Jobs and the Economy

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Jobs and the Economy


Keeping Alaska’s economy healthy and creating jobs for Alaskans are among Senator Begich’s top priorities. Since the federal government accounts for about a quarter of the state’s economy – spending nearly $11 billion a year in Alaska – Senator Begich is working hard to ensure that Alaska receives a fair share of federal benefits and services.

In recent years, Alaska has ranked first among the 50 states in per person federal spending. For every dollar Alaskans send to Uncle Sam in federal taxes, we get back nearly two dollars in return.

That gets even better when it comes to the gasoline tax. Since the time Dwight Eisenhower was president, Alaska has received more than 6 dollars for every dollar in federal gas taxes we pay. This underwrites the cost of road construction and maintenance in our state.

Over the past two years to help Alaska recover from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Senator Begich helped secure the biggest single federal payout in memory with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This historic legislation is delivering about $1.6 billion to our state and creating and protecting about 8,000 Alaskan jobs. Senator Begich was one of the critical votes that put it over the top and he was the only member of Alaska’s congressional delegation to support the Recovery Act.

By working with his colleagues of both political parties and with the Obama administration, Senator Begich is getting results for Alaska. In his first two years in office, President Obama dispatched seven of his department heads to Alaska to see first-hand our needs and unique conditions.

At Senator Begich’s urging after 20 years of struggle, the Obama administration’s EPA gave the green light to the Kensington Mine, which is creating 250 good-paying jobs in Juneau. After 36 years, the federal government has commissioned a sorely needed new research vessel, the Sikuliaq, which will be operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Despite these benefits from Alaska’s partnership with the federal government, that relationship is changing. The crippling national deficit means fewer federal dollars for all states and an end to “earmarks” for the immediate future means addressing Alaska’s needs by other means.

Senator Begich believes Alaskans must determine Alaska’s destiny, on Alaska’s terms. He has outlined three areas where we must focus our energies to build a sustainable economy for the 21st century:

  • Continue doing what Alaska does best in cutting-edge resource development;
  • Seize enormous future opportunities in the Arctic; and
  • Transform Alaska’s technology-based economy for the future.


Oil fuels Alaska’s economy, generating more than 110,000 Alaskan jobs and producing generous dividends for each Alaskan. But today, North Slope production is at a record low, threatening the pipeline’s continued viability. That’s why Senator Begich favors development on both state and federal lands and waters. He has introduced legislation to streamline the federal process with a federal Arctic outer continental shelf coordinator and address the different energy development air permitting systems so Alaska projects can receive timely federal permits.

The second major focus for a prosperous 21st century economy is the enormous future opportunities in the Arctic. To address impacts of climate change there, the senator has introduced seven bills designed to help Alaska adapt to these changes and is pushing that legislation as chair of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Atmosphere and Coast Guard

Finally, success in the fiercely competitive 21st century economy depends on better preparing Alaskans. Alaska already boasts many cutting-edge entrepreneurs who say well educated young people who excel at math, science and computer skills are vital.

That’s why Senator Begich recently introduced legislation to improve teaching in science, technology, engineering and math. Instead of the disastrous No Child Left Behind, his bill targets funds to high-need students in high-need districts, encourages out-of-the-box thinking and supports professional teacher development.

He also is working to incubate more Alaska innovators with high-speed Internet access. Alaska ranks dead last among the 50 states for Internet speed, which hampers our children’s digital literacy and restricts small business development.

Finally, he favors encouraging the growth of small business, which have generated two-thirds of new American jobs in the last 15 years. That’s why Senator Begich was a strong supporter of the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act, which provides more funding for small business loans, waives capital gains taxes on small business investments and allows self-employed taxpayers to deduct health care costs.

Videos


December 4, 2010, Before voting in support of permanent middle class tax cuts benefiting over 97% of Alaskans, Sen. Mark Begich shared his experience as a small business owner. He spoke about the need to preserve tax cuts for Alaska small businesses and Alaska families.

December 1, 2010, Frustrated by the continuing partisan back and forth in Washington D.C., Sen. Begich took to the Senate floor urging his colleagues to "bet on" and "believe in Americans."

  • DC Staff Contact

    Liz Brinkerhoff-Nottberg

    Legislative Assistant

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  • DC Staff Contact

    Cory Turner

    Legislative Aide

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