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Will Palin's Resignation Actually Cost the State of Alaska MORE?
Mudflats @ http://www.themudflats.net/2009/07/07/buckle-up-the-palin-transition-begins/
"What all this means is that there will need to be a special session of the legislature to confirm Campbell. If there's one possible way that Palin can become even less popular with legislators than she already is, it's by yanking them out of their hip waders, and recreational vehicles, and the gorgeous Alaskan summer sun, and hauling them back into the capitol for a bunch of meetings."
Note: A special session includes the cost of sending all the far-flung legislators BACK to Juneau, that's a helluva lot of airline tickets during the peak season.
"What else comes with a special session, besides cranky legislators, and extra business? A big fat price tag is what. Based on previous estimates, we could expect the costs to run well into six figures. Wasn't one of the reasons Palin decided to drop the ball and walk off the court "pass the ball" and resign as governor because her presence was supposedly costing the state money? Just askin'."
Anyone got a calculator?
"What all this means is that there will need to be a special session of the legislature to confirm Campbell. If there's one possible way that Palin can become even less popular with legislators than she already is, it's by yanking them out of their hip waders, and recreational vehicles, and the gorgeous Alaskan summer sun, and hauling them back into the capitol for a bunch of meetings."
Note: A special session includes the cost of sending all the far-flung legislators BACK to Juneau, that's a helluva lot of airline tickets during the peak season.
"What else comes with a special session, besides cranky legislators, and extra business? A big fat price tag is what. Based on previous estimates, we could expect the costs to run well into six figures. Wasn't one of the reasons Palin decided to drop the ball and walk off the court "pass the ball" and resign as governor because her presence was supposedly costing the state money? Just askin'."
Anyone got a calculator?
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http://www.themudflats.net/2009/07/07/buckle-up-the-palin-transition-begins/
Oh God Why Can't I Get Links to Work?
July 8, 2009 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
What Sarah Palin has cost Alaska is incalculable. Why? Because until she reared her sneaky head, all their nefarious stuff went under the rug. Like the Bridge to NoWhere (which she did NOT turn down), and many other boondoggles that the press just ignored. She has put a lens, justifiably so, BTW on the hijinks that have gone on for decades in Alaska against the rest of us tax - payers.
Alaskans are used to getting things for free, yet she is the one crying about Socialism -- Alaska is the most socialized state in our union. She was fine with it until her claim to fame.
Governor? She hasn't governed for the last year, so she only functioned as governor for a year, during which she just went on personal vendettas.
So, bottom line... if she is the choice for 2012, and she wins, it is the absolute end. I kinda think Obama is going to dip and then shine, but we'll see. No matter what, I don't want a dope in the WH, and Sarah Palin is a major dope.
July 8, 2009 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay - I have no issue with disparaging Palin - done it myself. And will continue to do so with great zeal and intent.
But, 'Alaskans are used to getting things for free...' could only be alleged by someone who has never lived here.
Our cost of living (fuel, utilities, food)is much greater than in the lower 48. Many of us live in communities with virtually no immediate access to doctors, dentists, etc. Our freight and delivery rates, whether postal or other, are the highest in the US! Conveniences that many take for granted elsewhere are not available in many areas in the state. Many have no home mail delivery.
Yes we choose to live here, and the PFD (which over most of last decade averages less than 1300 per person annually) is nice, but we pay taxes on it and it doesn't begin to reimburse for higher daily living expenses. We pay no income tax but pay community sales taxes (from 4-7 per cent average).
So, take aim and fire away at Palin - I'll join ya, but there's lots of people here who do not deserve to be maligned.
July 8, 2009 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the rebut Aunt Sam.
I was a little worn out today to keep defending Alaska. The smoke from the wildfires has driven us all inside and it seems our beautiful summer has ended even before it started.
I take great exception to the notion that Alaska is socialist.
I don't recall getting anything for free. In exchange for the PFD (i.e. small pymts from the interest earned off of oil production taxes) private property owners don't own the mineral rights to their own land.
If YOU strike gold, or oil or whatever on your land - you get the royalties. Not here, we have to share with all other Alaskans. I'd say it was communist except it's not government owned, just government managed.
All the mineral/petroleum resources in Alaska are owned collectively by the residents of Alaska - not the government. The state government in Alaska is merely the administrator of those resources - not the owner.
BTW I think Sarah was correct in promoting the TWO so-called bridges to nowhere. It was what she was elected to do - bring money to our state.
Alaska's elected officials are hired to bring economic development to Alaska. Those bridges would create a great deal of economic activity.
One might point out that we don't shoot people whilst drilling for oil in Alaska, and it might be argued that our oil reserves help stabilize an otherwise extremely volatile crude oil market.
Sarah robbed from me the opportunity to develop a professional and community-minded reputation while living in Wasilla.
Forevermore, every woman from Wasilla with an opinion about something is going to be compared to Palin. I love nice clothes, but I don't expect anyone else to pay for them. I am obsessed with public policy but I don't expect everyone to see it my way or adopt policies just because I wink when I ask them to.
