Emperor's Rants and Observations

Alaska Politics Blog : Palin on stimulus: ‘More dependence on Washington’ | adn.com

By Governor Sarah Palin

“Some question my decision to accept job-ready stimulus funds, while leaving on the table for discussion other funds that grow government”

For the first two years of her term, Governor Palin ‘grew’ the Alaska operating budget by 20%. Apparently she only became concerned about the growth of government once she was tapped by fellow maverick John McCain to be his running mate.

Shovel-ready projects are certifiable because they put people to work and grow Alaska’s private-sector economy.

So how does that fit with Governor Palin cutting capital projects all around the state in Alaskan communities in the last two budgets? 231 Million in 2007 and 268 million in 2008. So does that mean creating private sector jobs wasn’t important before, but it is now?

When stimulus money runs out in two years, who will pay for the expanded government programs, when Alaska currently has a budget shortfall of over a billion dollars?

Governments receive time limited funding all the time.  When the federal money runs out the program is dropped, cut back, or additional funding is requested.  This happens at every level of government, it’s nothing new.  Everyone knows what temporary means, or at least everyone not named Palin.  The idea is to provide additional funding in areas that are going to be most impacted by the economic crisis.  Things like additional funds for school lunch programs and extended unemployment benefits.  There aren’t any federal mandates that these additional programs or funding must continue beyond the two years of funding.

That billion dollar budget shortfall is one manufactured by Palin.  She submitted a budget based on oil prices being $74 per barrel, nearly double what they were at the time.  Nearly double what real oil industry experts predicted, and still well over the current $49 per barrel price today.  It’s not like she wasn’t warned either. Legislators were very skeptical about her basing the budget on such a ridiculously inflated oil price.  Representative Mike Hawker went on record writing to Governor Palin imploring her to re-evaluate her oil price predictions.  Read the letter here and you will see that he was spot on his predictions that Governor Palin ignored.  Just one example of her arrogance. Had she heeded that advice, there would be no budget shortfall.

Remember, these dollars aren’t “replacement dollars,” they are “additional dollars,” and obviously increase budgets.

Yes Governor we remember. We also remember that these are “temporary dollars” to face a “temporary crisis”. Once the temporary crisis has ended there will be no need for those temporary dollars. Is that simple and succinct enough for even you Governor?

I’m approaching federal funds and mandates with caution, but won’t stand in the way of organizations or communities applying to the feds for funding their own expansions.

Deftly done Governor, congratulations, or is it the brand managers who should be congratulated? She can claim that she rejected those hated stimulus dollars, but she won’t “stand in the way” of other Alaskans getting them. That way she’ll remain a conservative favorite all the while those she was elected to serve can still get what is their fair share of the stimulus package.

Some, enticed with as much Washington money as possible, assume this is free money. It is not. America is $11 trillion in debt.

Of course it’s not “free”. Those are taxpayer dollars, including Alaskans, including nearly 30% of PFD’s and that extra $1200 bribe the Governor handed out last year. We are going to be 11 trillion in debt regardless what Governor Palin takes or not. Clearly this is a statement meant for her lower 48 constituency, because it certainly doesn’t apply to those she has sworn to serve.

For example, Alaska’s communities would have to adopt building energy codes that compliment the most recent International Codes. These standards should be locally determined, not federally mandated.

This has been covered by Sean Cockerham at the Anchorage Daily News Politics Blog, so I’ll just quote from this post here

The code would only apply to communities with more than 2,500 people. Structures without plumbing or central heating would be exempt.

Anchorage already has an energy code that would meet the requirements of the bill and Fairbanks does for residential structures, according to Wielechowski’s office. Ketchikan is also planning to adopt a code. Structures built by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation meet the energy efficiency requirements as well.

Anchorage Republican Sen. McGuire said that “over time, any additional costs of building energy efficient homes are recouped, and exceeded, by energy savings.

The state would have eight years to adopt such codes.

Palin goes on to write

And, if we take additional unemployment compensation funds, Alaska would have to extend eligibility guidelines.

Yes, for the period of time that the federal funds cover. This has been done before during rough economic times. When the situation gets better, the need for extended benefits and funds are no longer required. In fact the legislature can write that into the law.

