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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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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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission report to Congress said any applicant proposing to build a multibillion-dollar pipeline to carry North Slope gas to market ideally should have firm commitments from producers to ship the gas on the new pipeline.

Many predicted this exact scenario when AGIA was “debated”.

People said there would few if any qualifying offers. We got one

People said that it was going no where without commitments from producers to ship gas through the line.

People said that AGIA would only delay the process further and we would be no closer to the reality of a Gas Pipeline at the end of Palin’s term than we were at the beginning.

People warned that Palin was not going to bully the producers into making a deal that was too risky without a commitment on taxes.

Also, let’s applaud the one man in the legislature, Ralph Samuels, that had the courage of his convictions to vote against AGIA in the wake of the Veco scandal for this exact reason.

Alaskan Best Search – Ralph Samuels

AGIA was a giant step backward. It didn’t produce the competition Palin promised. And yet she steadfastly refuses to consider the proposals of Conoco-Phillips or the Alaska Gasline Port Authority.

The fact is that Palin and her underlings have been wrong every step of the way. Each passing day we are further and further away from making the pipeline a reality.

Alaskan Best Search – Alaska Gasline Port Authority
Alaskan Best Search – ConocoPhillips Gas Pipeline

Palin has committed 500 Million dollars to a company that probably won’t even qualify to get the required permits because they have no gas to ship.

Here is the Murkowski negotiated contract.

You can find all of the supporting documents here.

There is no pipeline if there is no commitment to ship gas. There is no commitment to ship gas without stable long term agreement on costs to the producers. Nobody in their right mind would commit to hundreds of billions of dollars in any project without knowing the the long term costs. Nobody is going to bully the oil companies into making that kind of investment. Even with the bribe of 500 Million dollars the state was only able to get one “qualifying” offer. That alone should be enough to convince anyone how far off Palin is in her thinking.

I can’t fathom why these simple facts are so hard for some people to grasp.

Are we, as a State and people, willing to invest the billions of dollars and take all the risk to develop our vast resources? For instance, are we willing to invest the nearly 40 billion dollars in the Permanent Fund into developing and bringing our resources to market?

There is a good deal of empty rhetoric about how the resources are “ours” and we should dictate and control how and when they are developed. However, whether it is Oil, Gas, Fish, Timber or Minerals it’s private enterprises that take the risk, make the investments and provide the labor and expertise needed. What role should the State take other than landlord, and recipient of taxes, fees and royalties?

Alaskan Best Search – “Natural Resources“

Agriculture in Alaska has had a rocky and tumultuous history with government involvement going back to 1897. From the “Evolution of the Cooperative Extension Service in Alaska“:

The earliest reference to this work is found in a report by Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson: The first appropriation “to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate and report to Congress upon the agricultural resources of Alaska, with special reference to the desirability and feasibility of the establishment of agricultural experiment stations in the Territory,” became available July 1, 1897

Throughout the history of Agriculture in Alaska long, vulnerable supply lines have been the primary justification for expending government funds and resources on development and support of agriculture. Not much has changed in 100 years. In fact, Alaskans may be more vulnerable to supply disruptions today. Man made or natural disasters could cut off supplies for an extended amount of time. Rising fuel costs could push the cost of food, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat and poultry, up to the point where many Alaskans couldn’t afford to feed themselves without assistance.

So what is the right and proper role of government in supporting Alaskan agricultural self sufficiency? At one extreme we have the school of thought that it should be left completely to the private sector and allow the free market to determine the winners and losers in agriculture. This would be fine in principle, but ignores the fact that there is no incentive for the free market to protect Alaskans from disruption in the supply of food. Unlike other segments of the private sector farming takes years in some cases to bring a product to market in competitive response to high prices. The size of investment required to start a farm would be too great of a risk for the private sector. At the other extreme would be heavy government subsidies, price supports, ownership, control, and management of transportation, storage and processing facilities. Government simply is not structured to take on the responsibilities of the private sector in this manner. This is a recipe for waste and mismanagement. I think it’s evident that there is a role for government to play in Agriculture in Alaska some where between these two extremes.

