Governor Bill Walker said he will be inviting President Barack Obama and Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to visit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
That announcement came two days after President Obama asked Congress to support a new plan for ANWR.
Pres. Obama: “And it’s very fragile, that’s why I’m very proud that my Department of Interior has put forward a comprehensive plan to make sure that we’re protecting the refuge and we’re designating areas including coastal plains for preservation. And I’m going to be calling on Congress to make sure that they take this one step further designating it as a wilderness so that we can make sure that this amazing wonder is preserved for future generations.”
Many Alaskan political leaders have vowed to fight the proposal, which will be decided by the Republican-controlled Congress.
While addressing the announcement, Governor Walker described his call with Secretary Jewell.
Gov. Walker: “At one point I asked her for an address and she said, “What for?” and I said so I can send an invoice for our cost of education and our cost of healthcare, because you are not following the intent of the statehood compact, which incidentally enough she was not familiar with three weeks ago when I sat in her office and I explained to her why we were an onerous state and talked about the statehood compact and she said I was not aware of that and so I was a little surprised by that. But my discussion with her today was very frank, I said I need to send you an invoice for our cost of doing business in Alaska because you are taking away our ability to earn a living.”
Walker said Jewell is expected to be in Alaska next month.