Jay Hammond famously said his biggest regret was not vetoing the legislative act abolishing Alaska’s income tax in 1980. He championed Alaska’s Permanent Fund to help prevent the mismanagement of Alaska’s petroleum wealth and for the maximum benefit of all the people, especially education and health services.
Today, Alaska is front-row center regarding the threat of the consequences of climate change, and I would wager that Hammond would invest in an innovative green economy to guide Alaska to a positive future that would ultimately lead to a healthy life rich in a myriad of ways for every citizen.
This is my favorite Jay Hammond quote when asked how he would tax the oil companies as governor, he replied: “For every cent we could possibly get. After all, just as it is the obligation of oil company CEOs to maximize benefits for their shareholders, so it is the obligation of the state’s CEO to do the same for his.”
— Sandy Harper
Producing Artistic Director Emeritus, Cyrano’s
Anchorage
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