Don Young, Lisa Murkowski, Ted Stevens, Bill Allen, Vic Kohring, Pete Kott, and Bruce Weyhrauch are all discussed.
John Stohmeyer is quoted as saying "Favours for pals is just a way of life up here."
Ray Metcalfe is also quoted: Most producing countries tax oil at 70% to 90% of the net profits. Here we tax at 7%.
As is usual with The Economist, the last paragraph provides a slim silver lining to an otherwise damning article:
Both Mr. Young and Mr. Stevens are up for re-election in 2008. Democrats are lining up to run against Mr. Young. None has appeared yet to challenge Mr. Stevens, but that will change. And one thing is certain, Alaska's governor, Sarah Palin, who crushed Mr. Murkowski in the 2006 primary by pledging to break with the past, will call a special legislative session this autumn. Its sole purpose: to raise oil taxes.
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