"...Walker said he proposed those taxes to balance the impact of his deficit reduction plan, since the dividend cuts contained in SB 128 disproportionately hit lower-income Alaskans.

But Republican lawmakers have criticized the tax plans — which were projected to raise a combined $350 million — as unsupported by data and financially insignificant... "

  So what I`m getting from that, is that Costello is telling us in Conoco caucus code, is that the fact that THEIR action in raiding the dividend first and leaving revenue to hang"disproportionately hits lower income Alaskans", which is to say most Alaskans, while benefiting those at the top rungs of the ladder, is acceptable to her and her majority because there is "no proof of that?".  Typical oil party political BS and misdirection.  Costello is a fast learner of how to say one thing but mean another. as long as the outcome protects their "ALEC pledge" of no new taxes under any circumstances.   I guess NEED is irrelevant to her.