In Palin's Alaska...

[flyingimam]

Spending rose in Palin's Alaska administrations

Updated 2h 14m ago

By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON â?? Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin calls herself a fiscal conservative who wants to "rein in government spending." She says she "reformed the abuses of earmarks in our state." Republican John McCain said during the last debate that his running mate has "cut the size of government."

But Palin didn't cut the size of government as mayor of Wasilla, and she hasn't done so as Alaska's governor, city and state budget records show. Spending in fast-growing Wasilla increased by 55% during her tenure from 1996-2002, records show. In nearly two years as governor, she has presided over a 31% spending hike by a state government that sought earmarks from Washington even as it reaped billions from higher oil prices and Palin-backed tax increases on oil companies.

Bill McAllister, a governor's office spokesman in Alaska, said the state lived through painful budget cuts in the 1990s when low oil prices restricted revenue. "There's an element of catch-up here," he said.

Palin tried to restrain legislative spending, pare back earmark requests and steer money into reserve funds, he said. He acknowledged, however, that Palin had to sign off on numerous pet projects in legislative districts.

"Sure, there are some political realities," McAllister said.

Palin used her line-item veto power to strike nearly half a billion dollars in spending items in 2007 and 2008. Yet she signed bills that included hundreds of millions for local projects inserted by state lawmakers, similar to those McCain has regularly ridiculed as pork in the U.S. Senate, spending records show.

As governor, Palin has signed off on $402,000 to study the arctic fox; $154,000 for renovations to three gun clubs and $125,000 for the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, state records show. Her budgets have funded $44,500 to spruce up a ski resort, $75,000 for the Arctic Thunder Air Show and $50,000 to improve a Little League field in the Mat-Su Valley near her hometown of Wasilla.

The Palin administration asked Washington for $197 million in earmarks this year, down from $254 million the year before, according to the state budget office. Appearing last month on ABC's The View, McCain incorrectly said Palin had not sought any earmarks as governor. Earmarks are spending items inserted into bills by legislators.

As mayor she hired a federal lobbyist, made trips to Washington and helped Wasilla win nearly $27 million in earmarked federal funding, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, a non-partisan watchdog group.

Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign, declined to address McCain's misstatements about Palin's record but said in an e-mail that the governor reformed government by "putting every dollar to work in order to strengthen Alaska's rapidly expanding economy and ensure long-term development."

McAllister said Palin reduced her requests for federal earmarks but never promised to stop asking for them.

"I think what she's saying is, the process has been overused," McAllister said.

McCain, by contrast, calls for an end to earmarks.

Alaska's spending bills are split into a capital budget for infrastructure projects and an operating budget that funds salaries and other general government expenses. In Palin's first two years, the state operating budget has increased 31%, and capital spending remained roughly at the same level as the last two years under her predecessor, Republican Frank Murkowski, state records show.

Alaska's capital budget is full of local projects because many local governments rely on state funding to meet basic needs. Most of Alaska is owned by the federal government, and only 25 municipalities levy a property tax, according to the state tax assessor's office. The capital budget, therefore, is a grab bag of projects requested by communities through their state lawmakers.

Because 90% of the state's revenue comes from the oil and gas industry, Alaska has been flush with cash in recent years. State coffers grew fatter still when Palin, with help from Democrats in the Legislature, increased taxes this year by billions on the energy industry.

The Alaska government tends to spend more in good times, said Greg Erickson, an economic consultant in the state capital.

In a newsletter, Democratic Rep, Mike Duggan compared the 2008 budget process to a feeding frenzy by piranhas.

"The legislature is chewing through the financial bonanza brought by higher oil taxes and higher oil prices at a prodigious rate," he said.

Like the Washington earmark process McCain and Palin decry, the Alaska budgeting process is rife with politics and lobbying.

"Local folks generally get their projects by gaining influence with their representatives and their governor and getting it included in the capital budget," Erickson said. "The bigger communities hire well-paid lobbyists."

Spending rose in Palin's Alaska administrations - USATODAY.com

flyingimam Reviewed by flyingimam on 10-24-2008. In Palin's Alaska... Spending rose in Palin's Alaska administrations Updated 2h 14m ago By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY WASHINGTON â?? Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin calls herself a fiscal conservative who wants to "rein in government spending." She says she "reformed the abuses of earmarks in our state." Republican John McCain said during the last debate that his running mate has "cut the size of government." But Palin didn't cut the size of government as mayor of Wasilla, and she hasn't done so as Alaska's Rating: 5

[dragonrider]

Does Anchorage have a Saks Fifth Avenue or a Neiman Marcus? As Governor, does Palin have a clothing expense account? That could account for billions....

[Psycho4Bud]

Yup, the polls are DEFINATELY getting closer.:thumbsup:

Have a good one!:s4:

[SnSstealth]

so Alaska gets billions in tax increases against the oil companies. who pays for that? you dont think the oil companies are gonna take that hit do ya? thanks sarah, heres my wallet, I wont be needing it anymore.

db

[texas grass]

its nice to see how much she likes to spend, just like an eliteist

[justanotherbozo]

i guess that explains why 80% of Alaskans love her, 'cause she's such
a wild spender, wasting Alaskan taxpayer money.

get real will you!

you people are so busy bashing the only person not a millioniare
in this race that you completely ignore the facts about Obama's
shady past. shit man, he's an admitted coke head for God's sake.

don't you see how desperate it is to keep looking for these stupid
little things to bash Palin with? none of these little 'issues' that
you people bring up are worth a hill of beans next to Obama's past.

