherwise it is just a cash givaway, and I see no reason state $$ should fund *anyone's* (emo) trip to reflections or Compeaus (for examples). However as intended assistance, and not a 'dividend' I think it is appalling that it is not being extended to people who do not receive a PFD. They have to stay warm too (PixyFae). As for NightShade, I simply make alot of use of my 'downpage' key . . .
One thing is for sure, as soon as ya'lls cousins from south of the border hear how rich you've become, it will be another gold rush. Your new nieghbors won't speak much english but I'm sure you will welcome them in true Alaskan Spirit.
Re the welfare discussions.
In Alaska the natural resources are the property of the people per the state constitution. The legislature and the governor have refunded to you all $1,200 of the hidden royalty tax on each gallon of fuel. As best, I can calculate, the $1,200 represents about 1/4 of the hidden tax on 1,000 of #2 fuel oil for a single person house hold.
House holds with more members receive more refunded tax. A house hold of 4 achieves the break even point. House holds of more than 4 show a profit.
The Governor and Legislature have determined it is GOOD for you to pay $5 a gallon days vs a few years ago when the price used to $1.20. Thus, the high cost of fuel in the Fairbanks area is the FAULT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA.
I required reading:
AS 38.05.183. Sale of Royalty sub section (e)
This is cause of YOUR current situation.
There is a second fly in the pie is price gouging.
Which allows the price to go up and never come back down while the price of crude continues to drop below $118. Anyone notice the posted price is about the same at each filling station re the East side of town area?
Aren't food prices higher in the frozen north? What's next, food stamps for the entire state?
FSjec6_ I mostly agree with what you are saying. I pay my utilities and heating fuel, wish this house had a wood stove or fire place but the owners removed it when the costs where not an issue. My point to AKLADY was see an ATTY as I do not understand how airlines, etc can tack on a fuel surcharge. If you are under a 3 yr lease and the owner is paying the fuel out of their own ignorance at the time, they may have an out, I don't know. My suggestion was next time put a cap on what you pay. I did not understand why any landlord would take on the fuel costs until I read further and then understood that some duplexes etc run on one boiler. As for my situation, yes it sucks, this is winter #2 and I am Military and do not live on post. For those that think we have such expandable income please remember the hours that soldiers work so it breaks down to about $20. an hour. Not much! Yes, we do get COLA and I am hoping that maybe, God willing our COLA will go up but it hasn't budged yet. I am not suggesting that we are in anymore diar straights than the rest, but I am saying that we are in the same boat. Also, I am an ALASKA citizen, I just do not qualify for the PFD, But I really think that we could use the Resource Rebate more than say someone in Alabama that will get their PFD and RR. They could have done this and not attached it in any way to the PFD or used the term resident as to not worry about "future lawsuits". I am not saying the plan is bad, it just again, sucks for me and I do think there could have been a way that EVERYONE in AK paying the high fuel/energy costs could have benefited from a rebate. This winter will be tough with my husband deployed, but the twinks, my teen boy and myself will make do with what we got and we will be stronger because of it. I tell you I have a new found respect for winters in North Pole, being from TX(LOL). I love this state, the land and the Governor, the rest of the office I am not sure about. But, I can tell you my vote will count for something next session!
Re: price gouging.
3:45 pm
I just checked "Market Watch" it reports crude is down 20% from the record high in July 2008. Oil futures on the NYMEX for Sept. are down 7% for the week.
I believe the price peeked at $5.47 for #2.
20% of $5.47 is $1.09.
$5.47 minus $1.09 is $4.38 for diesel (aka # 2 fuel oil)
The current pump price should be close to $4.38 NOT $5.07
Looks to like there is about 55 cents worth of fright on your hair cut.
The Alaska Permanent Fund was established as a means of reserving oil and resource royalities for the citizenry. The check issued yearly is a fair and equal share of the wealth from publicly owned resources. The windfall profit made from publicly owned oil resulted in a greater than expected return. The problem presented to Alaskan was , a publicly owned resources was producing record profits while at the same time, the people who owned the resource were experiencing an inflated cost when purchasing the resource. The legislative body (who are elected to act on behalf of the citizenry), opted to provide a one time additional fair and equal share of wealth in the amount of $1,200 per eligiable resident from this resource revenue. They should have never called it an energy rebate.
