By Becky Bohrer The Associated Press AP

2:58 p.m. AKST, February 14, 2012
JUNEAU, Alaska—
Gov. Sean Parnell says Alaskans deserve better than the placeholder oil tax bill released by the state Senate.

Senators have said they plan to fill in the details of a plan after working through the committee process. Senators plan to try to reach consensus on addressing the tax structure's progressive surcharge, then look at other areas, like tax credits.

Parnell says senators have been working on the issue for over a year, and he called on them to focus on finding a solution to increasing production.

Parnell says his plan is the only one on the table capable of doing that, though a consultant to lawmakers on Tuesday said the plan has problems and isn't a viable alternative to the existing tax structure.