[flyingimam]

i guess that explains why 80% of Alaskans love her, 'cause she's such
a wild spender, wasting Alaskan taxpayer money.

get real will you!

you people are so busy bashing the only person not a millioniare
in this race that you completely ignore the facts about Obama's
shady past. shit man, he's an admitted coke head for God's sake.

don't you see how desperate it is to keep looking for these stupid
little things to bash Palin with? none of these little 'issues' that
you people bring up are worth a hill of beans next to Obama's past.

with all due respect

reading your recent election related comments and despite the fact that i totally dont like calling people out in a serious/sarcastic manner (however u look at it) I just could not resist this time around dont mean to hurt no feelins, just had to point it out:

the only major thing I see you are doing is anti-bashing the "bashing" in a real desperate way (do i remember a BIG BOLD MCCAIN/PALIN 08 somewhere last night as your only response, reminds of the USA USAs chanted without really thinking deep and knowing why its chanted), come up with a valid argument instead of a mere outcry man. defend who u like to defend: not emotionally, but factually like how other like-minded right leaning people do around here including "my friend" P4B see he may come to defend his candidate, but he does his best to have a solid defense even if it may not be a solid one, u know, he comes up with something stroner than just a lil whining

At least what u call "bashing" includes some factual data and information.

granted, there are some people here who merely like to attack palin/mccain with false or correct information, dont group me up with them by using "you people" aight? my point is only to inform, if some1's blood reaches boiling point from anger (or happiness) by my posts just cuz it looks like im just another basher or a die hard democrat, thats their problem, cuz i aint either one!

many different kinds of people including some republicans support obama and "bash" palin or others from very diverse povs that u probably are not aware of until u act mature and debate and find out their pov whether u agree or disagree with them.

Why is that when your beloved characters are criticized in a rational manner, its called bashing... both sides are doing this to a some extent and keep pointing fingers at each other and call names n stuff. its disgusting that grown up people act like little children supportin their best daddy of the world just so they have "REPPED" their blood without really having any material to back it up

[IAmKowalski]

i guess that explains why 80% of Alaskans love her, 'cause she's such
a wild spender, wasting Alaskan taxpayer money.

get real will you!

you people are so busy bashing the only person not a millioniare
in this race that you completely ignore the facts about Obama's
shady past. shit man, he's an admitted coke head for God's sake.

don't you see how desperate it is to keep looking for these stupid
little things to bash Palin with? none of these little 'issues' that
you people bring up are worth a hill of beans next to Obama's past.

Wow. Just Wow.

She's not being bashed because she's the only non-millionaire in the race, she's being bashed because she is totally unqualified to even be in the race. It's like Dan Quayle all over again. It is interesting to see the difference in the two running mates: Obama selected a qualified candidate who he feels confident in - and who America can feel confident in should he ever be forced to take office. McCain wants to win an election, so he picked a candidate that he and his advisors hoped would draw Clinton supporting women away from Obama. And as a further slap in the face to every woman in the country, pretty much all they expected her to have to do to pull that off was to wear a skirt. They didn't seem to think that it would matter that she's an idiot, holds radical and ridiculous views, and is totally uniformed on the issues.

See this is why I love Republicans :-) Having a president who has been arrested for cocaine possession, had the record sealed, and denies that it ever happened? Oh, that's fine.

Having an honest candidate who admits to his past - now that's shady.

Quick tell us how he shouldn't get elected 'cause he's smoked weed and admitted to it while you're at it - see how that one flies.

Having a VP candidate who uses earmarks which she not only supported but then diverted money from and then uses her opposition of as the basis for her campaign stump speeches? No problem. Gotta love her. Embezzlement is the American way right?

Ever meeting a college while working on anti-poverty and education reform programs, who happens to be a distinguished professor and author - now that's palling around with terrorists 'cause of his actions when Obama was eight years old.

Having a president whose failed oil company was purchased at inflated price by the bin-laden family which saved his ass? Just good business! Don't mess with Texas!

I mean it's fun to watch really :-) Double-Think at its best. Have fun - 11 More days and Obama's lead just keeps on growing.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Current electoral map:
Obama/Biden 306 259 Solid 47 Leaning
McCain/Palin 157 137 Solid 20 Leaning
Toss Up 75

Latest National Polls, Oct 24th 2008:
Hotline/FD Obama 50, McCain 43 Obama +7
Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Obama 51, McCain 41 Obama +10
GWU/Battleground Obama 49, McCain 46 Obama +3
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[Psycho4Bud]

Wow. Just Wow.

She's not being bashed because she's the only non-millionaire in the race, she's being bashed because she is totally unqualified to even be in the race.

According to Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, Obama isn't qualified to be President. I guess he shouldn't be in the race either....I think I've stated that before.

Have a good one!:s4:

[stinkyattic]

Kowalski, man, every time I see material from you I am impressed by the simple and accurate responses. Good post!