ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW WINTER 2024 42 akrdc.org Growing Alaska Through Responsible Resource Development RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL The Resource Development Council of Alaska (RDC) is a statewide business association comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s fishing, timber/forest products, mining, oil and gas, and tourism industries. RDC’s membership includes Alaska Native corporations, local communities, organized labor, and industry support firms. RDC’s purpose is to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand the state’s economic base through the responsible development of our natural resources. 2024 State Legislative Priorities Advocate and provide support for policies and legislation that encourage responsible resource development. Stable, long-term fiscal plan • Advocate to limit unrestricted general fund (UGF)* spending to a sustainable level and implement a meaningful limit to spending. • Encourage the legislature to allocate a percentage of the Permanent Fund earnings to the UGF to support essential services first. • Advocate to diversify and expand the economy in Alaska, by reducing the budget deficit to encourage long-term investment in the private sector. • Advocate for the utilization of federal funds to efficiently advance key statewide infrastructure projects to support resource development. *UGF includes: Operating budget, capital budget, statewide obligations, but not the deferral of liabilities. A robust private sector and a stable permitting process • Advocate for tax policy and regulatory stability that enhance the State of Alaska’s competitiveness for all industries to attract new investment and grow the economy. • Encourage elected officials and state agencies to defend and promote Alaska’s effective and rigorous regulatory process. • Support state assumption of primacy over federal permitting programs to bring stability, efficiency and certainty to support resource development. Initiative reform • Advocate for changes to the initiative process that would nullify a ballot initiative if a court finds any segment of the initiative to be unconstitutional. • Advocate for changes to the initiative process that create more transparency and better public policy in a comprehensive and balanced manner, to equally benefit both the voters and the legislative process.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==