Sue Steinacher - There's an economic principle - instead of looking at the short-term for a small group of people, you look at the long-term for everyone. A 6% tax today will eventually need to be a 30% tax if we maintain the same level of State government we have today. How do I know that? I attended the budget brainstorming Walker had here in Fairbanks two years ago. The math worked out that, without oil revenues, every income producer in the State would need to pay 30% tax to support the current level of government services.

So, I did the math. Currently, I wouldn't be paying much under the income tax, but I already pay 25% to the feds. In 10 years, if oil decline continues and state services remain at current levels, we will all be paying 30%. That PFD will mean nothing to me at that point because, if my income remains steady, I'll be bankrupt and living in a ditch.

Reducing the PFD for three years won't kill you and it, along with cuts, will balance the budget in five years.