Oil Taxes on Alaska Senate's Radar for Weeks

Alaska's Senate Finance Committee will likely spend more than two weeks on an oil tax bill, and a committee co-chair says the panel reserves the option to change everything under the bill's title.

Sen. Bert Stedman's timeline means the House will be working under a tight schedule if it expects to fully vet and pass out a bill before the 90 day session ends April 15.

The committee plans two hearings a day on the issue this week from Wednesday through Friday.

Senate President Gary Stevens says he thinks there's sufficient time for the Legislature to address the issue this session.

He defended the time the Senate's taken, saying it's important to understand the impact of the potential changes made and to ensure things are done right.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.