Alaska Lawmakers Want Info on Veco Ties From Big OilTwo Democratic state legislators in Alaska wrote to three major oil companies today asking whether they were involved in Veco’s bribe-laden lobbying effort last year on an oil tax law.
Former Veco CEO Bill Allen pleaded guilty to bribing officials to get a reduction in the tax rate for oil companies, hoping it would encourage them to build a lucrative pipeline. During the trial of former state Rep. Pete Kott (R-AK) last week, the prosecution played a tape of Allen telling ConocoPhillips President Jim Bowles about the lobbying effort. On the tape, Allen is heard saying, “Hey Jim, I told you we would-between-with Pete Kott and Ben we wouldn’t have a bill. I know you’re probably talking to someone else, but remember what I told you. We got it done.”
In their letter, the two state lawmakers asked for reassurance from the oil companies that they were not involved:
We do not know if anyone at Conoco Phillips, or any of the oil companies engaged in criminal conduct, and do not suggest such conduct occurred. But we have an obligation to the public to make sure we receive reliable assurances that nobody from your companies participated in the improper influence peddling attempts made in 2005 and 2006.