Let's not get caught up in the D.C. trap of Democrats versus Republicans. When you're in Alaska it's about what's important for Alaska.
Mark Begich
National Democrats often try to pay for something with oil and gas taxes.
We have to look at the long-term energy requirements of our country and how we figure out how to get off foreign oil. That is the ultimate goal because we are dependent so much on foreign oil that we are really strapped in what we can do as a country.
As mayor of Anchorage, with 43 percent of the state's population, we have worked on a variety of projects from road projects to renewable energy to a variety of things.
If the goal is to lower emissions, that's disconnected to most people. If the goal is to save taxpayers' money, now the public has some interest.
