...North Slope oil. They said that would be simpler and would help ensure the state wasn't cheated. Palin, once a gross tax advocate herself, said she was persuaded by the Department of Revenue that a net tax which takes a bigger share of profits...

...when the oil runs out. Harris said the jobs the industry provides in the state may be even more important. Giving gross tax advocates a boost is recent testimony by oil industry consultant Pedro van Meurs before the Legislature. Van Meurs, Murkowski's...