Wyden to visit Alaska to tour natural energy resources

Alaska senators welcomed Sen. Ron Wyden’s (D-Ore.) visit to their state, which starts this weekend.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she would spend the weekend showing Wyden around her home state and discussing energy and public lands policies. The two lawmakers will attend a renewable energy fair on Sunday and will visit geothermal power operations, at Chena Hot Springs, near Fairbanks.

Murkowski is ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Wyden is next in line to replace Sen. Jeff Bingaman (N.M.) next year as committee’s top Democrat. Bingaman is retiring.

Murkowski and Wyden will also visit a liquefied natural-gas facility in Kenai and an offshore oil and natural-gas production platform in Cook Inlet.

Next week, Wyden will spend time with his Democratic colleague Sen. Mark Begich (Alaska). Instead of energy, Begich plans to talk with Wyden about global trade and tax reform.

Begich and Wyden are co-sponsors, along with Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.), of the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act, which would simplify the tax system, reduce rates for individuals and families and lower taxes on the middle class.

“As one of the leaders on tax reform in the Senate, it will be great to have Senator Wyden in Alaska where we will have the opportunity talk to Alaskans about the need to simplify taxes for businesses, and to overhaul the tax system in general,” Begich said in a statement. “We know many important decisions need to be made in the months ahead about how to reduce the debt and the deficit, and reforming the tax structure for our country is key to that discussion.”

Wyden said he’s looking forward to talking taxes with Alaskans.

“Senator Begich has been one of the earliest and staunchest supporters in the Senate of comprehensive tax reform and I look forward to joining him in pitching our bipartisan proposal directly to Alaskans,” Wyden said.

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