The state Division of Elections has certified a referendum to repeal a new state law that reduces taxes on oil companies.
In a letter to the citizen group organizing the effort, Elections Director Gail Fenumiai says the division has verified 45,664 signatures of registered voters. The group needed 30,169 qualified signatures to get the issue on the August 2014 primary election ballot.
The referendum calls for repeal of Senate Bill 21, signed into law in May, and pushed by Gov. Sean Parnell as a way to bolster oil production. Opponents call it an oil giveaway.
In a news release from the group “Vote Yes! Repeal the Oil Giveway,” prime sponsor and former state Sen. Vic Fischer says the successful petition effort “demonstrates how widespread dissatisfaction is with SB 21.”
The ballot question will ask if the new law should be rejected. The primary is Aug. 19, 2014.
This is a developing story.