This federal involvement locks us into government dependency for longer periods.

Federal dependency? As if we are independent now? Should we reject any federal funds of any type so that we are independent? Like our own country? What dependency is she referring to and why is that bad?

Alaskans must read the fine print on these federal mandates, because certain allocations also require state-matching funds.

Governor, why not just tell us. Quote from the documents and tell us what mandates require matching funds and how much. Is this new money, for new programs, or is this increased funding for existing programs?

When Alaska was granted statehood, it was with the expectation that our independent, innovative spirit and rich resources would largely sustain us, rather than depending on federal government. Creating more dependence on Washington steers us away from Alaska’s magnificent potential and destiny, and that, to me, is a problem.

Well now, that’s quite inspiring, however one thing. How does accepting the stimulus funds make us more dependent? If that is truly how she feels, then why didn’t she reject ALL of the stimulus money? This is how we know that this is mainly just for show.

And now for the big finish:

My job is to help Alaskans count the cost for the long term, not sell our birthright for short-term gain. Alaskans must acknowledge that if we dig a fiscal hole, it will be filled by our families and businesses. Reliance on Washington is not our only option. We could exercise fiscal responsibility and prudent planning, develop our resources, energize Alaskans, and revitalize our spirit. We are up to the challenge. This is the best lesson we can teach our children.

Replace Alaskans with Americans above and you have her Presidential campaign stump speech.

You see this is simply about her philosophy. She doesn’t like the feds meddling in what she believes is none of their business. That includes education, health care, public assistance and now apparently safe and energy efficient buildings. She is using the economic crisis, and stimulus package to further her personal ambitions at the national level. I find this insulting and disgusting.

She offers nothing in the way of alternatives, but at least that is consistent in her two years as Governor. She ignored the plight of Alaskans in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta until public outrage forced her to act. Even now she has done little to help.  Mostly giving lip service and a quick photo op with demigods Prevo and Graham.  It was private Alaskan citizens that came to their aid. Now they, and other Alaska Bush Communities will be receiving heating oil from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez  How sad is that? The richest state in the union and our fellow citizens are reduced to taking hand outs from a foreign Socialist country.

Governor Palin has abandoned the people she has sworn to serve.  She is a disgrace to the office she abused.  This last act of arrogance and hubris should ensure that she will never win an election in Alaska again.  She better hope her national ambitions pans out, because she’s done in Alaska.

Palin, Alaska, Stimulus, Budget

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Alaska Politics Blog : Palin rejecting federal stimulus money | adn.com

The biggest single chunk of stimulus money that Palin is turning down is $160 million for education. There’s also $17 million in Department of Labor funds (vocational rehabilitation services, unemployment services, etc.), about $9 million for Health and Social Services and about $7 million for Public Safety. The full list and the specifics aren’t available from the governor’s budget department yet.

Public Education isn’t important. Job training isn’t important. Public Health isn’t important. Public Safety isn’t important.

We are facing a huge budget deficit because of Palin’s incompetence and she has the audacity to turn down money? She has increased the State’s operating budget by 20% over the last two years, and now she’s worried about state government growth?

Will this finally wake up Alaskans to the fact that Palin doesn’t give a damn about Alaska or Alaskans? Could she make it any clearer that she is motivated purely by promoting herself for 2012? It can’t be that she is simply this stupid. Her stupidity is certainly a contributing factor, but nobody can be this stupid. I’m certain her ‘brand managers’ have advised her to take this position to further her national reputation.

She is an idiot and traitor to Alaska. She has chosen her personal ambition over the people she was sworn to serve. As if her lies aren’t bad enough. As if her abuse of her office isn’t bad enough. As if giving away 500 Million dollars to a foreign company for doing what Denali Pipeline is doing at their own cost wasn’t bad enough. As if squandering money and mismanaging energy costs wasn’t bad enough. As if her taking Per Diem illegally wasn’t enough. Why is she still in office? Will our legislators finally grow a pair and put her in her place? Namely out of office and hopefully out of Alaska.

Any Alaskan that supports Palin on this should pack their bags and leave with her. I understand that Texas has a real love for idiots in office and high tolerance for those ignorant fools that support them.

Palin, Alaska, Stimulus, Traitor, Impeachment

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