Politicians as a species have never been noted as either great economists or fortune tellers - but Hawkins is very adept at farcical remarks, as author Haley points out - If you have a State 2.5 times bigger than Texas OF COURSE service delivery costs are going to be proportional to that! In fact, we probably do better at distance AND harsh climate service delivery of services than any other place in the US! Maybe than anywhere else on the planet! 
And Hawkins pie-in-the-sky oil revenue predictions come from a crystal ball nobody else is using! 
If he's certain, let's see him put his money where his mouth is, & put his own home & State pension on the line with Vegas odds-makers on his prediction. If he does that, I'm still not willing to bet Alaska's future on it - but I'd know  he believed what he preached – even though it's nonsensical! 
Haley is right on about the income tax sources & benefits too!
Her article hits all the hot-button issues squarely -  and accurately – on the head!