Like many other issues in Alaska, there is a lack of vision and long term goals for agriculture in Alaska. Perhaps the most valuable contribution that government can make would be to bring together all of the stake holders to create that vision and set goals for the industry. Their doesn’t appear to be an governmental entity that is charged with that function. The Alaska Board of Agriculture and Conservation (BAC) should have their function expanded to include overseeing the process of developing long term goals and identifying areas where the state may assist private industry in attaining those goals through loans, research, marketing support and coordination with other government agencies and services. If government is going to be involved it has to be in a coordinated, planned support role. Not just tossing money around in the hopes that something will stick and work.

Since Queen P has fired and replaced the members of BAC, this would seem to be a good time to consider expanding their role. However, the first order of business has to be to address the Matanuska Maid crisis. Closing the dairy prematurely could be the tipping point for the demise of agriculture in Alaska. There will be plenty of time to figure out what went wrong and why the Creamery Board decided to close the dairy so abruptly. Right now we need to protect the fragile agricultural industry while moving as quickly as possible to get the dairy into private hands without the constraints of being a government owned entity. Saving agriculture in Alaska depends on propping up the dairy industry in the very short term – three to six months. That should be sufficient time to provide longer term solutions not requiring significant government cash support.

Technorati Tags: Alaska, Matanuska Maid, Dairy

adn.com | money : Governor gets a frosty reception from Mat Maid

“We can’t have a whole entourage waltzing through the dairy,” he said. “You just can’t do that unannounced like that and come in. I don’t care what anyone says. The fact is everybody is treated the same. I don’t care whoever you are.” Palin and the board, which oversees operation of Mat Maid, have been sparring over the decision to close the dairy.

…give me a minute while I compose myself. I have been having laughing fits everytime I think of the Good Queen P sitting in the lobby of a dairy waiting for permission to enter the STATE OWNED DAIRY. I don’t care who you are, that’s funny rite thar.

Ok. So where to go from there.

It really doesn’t make much sense to throw good money after bad. I’m sympathetic to the farmers and the employees of Mat Maid. It also concerns me because any disruption in the supply lines into the state like another Teamsters strike, and we could be without fresh dairy products which isn’t a good thing.

What can we do to keep the farmers and dairy in operation without wasting more money. What could be profitable?

Alaskan Premium Ice Cream.

HotLicks Homemade Ice Cream in Fairbanks has a proof of concept operation. We connect them with Authentic Alaskan Native Made Syrups and Alaska Wild Berry Products. We cut a deal with Princess Lodges and Tours to be the exclusive Ice Cream source for them. We get it into the finest restaurants around the state. We get it into the duty free stores wherever Alaska Airline flies. We package 1/2 pint sizes for sale on Alaska Airlines flights like they do with Alaskan Beer. Alaskans passion for Ice Cream is legendary. We should capitalize on that status and market our own brand of Premium Ice Cream. Let’s get this thing going, who do we contact at Made In Alaska, Alaska Grown (sell it at the farmers markets around the state) and Buy Alaska. Perhaps the Alaska Small Business Development Center can help develop a business plan and find investors or a loan. Are there any grants available for the Dairy Farmers that may help?

Perhaps we need to look at this as an opportunity rather than a problem. Clearly a new approach is needed, and trying to bully the creamery board didn’t work out so well. Perhaps an approach like Cooperative Community Marketing would work where we involve a wider circle of stake holders. It’s part of Alaska’s history, and is worth saving if we can. I’m ready to help if others are interested, you can email me.