Forgot one thing. there was a reason why it is linked to the Permenant Fund. By the way, no one is forced to apply for the dividend, it is a personal choice. If you do not agree with it and do not want it, don't apply. simple solution.
The state makes you pay back welfare for those of you who aren't aware of it.The fed. check we were to get, was taken by fed. student loan, defferred by a disability.I also was taken by them in a $165,000. child support arrearages....,handled thru Rep. Coghills office, refusing the rights of me or my kids.I repayed $42,000. TO PAY BACK THE STATE! ( a csed /wc settlement) Refusing to allow me to receive my bal., the state stole $57,000.!This was done by a then retired Lisa Taylor, who emerges to handle cases seemingly that are there fault!I lost many opportunities to collect, due to the CSEA dept. not acting upon imfo., they have or I gave them! They also cost me $42,000., in 1994 ombudsmans office investigation. did they pay me then....NO!!!! who is there oversight? I am sure due to the stimulus check some also lost theres due to student loans, and state or fed.debts, as this help is really for who???? I had to leave Fbks., due to the prices and lack of medical. Thanks Sara, we need all you can give!!!
1AkFox
Welcome to the isloated fuel market we call Fairbanks.
to the regulars
(dang dead horses keep gettin up lol )
I'm with you Tundrabunny, there're apparently alot of people out there who've never rented before (or could it be GREED and SELFISHNESS?). taxes, utilities, maintanenece . . .all of these eventually get paid by tenants. When they go up, so do rents. Renters 'contribute' at least as much as anyone else around here.
Ulises, the idea that anybody, including military, has any business telling myself or anyone else what not to think or say is about as unAmerican as you can get, take it from an ex-Marine. We have this concept here called 'freedom', and you have alot of gall pretending you have the right to infringe on someone else's (not to mention being insulting).
I wish you good luck for the winter, Pixyfae; I will be sending notes to my rep and senator about this subject, though I don't know if there's anything that can be done about it now. It just seems to me that the 'selection criteria' for the PFD and for the "resource rebate" should be fundamentally difference; however one looks at it, the RR is about helping people deal with the soaring cost of energy; the PFD is a totally different thing. And I did NOT mean to imply that military who ARE paying their own energy bills should not get assistance; but ones that are fully provided for (with allowances etc.) should forgo the $$. It should not be ending up at reflections, compeaus etc.
PRAISE GOD THANK YOU . I rent and just like everyone else I have to put gas in my vehicle(70$ a week) and food in my cabinets and freezer(150$ a week). So I know where that money is gonna go . Thanks governor Palin Now if we would only get our PFD's sent out early so the people who live in the bush can get their fuel before it gets to cold. well I guess we should just feel blessed with what we're gonna get. I'll say it again PRAISE GOD AND THANK YOU GOVERNOR PALIN
Maybe if enough people just keep saying the same thing over and over eventually it will sink in. It did with me. When this was first proposed my knee jerk reaction was that it was another government welfare program. But then I read through the information and realized this is NOT WELFARE. This part of the bill is NOT energy assistance. This $1200 is a business (the State of Alaska) sharing its profit with its shareholders (us - the citizens). Therefore, each citizen should get an equal share of the profit - military, child, or one-legged prostitute on Cushman. If you qualify as a resident of Alaska, then you should get the RESOURCE REBATE (because that's what it is folks).
I personally don't really fancy the idea of people with really, really big families getting thousands and thousands of dollars, but since this is a RESOURCE REBATE program that is sharing profits equally among the residents, then that is absolutely the correct thing to do.
My free advice: Take the $1200 and your PFD and buy a combo wood/coal stove to either heat your home entirely or to suppliment your oil furnace. The best long term solution is to get off of all petroluem products and switch to locally produced wood or coal. Then we sell the oil to the lower 48 which will displace oil from the mid-east. Everybody wins except our buddies in the mid-east.
pixyfae...
I wish you and your chldren the best this winter... I hope that your husband returns safe and sound.
Okay, for those whose PFDs are garnished by the Alaska Student Loan Corp, is this $ also going to be taken?
getreal_ Thank you very much! It really does mean alot! Stay warm and dry this winter!
How much is pride and dignity worth in Alaska? Going for about 1200 bucks a head these days. Example--Oh thank you Gov Palin, we never lost faith in you. We be special people here in Alaska, not like those outside in the lower 48. Last Frontier, Pioneers, Not!!
we can thank Mark Begich for the huge interest on Ak. student loans. I paid $22,000. for a $7,000. I lost allot of dividends.I want to see the list of forgiven... loans, should be public info. change a law, use it, change it back ? UUUhhh! no not Alaska Legislature!
hope everyone gets these checks, shouldn't be part of anything else!
