By Linda Kellen Biegel

In my previous article “Face Off,” I discussed that the Governor and her staff refused to reveal to Alaska Legislators what Alaska infrastructure projects the Governor’s office was submitting for inclusion in President-elect Obama’s Stimulus Package. I explained that rumors had persisted for a few weeks that the only projects she was submitting were road improvements and other infrastructure projects that benefited the gas line. (translation: benefited the Governor)

I also included an interview KTVA did with Senator Begich where he revealed this “confidential” letter between the Governor’s office and his administration and explained that Governor Palin was not asking for enough money.

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/ESLletter_Jan12-2009.pdf

Since then, the Governor sent out a press release in response that demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of this process, how it works and what her role is in it.

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1601

She actually shows that she is completely befuddled regarding the entire stimulus process. She talks about her pet gas line projects as if they are earmarks…and wants them to be included in the package. However, later on in the letter and the press release, she keeps quoting various political figures on how “earmarks won’t be allowed.” Of course, she’s referring to those pesky other non-gas line related infrastructure projects, which are too…well…local to be considered (I left the typos in):

“It is my understanding that you have received funding requests from local goverrunents, non-profits, and other entities throughout Alaska. In large part, these requests reflect local concerns. It is not appropriate for the state to comment on each project that has come to our attention. Instead, we would prefer to focus on the rationale for our own recommendations to you.”

Then she commented further in the press release…to say she won’t be commenting:

“While others have compiled wish-lists of Alaska-specific projects, many of them meritorious, the governor says the administration will not be commenting on or ranking them, given that they might not be considered for the stimulus package. “We don’t want to get hopes up among community leaders that their local projects are likely to be included, when that probably won’t be the case,” she said.

Why is it not appropriate for the State of Alaska to comment on each State of Alaska project? Who has told Governor Palin these projects won’t be included? It certainly hasn’t been Senator Begich, whose office responded via Julie Hasquet, the Senator’s Press Secretary, when I sent them a copy of the press release (emphasis mine):

“The governor certainly has the right to not submit further projects for a possible stimulus package. But Sen. Begich will continue his process of gathering project lists and priorities from Alaska communities. With the great likelihood of a stimulus package being passed in the neighborhood of $800 billion, we certainly want Alaska poised and ready with its priorities.

Recognizing the climate on earmarks in Washington has changed, President-elect Obama has made it clear he wants to invest in infrastructure, projects and programs that will create jobs.

Whether the final bill contains earmarks or is formula-driven, Senator Begich wants to know what projects are ready to go in Alaska, so as money is available we can make sure Alaska projects are at the front of the line.

Along these same lines, I received an email from a respected source:

“I heard today from a DC contact that you were right-on about the Obama stimulus money and Palin's refusal to request our fair share. I was told that the state had about $325 million coming through the package but Palin only asked for $150 million.”

We have learned two, very important things from this information:

1: Congress hasn’t decided for sure how they are going to dole out the stimulus money. All they are doing is gathering information. They have a target dollar amount in mind for each state and all the Governors and State Delegations have to worry about is meeting/not exceeding that target. It’s going to take them awhile to figure it all out…they are dealing with multiple and normally separate pots of money. (Example—Corps of Engineers gets most of their money doled out one fiscal year at a time. FAA—most of their money is multi-year. And they come from completely different pots.) They still have to figure out how it’s all going to work.

2: It is NOT GOVERNOR PALIN’S JOB to figure out how the funding is going to work. What IS her job in this process is to gather all the information that she can, try to get the most, best infrastructure projects for her constituents by continuous dialogue with the Congressional Delegation, who will help deal with the rest of Congress, the President and all those tricky, Federal numbers.

As we can see from the dialogue that’s actually going on, Governor Palin is doing everything BUT her job and the Congressional Delegation is making sure that Alaska is not left (pardon the pun) out in the cold.

Yes, I remember from the last article…there are those who believe Governor Palin’s interpretation of President-elect Obama’s intent. So let’s look at some of the general suggestions for these “other projects.”

Among the project requests that mayors across the State have sent for inclusion to Gov. Palin and/or our Congressional Delegation are: harbor/port projects, road repair, hydro development, bridge repair, upgrades/replacement of city structures, upgrades/replacement of schools, internet upgrades/connection in Bush Alaska, etc…

According to a January 8th speech by President-elect Obama, here are just a few of the projects he considers appropriate for his stimulus package (emphasis mine):

“To build an economy that can lead this future, we will begin to rebuild America. Yes, we’ll put people to work repairing crumbling roads, bridges, and schools by eliminating the backlog of well-planned, worthy and needed infrastructure projects. But we’ll also do more to retrofit America for a global economy. That means updating the way we get our electricity by starting to build a new smart grid that will save us money, protect our power sources from blackout or attack, and deliver clean, alternative forms of energy to every corner of our nation. It means expanding broadband lines across America, so that a small business in a rural town can connect and compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world. And it means investing in the science, research, and technology that will lead to new medical breakthroughs, new discoveries, and entire new industries.

All of those projects are well within the boundaries of President-elect Obama’s intent for “rebuilding America”…most fit the definition perfectly.

So, I don’t understand why the Governor…someone who is supposed to be looking out for the well-being of Alaska and her citizens…has decided that she cannot comment on critical infrastructure projects vital to the economic heath and future growth of the state! Yet, she has no problem overstepping her bounds and resurrecting the “ghosts of Vice-Presidential campaigns past”:

“Although it is beyond my purview as Governor, I also urge you to consider how the economic stimulus package will affect the national debt and the future economic health of the country. The need for economic stimulus should not become an excuse for the continuation of the unsound policies of the past.”

Governor…how about you figure out how to deal with the “unsound policies” of Alaska’s present. Please provide what Rep. Mike Hawker has respectfully requested and turn in a budget to our Legislators based on realistic oil revenue, not pretty flowers flying out of a unicorn’s butt!

And how about you start to act like the Governor of Alaska by taking care of the needs of your present constituents, not catering to your “future voters” in the lower-48?

Linda Kellen Biegel is “Celtic Diva” the at Progressive/Liberal/Lefty blog “Blue Oasis”. http://divasblueoasis.com