July 8, 2009 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
"BTW I think Sarah was correct in promoting the TWO so-called bridges to nowhere. It was what she was elected to do - bring money to our state."
Is that really what a governor is supposed to do? Bring money to your state? Just for the sake of getting money? The bridge to nowhere was a huge, wasteful boondoggle. And you think it was right just because Alaska could make money off of it. Remember, it came to light right after Katrina.
I stand by what I said: Alaskans are used to getting something for nothing.
July 9, 2009 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Is that really what a governor is supposed to do? Bring money to your state?"
Uh yeah, here we expect our legislators to focus like lasers on commerce.
We aren't part of the interstate highway system - Alaska is for all intense and purpose an ISLAND.
Alaska is a new state. All the infrastructure that the lower 48 has enjoyed just doesn't exist here.
The reason other state's citizens' don't get any share of their natural resources is because their founders, their leaders lacked the vision to make it happen.
Hate the game, not the player.
Alaska's constitutional authors were visionaries and it's no coincidence that our system of tax the oil companies to support our state is put forth as a possible model to help push for REAL democratic progress in the Middle East.
Alaska isn't the only state with citizen ownership of its natural resources. Texas has the same exact model only the tax revenue is used to fund their educational system.
Alaska has some of the highest substance abuse and domestic abuse and violent crime rates in the country.
If I had West Virginia's cost of living I would gladly give up my permanent fund dividend.
Please explain to me why Alaskans have gotten something for nothing - the history of Alaska is not one big free ride of economic prosperity.
Don't forget that the Federal Government collects a pretty penny in oil taxes from Fed Lands IN Alaska.
"Having a lot of expenses has nothing to do with it."
^
Examples please.
July 9, 2009 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, I think your arguments are lame. If you think the average West Virginian has it better than you because their cost of living is low, then you have blinkers on. Your "visionary" people who started the Alaskan gravy train is no excuse for the fact that Alaskans get more than other Americans. You get something for nothing, and there is no argument against that. I know.... you're used to it so you expect it. You justify it because you don't have a local dentist?
I just happen to disagree. I wonder how native Americans would fare if they had the kind of deal you have?
July 9, 2009 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
When did I say they had it better than me?
I said they have it cheaper. And I'm sorry honey, but Alaska costs more to own and maintain than West Virginia. Alaska has 6,640 miles of coastline (longer than that of all of the rest of the lower 48 states) and including islands has 33,904 miles of shoreline.
The logistics alone make the cost of doing business, operating a military and YES living here much much more. You have no concept on the vast stretches of untouched land, none.
Fuck you that I get something for nothing.
And if you knew a fucking thing about Alaska you would know that included in its "gravy train" was the Alaska Native Lands Settlement Act.
http://www.alaskool.org/projects/ANCSA/reports/rsjones1981/ANCSA_History71.htm
Alaska Natives started oilfield services companies back in the 70's, you know instead of casinos. Remember when the pipeline was built and the constitutional amendment passed creating the Permanent Fund - yeah right around that time. All those things are connected.
All that "pork" you like to deride as "welfare" or a "gravy train" was brought home by Uncle Ted whose most consistent supporters are Alaska Natives and their related organizations.
Spare me your "indians had it so much worse and now your getting something for nothing" crap.
You sound like Sarah Palin, "if it wasn't for someone else taking what I am entitled to, I'd be a winner!".
July 9, 2009 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
"You justify it because you don't have a local dentist?"
Really?
Did you really type that? Really?
If you are so pathetic as to blame an entire state and JUDGE it so harshly based on driveby headlines of course no one can answer to you - then I have no choice but to call you stupid.
No, ignorant. Willfully so.
July 9, 2009 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
You don't have a local dentist, but your daily commute is 100 miles. Is your dentist's office farther away than your job?
You are extremely defensive for someone who is refuting facts. But most people who refute facts are probably pretty defensive about it.
July 11, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like socialism to me. You failed to mention the $1.89 Alaska gets from Washington for every $1.00 sent.
As far as costs go have you ever heard of "food deserts".
Many of your complaints are standard issue for a lot of people in this country. With less than 700k population, I would guess, there are far more people outside of Alaska that face the same problems you seem to feel make you deserving of your little extras.
I live in Indiana and don't have home mail delivery.
July 9, 2009 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indiana has the benefit of the Federal Highway system. When Indiana sees a downturn many can easily engage in commerce with neighboring areas.
I think Alaska its only fair to compare each states "pork" over the passage of time - lets say post WWII, since the WPA spending etc. was kind of an anomaly - until the most recent stimulus bill.
Personally I think California is probably the largest welfare state, fed money-wise and its unique industries, (i.e. Hollywood and PORN) probably skew its per capita spending/take home figures.
Do I personally do anything for the State of Alaska other than live here? I can't say other than I chose to start my business here, take big financial risks and raise my children in a vacuum.
