AK Senate Debate: on Tax Reform


Lisa Murkowski: Got over $700 million of tax credits for a gas pipeline

KNOWLES: Knowles counts the proposed natural gas pipeline among Murkowski’s failures because he said he believes the recently approved federal incentive package didn’t go far enough. The government needs to offer a tax credit that kicks in at low prices, he said. “Without that provision, industry leaders and other participants say it’s going to be very difficult to collect the $20 billion necessary to provide the right kind of economic environment. I will continue to pursue that.”

MURKOWSKI: “We got over $700 million worth of tax credits to whoever is going to build this line. If you don’t think that’s an incentive that gets people to look at the project, you need to look again.” Another provision offers an 80 percent loan guarantee from the federal government. Other language streamlines permitting and judicial reviews. “We made it happen and it’s news that all Alaskans should be celebrating,” she said. “It’s real results; it’s not just talking about it.”

Source: [Xref Knowles] AK Senate Debate, in Daily News-Miner Oct 20, 2004

Lisa Murkowski: The $143 billion corporate tax bill is a “jobs” bill

MURKOWSKI: Murkowski also asked Knowles if he would have voted against the corporate tax bill, which she called the “jobs” bill, even with the gas line incentives.

KNOWLES: Knowles said the gas line provisions were noncontroversial and were merely “parked” on the bill because it would become law. “That doesn’t address the merits of the jobs bill,” Knowles said. “It’s a $143 billion tax giveaway. That is a bill that, yes, I would not have supported.”

Source: AK Senate Debate, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Oct 20, 2004

Tony Knowles: Oppose the $143 billion corporate tax bill as a tax giveaway

MURKOWSKI: Murkowski also asked Knowles if he would have voted against the corporate tax bill, which she called the “jobs” bill, even with the gas line incentives.

KNOWLES: Knowles said the gas line provisions were noncontroversial and were merely “parked” on the bill because it would become law. “That doesn’t address the merits of the jobs bill,” Knowles said. “It’s a $143 billion tax giveaway. That is a bill that, yes, I would not have supported.”

Source: AK Senate Debate, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Oct 20, 2004

Tony Knowles: Offer a tax credit for the industry to build a gas pipeline

KNOWLES: Knowles counts the proposed natural gas pipeline among Murkowski’s failures because he said he believes the recently approved federal incentive package didn’t go far enough. The government needs to offer a tax credit that kicks in at low prices, he said. “Without that provision, industry leaders and other participants say it’s going to be very difficult to collect the $20 billion necessary to provide the right kind of economic environment. I will continue to pursue that.”

MURKOWSKI: “We got over $700 million worth of tax credits to whoever is going to build this line. If you don’t think that’s an incentive that gets people to look at the project, you need to look again.” Another provision offers an 80 percent loan guarantee from the federal government. Other language streamlines permitting and judicial reviews. “We made it happen and it’s news that all Alaskans should be celebrating,” she said. “It’s real results; it’s not just talking about it.”

Source: AK Senate Debate, in Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Oct 20, 2004

Lisa Murkowski: Federal tax cuts are a means to spur economic growth

Q. Is it appropriate to continue cutting taxes in the face of the nation’s growing deficit?

KNOWLES: The best way to fix our budget problems is to create jobs. I support permanent tax cuts for most wage earners but would roll back cuts for the top 1% who average $1 million a year or more. This would generate $194.5 billion that should be invested in infrastructure, health care for seniors, children and veterans, and education.

MURKOWSKI: Federal tax cuts are a means to spur economic growth. I firmly believe individuals know how to better spend their money than the government does. This means more private investment instead of inefficient government-run programs. In the long run, that leads to greater prosperity and a reduced deficit for the nation as a whole.

Source: [Xref Knowles] AK Senate Debate, Q&A by Daily News-Miner Oct 10, 2004

Tony Knowles: Support permanent tax cuts for most wage earners

Q. Is it appropriate to continue cutting taxes in the face of the nation’s growing deficit?

KNOWLES: The best way to fix our budget problems is to create jobs. I support permanent tax cuts for most wage earners but would roll back cuts for the top 1% who average $1 million a year or more. This would generate $194.5 billion that should be invested in infrastructure, health care for seniors, children and veterans, and education.

MURKOWSKI: Federal tax cuts are a means to spur economic growth. I firmly believe individuals know how to better spend their money than the government does. This means more private investment instead of inefficient government-run programs. In the long run, that leads to greater prosperity and a reduced deficit for the nation as a whole.

Source: AK Senate Debate, Q&A by Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Oct 10, 2004

  • The above quotations are from Alaska Senate Debates: Lisa Murkowski (R) vs. Tony Knowles (D), Oct. 20 and Oct. 29, 2004
    Plus commentary byJim Sykes (Green) and Scott Kohlhaas (Libertarian).
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Lisa Murkowski on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for more quotes by Tony Knowles on Tax Reform.
Candidates and political leaders on Tax Reform:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Dec 12, 2018