Governor Bill Walker earlier today (Monday) promised to veto a bill introduced in the Alaska House which would limit participation by the Alaska Gasline Development Corp, or AGDC, in an alternate gas pipeline project.
Gov. Walker: “You know, historically, I’ve always said I’d wait until it gets to my desk, today I’ll say I would veto this in a minute. This is the most unAlaskan thing I’ve ever seen put together.”
The bill, introduced by Nikiski’s Speaker of the House Mike Chenault, says AGDC could not be involved with an alternate export or liquefied natural gas project until the earliest of three dates: the state or another party withdrawing from Alaska LNG; Alaska LNG entering its next phase or July 1, 2017.
Walker has previously said he wants to pursue both the AK LNG and ASAP projects.
Gov. Walker: ” How can you read the constitution that says that we’re supposed to develop out resources for the max benefit of Alaskans and then do something that ties our hands that says we cannot go and market out gas, we cannot go and advance a project that is clearly good for Alaska?”
Speaker Chenault told KSRM that the Governor and the Legislature have not been having as many conversations as he would have liked. Walker told reporters today that he had not discussed the bill with its five sponsors, Reps. Chenault, Hawker, Millet, Johnson, and Herron, but he anticipated those discussions would happen.
Gov. Walker: “I’m shocked that it got this many sponsors. I really question who these people work for. They’re certainly not reading the same constitution I’m reading. This is an outrage. The only thing that gives me pleasure today is I’m Governor.”
As of 6pm Monday evening, Speaker Chenault said he hadn’t yet spoken with the Governor about his feelings on HB 132.