See KS,
not only are Alaskans patriotic by providing hundreds of millions in extra federal tax revenues, we Alaskans are hospitable!
(the feds would get 0 extra if the state held the money)
So... Thank You again Governor Sarah Palin!
Thank you Legislators for taking the time for the special session!
Now I am off to buy a TIRE GAUGE!
THANK -YOU LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNOR PALIN FOR WORKING HARD AND DEVELOPING A PLAN THAT WILL HELP!
KS: I won't ignore you. I never forget those who helped me up in the past. You made me a doctor, and for that you will always be tops in my book!
Dr. C.
Call it what you will - be it welfare, a handout, etc., but at least it's not going toward Teddy's house. I need it, and I thank that sweet Governor for standing up for Alaskans. (Aren't you so glad we didn't name our airport after a corrupt senator?)
Thank you Dr. C., I came in a frogs hair of asking where you were at. You are the only one on here that talks straght up and knows how roll with the punches. Stay warm Bro, I mean that.
KS: I never talk straight up...it's all just wastin' time for me. I just try to keep folks from taking themselves so seriously. Life's short. We all need to laugh more.
My wife took the kids and gave me a weekend off. I'm gonna go take myself out to dinner. Have a good one.
Dr. C.
The money I spend will end up in someone else's hands. Hands that are working to earn a living. Those that say the $1200 is welfare, please tell me what the heck did the Government do to earn the other $14,800 per resident that they kept from the oil revenue along with the interest on 8 billion dollars last quarter? If you answer anything besides take away every Alaskan's right to own subsurface mineral resources on our own land, then you will be wrong as the rain falling in Fairbanks today.
I like the fact that those resources are owned and managed collectively. I don't like it when they mismanage the resources which was done for over 20 years. Now we are getting a fair price for our minerals and we need a good long term plan to deal with potential future surpluses. We need to stay vigilant on the energy revolution in Alaska. It will not happen unless we speak often and united that this State must evolve and become a leading exporter of energy.
We can lead the world by showing how it can be done while ensuring our people are free of all energy costs. We have that much. Not one Alaska resident should have to spend a cent on electricity or petroleum. We have that much. Not one teacher should be underpaid or worry about not having a contract. We have that much. Ours should be the beacon for the people in overcrowded cities that want to experience owning a yard. We have that much. Every village that wants to be connected by rail or road should be connected next year. We have that much. We can build infrastructure and increase our population. We have that much. Don't be afraid of the future, it is going to change and for the better. We have that much. Alaskans are waking up to the fact that we have not been getting enough for what we have given up. We have that much and more!
Don't believe me, look at google earth for Fairbanks and zoom out until you hit the next town of similar size, then google any other city in the U.S. with 80,000 people and zoom out. We have that much and MORE!
realdeal--- unleaded@$373.9 deisel@$459.9 Now, how hard was what to figure out?
OK, just wondering about this!
I’m talking about ALL the people that was Yelling in the past 3 or 4 week about “We don’t need to be getting ($1200.00) Free-Money, and to the “Other-People” that was making a Big-Stink about “Only Give them $500.00 that’s All they need!
I’m wondering “How Many of the “Don’t Give them Money People “ARE Going to Send their Check BACK to the State?
Just Wondering!
Remember : Obama give out a tire gauge to fight the High price of Gasoline.
GOVERNOR PALIN Gives Out REAL Cash, to help the People!
Thank-You GOVERNOR PALIN !!
For those that don't have that much, come get some and quit complaining!
"Only those people who qualify for the Permanent Fund dividend will get it. The only exception, as I understand it, is a small pool of about 400 disabled veterans who haven't applied for this year's dividend."
Just curious if anyone understands how the session came up with giving approximately 400 disabled vets that did not apply for their dividend the "resource rebate", but decided to leave the rest of the military that do not qualify but contribute to the state and city that live here, have to heat our homes, pay for electricity as well out in the dark and cold? Just curious on any thoughts or ideas how they came up with that?
Onapa says - "Now we are getting a fair price for our minerals and we need a good long term plan to deal with potential future surpluses."
