established as a base for funding government. If more revenues are needed, then broad-based taxes may be next, but spending must be kept at levels that allow taxes to be minimal so the economy driven by private industry can flourish. That’s my humble opinion. Opportunities — The Alaska economy is in a transfor- mational state. Oil is the only commodity that can fill the state coffers as it has for over three decades, but we still have vast, world class natural resources that can provide jobs and support local businesses. This includes timber, mining, a well-managed fishery, and tourism. None of these will ever provide $4 billion per year to fund state government, but they can fuel and drive local economies. Case in point — look at what mining does for the econo- mies of Juneau, the Fairbanks interior, and the northwest region of the state. We have many other parts of the state that need a local driver in their regional economy — that is our opportunity. Photos Courtesy Dan Graham Dan is a big advocate for work-life balance, including spending time on the ice playing “old man beer league” ice hockey, including playing with the legendary Jimmy Reese, 82, at right. Below, he’s also a regular at resource development events like this golf tournament with the AMA, RDC and State Chamber Executive Directors.
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17
October 2020
The Alaska Miner
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