As the administration and legislature wrestle with approving a timely budget, oil and gas tax credits, I hope they will keep in mind that there are small oil and gas operators, some of Alaska origin, who are exploring for oil and gas. I hope that any revisions to the oil and gas tax credits will ensure that small oil and gas operators who are trying to find new oil will be protected from any changes that are being considered. As they consider changes, especially on state lands, that these credits be granted judiciously so that the credits can be claimed when there is measurable and verifiable movement on actually finding and producing new oil.