So, YOU personally invested billions of dollars and paid thousands of workers to extract those resources? What world do you live in? If YOU have a surplus of something, can we all come over and have some for free, whether or not you invested in it or not? Sounds fair, huh?
Get real, the companies profiting off of "our" resources invest in those projects and deserve to come out ahead. To insist they give US those products for free, at a loss, means you don't understand how a business works. You're simply being greedy.
Since when did moving to, or living in, Alaska become about the money? Don't you appreciate what the state ALREADY provides you? PFD's and no state tax ALREADY help you out. Please stop asking for more. Invest in those resources with your own money and get a piece of the action, instead of whining about how much money they make and you don't.
I don't have to be the fastest runner to hunt bears with you realdeal. We have some real problems ahead if our legislature stays with their current last minute legislating.
getreal... this is in response to your response to my comment that you posted at 1:17 this afternoon.
First off let me say that I respect your opinion whether I agree with it or not doesn't matter and want to thank you for serving our country. Because had you or the other millions of Americans not joined the military and served our country before me I may never had the oportunity. It's just that an opportunity, which I have maid the most of no matter where I've been stationed.
Let me get back to the point at hand. One thing I do not care for is when someone makes assumptions. We all know what they about someone who makes assumptions. You assume that the only reason I came up to Alaska is to get the PFD. Honestly anyone who would do that reguardless if they were in the service or not would be crazy out of their mind or really hard up for money. I'm neither. You assume that I don't like living here in Alaska, couldn't be much further from the truth. I have been here for 5 yrs now and with 3 more yrs left. The only reason I have to leave is just like you so eloquilently mentioned in your response, I have to go where the AF sends me. Otherwise I would stay here and retire. Believe me, my family and my wifes family isn't to keen to that idea.
To put things into perspective, why single out the military simply because we come and go. Many who do go return on a second assigment or after they retire from the service. We are no different than a school teacher that comes up from the lower 48 and signs a contract with the school district, or civilian who works for the federal gov't, the have to sign a contract too if uncle sugar pays for their move up here. Really when you break it down, if I'm not mistaken, the PFD would only go up maybe a quarter if all the military folks weren't allowed to collect it. As far as the energy rebate goes, it doesn't have any impact on the amount whether the military collect it or not because it is pretty much a number the governor picked out of thin air and said this how much I propose everyone gets.
I noticed that Ramras voted for it suprisingly, and was disappointed that Therrault was not there for the vote. Anyone that Kelly reprsents, I feel for you.
get real:
One last note, you question how I can I call myself and my family Alaskans. Let me answer that for you. First off I been through the arctic winters, the cabin fever, the forrests fires of 2004. I have traveled from one end of the state to other, spent a week in Barrow in April. It is still quite cold up there even in April. I and my wife have volunteered our time and efforts to the community, and enjoyed every minute of it. I hold an Alaskan water treatment, wastewater treatment, and water distribution license. All of them current and active. Should I continue... I am an active and productive member in society which happens to be in Alaska, that is how I can call myself an Alaskan, and proud of it. Bottom line I still meet the basic requirements for me to collect the PFD and there isn't anyone who dislikes the military collecting it can do about it.
Best reguards!
I would never return the welfare check. Why would I share it with the idiots that cannot balance their budget or live off of the dole already. I will bank it for a rainy day unlike most of you fools. Most will piss it away on a big screen TV or new toy. I just hope you can put up a nice picture of a fire to heat your homes and that you will quit crying for assistance from the government. You make me want to spew and you are not anywhere close to Alaskans.
Pat
Its not really $1200 when we have to give some back at tax time. This whole thing is BS. Keep the $1200 and lower the price of fuel!
hi there i am wondering when they will pay us the money for the $1,200.00 anyone know
I learned my first year up here not to run from the bears or hunt them alone. :-) People ask if a .357 is enough gun for them, it is if it will slow down the runners.
I am no lobyist. I have heard it said that we don't choose to live here, it chooses us. Life is tough, but our potential here is unlimited. We should continue to fight for our collective resources. Our voice in Government should be heard clearly and often. I get frustrated when I see people from other states or those temporarily here for a cause trying to subvert the process over minor details without an appreciation for the current situation and the historical background.
By all census data mine is an average household in Alaska. I still consider myself a new resident after seven years and I am not so vain that I don't admit what I don't know, nor do I believe mine is the only opinion that counts. When we disagree, so be it. When we agree, we can make a difference in Juneau. Both sides of this debate presented good arguments and brought more facts to light than the press reported. Involving people in government is good governmnet at it's best.