A couple of thou a year? are you kidding? last years dividend was all Palin's doing, and the payout isn't the tax revenue directly - its the interest earned from it. So the financial companies contracted to manage that money are private and have made some extremely smart investments with that money. If you want some, all it takes is a year of residency to get it.
I would have much rather Palin spoke out against the gouging of consumers for energy costs which is not an optional expense here. The public utilities commission is packed with industry lawyers that justify charging Alaska's citizens global commodity rates for natural gas that isn't sold on the global market. (btw our natural gas companies are Texas owned).
July 9, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
OH YEAH, I can see Ohio from my house.
What you've said here doesn't really have anything to do with what you or I have said
July 9, 2009 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
My point is your "little extras" include access to the whole country via interstate road system, and therefore engage in a lower cost commerce with - via a federal highway system.
Everything we sell has a MUCH higher cost due to transportation issues. Just like Hawaii, which probably has better per capita numbers because well a helluva lot more people live there than here - because the weather is better.
Do tell, how much is your average grocery bill? The average home price/value in Indiana? Alaska's home prices haven't dropped - just stopped rising. You can't buy a condo in a decent neighborhood for less than $250k here. And the idea that I don't pay for anything is bullshit, I pay over $6000 a year in property taxes and plenty in federal income taxes because the average income is somewhat higher - what the Fed giveth, the Fed taketh away. Only I would be happy to pay MORE taxes to avoid paying the 50% higher healthcare costs than the national average.
How far is your commute? Mine is over 100 miles a day - and since Alaskans are gouged with fuel prices there have been months where my gas expenses were higher than my mortgage.
July 9, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
sounds like you are doing just fine.
July 9, 2009 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
"OH YEAH, I can see Ohio from my house."
I think you mean you can move to Ohio, sell goods in Ohio without having to fly or take a boat to get there.
BTW There are a LOT of non-Alaskan companies competing for Alaska's stimulus dollars - presumably to take the profits back home with them.
July 9, 2009 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
it would be a long walk
July 9, 2009 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
It feels like you guys get stuff for free; for example you don't pay any state taxes, and you actually get a couple of thou a year as a rebate from oil companies. Why is that, exactly? Do you do anything for it except have Alaska as your address? If every West Virginian got the same rebate for all the coal that their state produces, its people would not be in poverty; but they don't get any money for THEIR energy. Ted Stevens was known for his ability to bring home the pork, all brought to Alaska from the lower 48's taxes. I see that as getting something for nothing.
I didn't mean it as a personal affront, but I still think Alaskans have gotten plenty for nothing. Having a lot of expenses has nothing to do with it. Tell that to New Yorkers. My sales tax in Virginia is 5%.
If I'm wrong, I will apologize, but please tell me where I'm wrong, because I'd honestly like to know.
July 9, 2009 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
We don't pay state taxes because the tax revenue from oil production taxes pays for our state government - which really isn't that large compared to many many other states.
The payout is derived from monies earned from the INTEREST on the Permanent Fund, not the tax revenue directly.
http://www.apfc.org/home/Content/home/index.cfm
"What is the Alaska Permanent Fund?
A dedicated fund owned by the State of Alaska
In 1976, as the Alaska pipeline construction neared completion, Alaska voters approved a constitutional amendment to establish a dedicated fund: the Alaska Permanent Fund.
Created by a constitutional amendment
“At least 25 percent of all mineral lease rentals, royalties, royalty sales proceeds, federal mineral revenue-sharing payments and bonuses received by the state be placed in a permanent fund, the principal of which may only be used for income-producing investments."
Comprised of income-producing investments
The Fund is invested in an diversified portfolio of public and private asset classes. All investments, whether in Alaska or around the world, must be expected to produce income with an acceptable level of risk. The Fund is not invested in projects that are primarily focused on economic or social development.
Used for both savings and spending
The Legislature may spend realized Fund investment earnings. Realized earnings consist of stock dividends, bond interest, real estate rent and the income made or lost by the sale of any of these investment assets. Unrealized earnings - those resulting from the change in market value of assets that are held - cannot be spent. Most of the spending from the Fund has been for dividends to qualified Alaska residents. The Permanent Fund Dividend Division (a separate entity from the APFC) operates the PFD program, which the Legislature established in 1980.
Managed by a state-owned corporation
In 1980, the Legislature established the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation to manage Fund investments."
July 9, 2009 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Compare all your financial "hardships" to someone living in New York City. You get a ton of stuff for nothing. I don't know why you just can't accept that you do; if it embarrasses you so that you have to dream up justifications, so be it. But compared to any other state, Alaskans get more gravy than anyone else.
You gave your selfishness away when you lauded Palin for landing the $$$$$$$ for those stupid bridges -- money is the goal, regardless of everything else up there.
July 9, 2009 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stick this in your calculator.
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/republican-party/key-reason-palin-gave-for-quitting-appears-to-be-false/
July 9, 2009 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink