I was born and lived in Ak for 45 years also most half before the pipeline.  What I don't understand with the present day Alaskans like this Steve Strait is why should Alaskans have to shoulder the entire cost of budget balancing when non residents do not pay a dime?   Sure the efforts to reduce the State budget is wise but that will not balance the budget without additional revenue.  Why should non resident commercial fisherman, oil industry workers, tourist workers and many more not pay something from the money they earn in Alaska?  The non resident gets all the benefits of Alaska wealth but pay nothing but airplane fares.  Sure some commercial fisherman have to pay for the support of their business but they would pay that anywhere they would be fishing.  Non resident oil industry workers are the worse as they get good pay and do not spend a dime in Alaska on the way through the airports except to pick up a magazine at the airport gift shop.