Griz season opens on the north slope Monday and I am carrying the worlds best bear deterrent with me on my caribou hunt... a brown bear tag. With any luck I will be back with a couple of years worth of caribou meat and good memories of my son's first big game hunt on Friday.
Pixiefae, hope this helps clarify:
After reading the final bill (several times), the veteran's issue is that a select group of disabled veterans would loose federal benefits based on the increased in income.
Sec 5 "Alaska Resource Rebate" Part (b) allows the veterans to apply for the $1200 if otherwise eligible to apply for the dividened but had not because it would have reduced federal veterans benefits. Part (c) authorizes general cash assistance if federal benefits are denied or reduced based on receipt of the one-time $1200 rebate.
Basically, certain disabled veterans benefits have income requirements that preclude a small group from applying for their permanent fund dividend. The provisions in the bill allow the disabled veterans to apply for the $1200 rebate and protect them from denial or reduction in benefits.
Imagine how much you would have if we quit relying on the government to save us. Oh my God, the sky is falling, the ice cap is melting & we need "Bam-bam obama", "Al GoreRON" & all the other government idiots to lower the oceans, raise the taxes, make more stupid laws for you & I, (not for themselves), vote themselves raises,welfare to the freeloaders, & then after saving the world, (with your tax money by the way).
Then after telling you what to do, how to do it, when to do it and who to do it with...( Do as we say, not as we do). Then they are even giving away free money... Which is yours to begin with... WOW...But who will save us from the government, when it goes bad, (oops, too late) after they shread your rights & the constitution?
The bankers, lawyers, oil companies & the government are the reason we are in this mess to begin with. You want to be "We the People" or would you prefer "we the sheeple". Don't be fooled by wolves in sheep clothing.
Maybe we need to try "In God We Trust", like How this country began. The government has gone very bad. There ain't nothing "free" in this life, except "Jesus". Certainly not "free" money from the government. Your "FREEDOM" is next, coming soon to a city near you.
There is no energy crisis, there has never been. Global warming is the biggest crock of crap I ever heard of. "THE WHOLE WORLD WAS TROPICAL BEFORE THE FLOOD".... Lust & greed is why we are in the situation we are in. For the love of money. And your government is very hungry for it!!!
Free money from the government? Too funny. Suckers!!
If you do not want your rebate or don't need it donate it to the Greater Fairbanks Area Habitat for Humanity. They will use it to built a house for someone that does not have one. The website is hfhfairbanks.org
ONAPA
Excellent comments!!!
Wish you a good and safe hunting experience, enjoy.
allegheny- Thanks so much! That I can understand, and again I will state.....sucks that my family misses out! So, another question.. 2100 sq ft house, what is more energy effecient, an oil miser or a monitor, trying to use as little fuel as possible...
What about us folks that are residents but have not lived here long enough to get the Dividand? (missed by 9 days)Is there a plan for our releif?
zardog---to true!
Anyone wishing to donate their fuel supplement money ,that comes back to them out of their tax money, can call Fairbanks Resource Agency, or the HUD office, the Shelter, a church, .....
Believe me, there are people out there who could really use a hand during hard times.
Not a handout-just a hand up!
bostley_ we missed it! Only if you qualify for the PFD. The rest of us Alaskans get notta....
Just a quick note from a life-long Alaskan.
My family is conserving. We don't drive our gas hog anymore, we do all of our errands at once, we have even gotten twisty bulbs. We have conserved, cut back, and flat out sacrificed. I want a long term solution just as much as anyone else; however, we also need a short term solution. This is it. With this, now we can and need to concentrate on a long term solution. We have the money to do it, let's get it done!
Pixyfae,
Call the AHFC they will tell you and you may qualify for a rebate after paying for it. AHFC is overwhelmed so you may have to wait for help from them but the link below outlines one of their programs.
http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/energy/weath...
ONAPA_ thanks for the info, I already have them though. They are both in this house and I am not sure which will be cost effective this winter.
ONAPA: Do you realize that because you have lived here fewer years than I have (quite a few, actually, but I won't rub it in your face), that under Alaskan law I automatically know more than you?
I'll fill you in on what you need to know when I get around to it. Right now I have a comic-book to get back to.
Can't wait for that handout; I've just finished the last bottle of beer in the house!
