Alaska Governor Murkowski sued over pipeline draft contract

November 2nd, 2006

Fairbanks, Alaska - Eight Alaska state lawmakers sued governor Frank Murkowski to block him from signing a natural gas pipeline contract.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop Murkowski from executing the draft contract he reached with three major oil companies to develop North Slope gas reserves or from modifying the state's tax laws or lease terms without legislative approval.

"Should the governor execute the fiscal contract," the suit reads, "the harm to the state will be of constitutional proportions. Such actions will irreparably upset the separation of powers doctrine. The danger in terms of confusion on the citizenry and possible future legal entanglements will be great and irreversible."

Murkowski's spokesman, John Manly, called the suit "bizarre."

"The governor hasn't given anybody any indication that he would do that," Manly told the Anchorage Daily News. "He's said throughout that he's going to follow the law and the constitution."

A judge in Fairbanks did not grant a requested temporary restraining order immediately. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Fairbanks.