Palin is a self described Conservative Christian Republican. She is an ideologue. The most dangerous type of corrupt politician. She represents an ideology, not constituents. At least honest crooks can be bought off with cash and prizes. She suffers from “Bush II syndrome”. She thinks she is right even when most reasonable and knowledgeable people know she is wrong. She picks the wrong people to put her trust in and sticks with them too long. Loyal to a fault some would say. Sound familiar? It should because those same things are true about our President. There were plenty of warning signs about Bush that people failed to acknowledge. Let’s hope the people of Alaska aren’t so stupid as to repeat the same kind of mistake with Queen Palin. I have hope because we did boot Murkowski to the curb after only one term, but in the same breath we elected a weak sister of his, so the jury is still out. Let’s also not forget that Murkowski started out very popular, he actually received a majority of the vote (56%) unlike the Queen who had more people voting for anyone else than her (48%).

What is most troublesome however is the blind allegiance that her loyal supporters (members of the Queens Court) have for her. It’s as if people just buy into what ever garbage she sets in front of them. Take her Alaska Gasline Inducement Act for instance. First of all, she flat out states that she would veto the bill if it contained any significant changes that would have allowed more flexibility to encourage a wider range of offers and participants. Of course that came at a very opportune timing with the federal indictments being handed down by the FBI for Vic Kohring, Bruce Weyhrauch, Pete Kott and Bill Allen. The gutless wonders (with the exception of Ralph Samuels) wouldn’t dare even appear to be on the side of the Oil Companies so they just basically rubber stamped Her Highness ill-advised bill.

So what is so terrible about the Queens pet bill AGIA? AGIA only works if stockholder and public pressure force the leaseholders, (also known as the producers, the shippers, or basically the Gasline Customers) to agree to commit billions of dollars to long agreements with basically no security. They are counting on the good will of the oil companies essentially. That’s her plan. Her Highness has committed the State to up to 5 years and 500 Million dollars without having any idea (or caring) if the producers will even ship the gas through the pipeline. The state can’t force them to ship the gas, or they wouldn’t even bother with this silly pretense. Yet the members of the Queens court are adamant that this pie in the sky, build it and they will come, scam… uh scheme is the best and surest way to get progress on the Gas line. Murkowski was a signature away from a deal that at least had the pipeline customers talking to us. That would have seemed to be at least a good starting point. However, the Queens advisers thought AGIA was the better way to go, so negotiations with the only entities that have what it takes to get the deal done were dropped. Her loyal supporters cheered, Long Live the Queen. Her cheer leaders like lotsofpipe over on Halcro’s Gasline Hotline are going to be few and far between 4 years from now when we are no closer to a pipeline than we are today, and likely out 500 million to boot.

The Queen is trying to bully the oil companies into something that they don’t think makes financial sense.  There is no way that will or can work, despite what her groupies may think.

Richard Fineberg, an Ester analyst and longtime oil industry critic, recently completed a study in which he calculated that the state is losing $404 a minute due to excessive charges on the oil pipeline, amounting to billions of dollars over the life of the pipeline.

He said a 1985 legal settlement between the state and the pipeline owners establishing a method for setting pipeline tariffs — a deal that’s now at the center of the legal fight — was a big mistake for the state.

The state has a long legacy of battling with oil companies over pipeline tariffs, royalties and taxes, and this latest struggle isn’t likely to end soon.

By WESLEY LOY, Anchorage Daily News

These are the same folks that we are going to partner with to build a gas pipeline?

Not only have they apparently cheated the State of Alaska out of nearly a billion dollars, but they have overcharged other smaller businesses as well. They didn’t even invest those ill gotten gains back into the pipeline which led to the pipeline being shut down due to corrosion. If that wasn’t bad enough we can add the millions spent on legal proceedings. Then they have the nerve to say that Alaska is an “unstable when it comes to taxing oil companies“.

Also, lets not forget that Exxon is still fighting paying the court ordered judgement from their spill nearly 20 years ago.

Why would we want to go into yet another venture with these people that have a long history of lying, cheating, stealing and stone walling. At what point is enough and enough? For me, I ‘m at that point. I think it’s time to look at ways to revoke their leases and take back complete control of the oil and gas fields.