I am thinking I will keep my posts on the newsminer from now on, those people down in Anchorage are brutal....chuckle
It's amazing how uninformed they are as well.
I think I'm going through "special session withdraw symptoms"
By the way, I think the DNM has set a record in the number of responses. Keep it going, maybe set it for 1,200 comments. By the way, they now are saying the APF dividend may exceed $2100 dollars.
wow no kidding huh over $2100 geez thats a lot i'm gonna save some of that and maybe invest in a new sewing machine ,canning jars and a new freezer. geez the way clothing prices and food prices are i'm gonna need to.
pmcgraw, try reading the state constitution too see why it's not welfare. I also wonder what will happen when the feds, and borough ban the burning of wood an coal due to pollutants, which make our air unbreathable. Not complaing, just wondering. Before you get mad I will be doing the same thing for heat, so I'm also part of the problem. I'm glad we still have a few in Juneau that represent the people, just not themselves. To many of them already in prision. As far as Kelly, he needs to stay home from now on and buy a bigger mirror, so he can see all of his big fat head at once. I will never vote for him on anything again. He just thinks he is so much better than us poor hicks it makes me sick to think of him, and Ramras is a very close second! Still can't believe he voted YEA?
Jesus. I have a Suburban - which I finally paid off with last year's dividend. Not a car I would generally choose as it just swallows too much fuel, but after leaving an abusive situation, it's what I'm left with. I try to ride my bike to work as often as possible. I work as much as I can and try not to ring up too much in childcare costs. Unfortunately, it's just NOT cutting it. This nation is sooo rich, especially the State of Alaska. Communities are there for helping each other out. If you disagree, then take your ass to some remote island and park it. Im relieved to wipe the sweat from my brow since I don't have to worry so much now about how I'm going to make it through the winter.
I've never rented TO anyone but I have been a renter... aklady, wouldn't one average the yearly cost per unit (including utilities and taxes, PLUS a minimal maintenance amount) to arrive at a monthly rental amount? That only makes sense to me. When I was a renter in Austin, Texas, we had utilities included at first. When they put electric meters in, our landlord asked what we were doing; our useage (and the resulting electric bill) was the lowest of anyone else in the complex.
Also, I'm in agreement with longhornak that conservation and cutting back are necessary. Almost every month our electric bill has been less than it was for the previous year. Until now. We'll continue to try to cut back on all our utilites. Last winter we kept the thermostat at 62 while sleeping, 66 while not at home and 68 while at home. We barely broke even on our heating oil budget. I might end up using my dividend to help replace our heating unit which is at least 20 years old... that might help?
Alaskan59 has a point regarding the pollutants. I have a fireplace, but haven't ever used it. This year might be the first for that.
Anyway, the $1200 will be helpful, although it will probably be eaten up by income taxes. Whoopie.
So...given that, does anyone want to buy me dinner? :)
I think it is fine that everyone will get the $1200 just based on the simple fact that gas at the pump is outrageous. I count my blessings everyday that our family will fortunately be able to afford our fuel.
One day we were out driving and passed a person and their baby traveling in a smashed up truck with a broken windshield. I said to my husband, "How are people without much money even going to get back and forth to work and cope with the heating bills when winter hits?"
I just think people who rent may very well need the extra money just to fill their gas tanks, so I am not upset if a renter gets money. I feel fortunate that we are even getting the money. Those that complain about it are selfish.
I do agree that a longer term solution is needed to help prices come down or to help us use less energy. In the mean time this $1200 will help so many families that may be in a very tough situation before other solutions can be reached.
I apologize if this has been answered already. I read a good many of the posts, but not all.
The numbers dont add up, to me. 750,000 Alaskans each receiving $1200 computes to $90 million. Plus $20 million for the energy assistance bill, and another $23 million for the PCE. That adds up to $133 million. Even with 8 cents tax forgiven per gallon, it just doesn't add up to close to a billion.
What am I missing?
Glacierles,
You are 50,000 too high on the number of Alaska Residents. and one zero off on the 90 million which results in 840 million at 700,000 residents. PFD is closer to 650 thousand applicants.
Pixy, you can check the efficiency rating of the two stoves. There are a lot of values to compare based on the model. One is BTU rating to determine size of the unit. Efficiency is defined as how much heat it can transfer from the heat from burning the fuel to the liquid. Next is fuel efficiency based on the number of gallons per hour it burns. Finally how low of the emissions it produces will tell you how clean it burns. Those three combine to get a rating. Anything above 90% is good. At a glance the Monitor is 3% higher than the oil miser at 87%. But you will have to Google the exact models to get the specs and be aware that every manufacturer uses a different method to determine their efficiency.
