Emperor's Rants and Observations

Conservatives4Palin.com

Let me point out that the state currently has $6.6 billion in reserve due to the prudent fiscal management of Gov. Palin. She vetoed spending when the state’s coffers were overflowing with money — and the very reason they were flush with money was because of her ACES, which allowed Alaska to receive a fair return on their resources in times of high oil prices.

Imagine what shape Alaska would be in now without her prudent leadership. (But, of course, she wore an Arctic Cat jacket, so she’s evil and must be stopped!)

So much disinformation and ignorance in two short paragraphs.

1. Palin has nothing to do with the money in Alaska’s Budget Reserve. “Alaska voters created the Constitutional Budget Reserve in 1990, and lawmakers have drawn money from it several times to cover state spending. High oil prices have negated the need to dip into the fund since 2003.” Anchorage Daily News
2. Palin has increased the operating budget by 20% since taking office. She cut capital projects that would create private sector jobs.  Many of her vetoes were made to punish or reward legislators based on their fidelity, or lack of, to Her Highness. “At roughly $3.6 billion, Palin’s proposed operating budget would be an increase of more than $170 million over this year’s budget.” Anchorage Daily News Dec. 15 2006 .”When the smoke cleared after Gov. Sarah Palin’s big cuts to the capital budget in June, one survivor that stood out was a $630,000 appropriation to the Wasilla Sports Complex.” Anchorage Daily News October 7, 2007
3. It was the Alaska legislature that put aside money. “Lawmakers put an unprecedented $5 billion into two state rainy day accounts. The savings came from billions of surplus dollars the state expects to rake in as a result of high oil prices and last year’s oil tax hike.” Anchorage Daily News.
4. It was Palin who championed the $1200 for every man, woman and child in Alaska under the guise of “energy relief. “If we walk out of this special session and we spend a billion (dollars) on a Band-Aid without fixing the hole, the boat is going to fill up with water next year,” said Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage. “What are you going to do about the future so you aren’t going to spend a billion next year and the next year?”. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. How prophetic.
5. Palin was acting in an official capacity to start the Iron Dog race. Co-Governor Todd is a participant who just happens to be sponsored by Arctic Cat. Her appearing in an official capacity wearing clothing provided by her husbands sponsor amounted to free publicity for Arctic Cat. I understand ethics is a difficult concept for some people to understand, but you would think that someone like Palin who campaigned on restoring ethics to government would have at least a rudimentary grasp of the concept.

But there is more.  It seems contributers want to add to the deluge of ignorance.

DB said…Given Alaska’s fiscal situation, it is more than passing strange that the legislature continues to drag its feet on the gas pipelines.

No DB, the legislature is not dragging their feet. In fact, they moved too fast on Palin’s ill-conceived AGIA “process” that will cost Alaskans half a billion dollars and potentially treble damages, without TransCanada ever putting a shovel in the ground. Palin has refused to consider other options and has put Alaskans last by not moving to use our resources in state first.

Greg said…The dems are deliberately trying to force Alaska to become just like the rest of the country, state income tax, state sales tax, debt, the whole works. Dems can’t get enough of taking peoples money from them, and spending it on what they want.

No Greg. In Alaska it’s the Republicans that champion the sales tax. “House Speaker Pete Kott predicts a statewide sales tax proposal will emerge sometime this week in the state Legislature.  Kott, an Eagle River Republican, said such as plan has “a good possibility” of success as lawmakers seek new revenues to reduce the state’s budget deficit.” AlaskaLegislature.com

At the very least is it too much to ask that people who want to comment on Alaska put in a little effort to research what the are writing about?  It seems that these folks are acting more like members of a cult, refusing to listen to anyone that isn’t a fellow believer.  Yes, I know that the same can be said of many Obama supporters, and I would say the same to them.  Open your mind, heart and ears to the perspective of others.  You never know, you might learn something.

Alaska, Palin, Conservative, Propaganda

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