Executive blames 2006 Alaska ballot measure for revenue decline

August 6, 2009

JUNEAU, Alaska:Ralph Samuels, vice president of government and community relations for Holland America stated that costs for Alaska Ballot Measure 2, that was approved in 2006, "exacerbate" declining revenues that should be repealed. At a presentation given at Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Samuels said that declining revenue margins will result in cruise lines pulling their ships out of the state. Juneau Lawyer Joe Geldhof, author of the ballot measure, stated that Samuels was using "Chicken Little politics" by stating such ideas.

Gedhof elaborates: "People run around saying, 'The sky is falling, the sky is falling,' and after the chamber lunch, people say, 'The sky is falling we have to get something done'. Ralph is trying to create hysteria, to stampede legislators over the cliff and repeal the head tax."

Measure 2 was on the August 22, 2006 primary election in the state of Alaska. It imposed a new $46 per voyage tax "on large cruise ships to pay for vessel services."It imposed a new $46 per voyage tax "on large cruise ships to pay for vessel services."

See also

* Alaska Shipping Tax, Ballot Measure 2 (August 2006)