The_Alaska_Curmudgeon,
I didn't realize that, thanks for letting me know. How many years does it take to reach the level of Alaska dungeonmaster and become qualified opinionated Alaskans?
realdeal,
I noticed a couple months ago there were some plants growing in these discussion forums. If you watch you will see their same comments after they have been debunked in one or the other paper because they don't care enough or think we care enough to see there is no fire behind their smoke. It was just ice fog. I am an idividual and I am free to speak freely on all topics that I care about. This state is one of those topics.
Mr Green,
Alaska prior to ACES got very little for it's oil. Now that ACES is law, we are getting a more fair share while big oil still sets records for profits though they said ACES would make them lose money. No where have I ever said they shouldn't make a profit. I have no problem with them profiting it's why they do what they do. The minerals in Alaska are owned collectively by Alaskans and the harvest and monetization is managed by the Government. We can leave it all in the ground and it will be worth more tomorrow or we can develop our resources, become energy independent as a State, and sell the excess to the rest of the world. What did I do to deserve my share of Alaska's minerals? I obeyed the law and did what I had to do to become a resident. I love this place and have since I was a kid reading about it in Field and Stream and that is why I became a resident. I have studied the state constitution, exercised my right to vote, and pay rent to the borough for the surface rights I purchased. I gave up my right to claim any benefits from any other state. There are a lot of states that offer me more monetary benefits to be there, but this is my home and I know we can do better.
P.S. No matter how much you sweet talk me, I am still voting no on 2-4, and as soon as I find out what 1 says, I will let you know where I stand on that.
Thanks for the math correction. I feel better.
Onapa Re:"How many years does it take to reach the level of Alaska dungeonmaster and become qualified opinionated Alaskans?"
I've wondered the same thing myself. Seems the "life long Alaskan" card is dealt every time a dissenting comment from a newbie is raised. As if we just fell off the turnip truck.
Brought here under protest 4 yeas ago I think the $1200 is well deserved like hazardous duty pay. Have you been to the grocery store lately? Putting gas in the car is a necessity to keep my business alive. Other upgrades, improvements and advertising had to go by the wayside to pay for fuel. I had to make an effort to produce work and make sales calls myself instead of hiring someone. The money can't come soon enough to recoup what I've lost in time and money to stay afloat. It's not only me. Clients told me all summer, that they would buy if they could but the fuel charges were killing them. The hard times certainly trickled down. Not to mention we couldn't go fishing without a guarantee of 50 lbs of fish, so we didn't go. At least down south I could have grown a garden to supplement the winter food needs.
I'll be using the money for other expenses than gas that’s for sure and I've earned it.
DaisyL, you can garden here just fine & then put up some of your crop for winter. People here have been doing it for years.
SUMMER 1 in AK = FAILED GARDEN! But, I am learning! I have some beautiful tomato plants inside grown by hydroponics, Now if they would actually produce some tomatoes we might be in bussiness and I bet they would be ECOLI free too....WOOHOO! Anyone up for a whole lot of Sphagetti this winter?
I see an added word to this concept...."MOST" alaskans! How many people have past debts for fuel etc.? I think if your here, you should get it!I understand it is one per head of household! This year allot of people got denied "energy assistance", a program that got many people thru in the past years!who's getting it? Who gets the excess $$$ from fuel, electric, propane that have checks for those who left after filing for it??? The utility co.s should pay back the program!It adds up to allot!
just a thought...
Misundertood, good, bad or indifferent, it is already decided & done.
PixyFae, good job on trying hydro! Can be difficult for some as you really have to micromanage your plants & ph. I always found it fun & successful. I wish I had room to do it where I currently am. Did you hand pollinate your tomatoes? Either a paintbrush or just wiggling your hand all about in there can work. Enjoy your yummy veggies. =)
CAN SOMEONE IF YOU KNOW IT WHEN THEY DO PLAN TO ISSUE US THE MONEY FOR US ALL? PLEASE ADVISE THANKS
The rebate will be attached to the PFD amount and sent with it. Those that filed early with direct deposit will get paid October 2nd. Everyone else will be about two weeks later.
WOO HOO. Thank you !
Gotta love this stae.
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