And now for the debate on taxes and cutting the PFD ...

At least judging from my Twitter and Facebook (this generation's water cooler) exchanges, while the Senate Finance press availability yesterday succeeded in raising awareness of the state's current fiscal situation, it also triggered off the start of what is likely to be an increasingly intense debate on taxes and cutting the PFD (in order to transfer a portion to government spending).

This from my Twitter feed this morning (which started when I wrote a note to my friends in Great Alaska Schools):

To my friends in @GreatAKSchools, become part of the solution .... http://t.co/u22Wh4nu3I #akbudget #akleg #akgov
— Brad Keithley (@bgkeithley) April 22, 2015

@bgkeithley @GreatAKSchools we can't just cut our way out of this, Brad. Need new revenue sources, too. Still lots of pork to trim first too
— Henry (@Phrozen_) April 22, 2015

@Phrozen_ @GreatAKSchools Then fight the pork also. Taxes just moves the problem to the private economy and makes the overall effect worse.
— Brad Keithley (@bgkeithley) April 22, 2015

@bgkeithley @GreatAKSchools Disagree. Need people to pay their share, and cut dividend. Plus trim oil credits until price stabilizes.
— Henry (@Phrozen_) April 22, 2015

@Phrozen_ @GreatAKSchools (1) ISER on moving #PFD to gov't: "generates less employment, increases income inequality" http://t.co/rXbsLw98Nz
— Brad Keithley (@bgkeithley) April 22, 2015

@Phrozen_ @GreatAKSchools (2) Same is true for income & sales taxes because of impact on private economy.
— Brad Keithley (@bgkeithley) April 22, 2015

@Phrozen_ @GreatAKSchools (3) But I don't disagree about tax credits paid to companies that aren't producing (tax credits paid from #AKTres)
— Brad Keithley (@bgkeithley) April 22, 2015

@bgkeithley @GreatAKSchools no easy solution, combo of cuts&rev > cuts. Agree to disagree, then. I hate tax as much as the next guy, but?
— Henry (@Phrozen_) April 22, 2015

@Phrozen_ @GreatAKSchools I am indifferent to taxes (just a tool), but hate things that hurt the overall Alaska economy more than they help.
— Brad Keithley (@bgkeithley) April 22, 2015

@bgkeithley @GreatAKSchools Same, I just see endless cuts as equally harmful. They're services/jobs/income too.
— Henry (@Phrozen_) April 22, 2015

@Phrozen_ @GreatAKSchools Not endless, down to sustainable level. See ISER http://t.co/UwOOQxV5hp. AK future is bright but have to get there
— Brad Keithley (@bgkeithley) April 22, 2015

@bgkeithley @GreatAKSchools Ok, will review that later.
— Henry (@Phrozen_) April 22, 2015