AP- Gov Palin Fund Raising For Sen Murkowski
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin plans to raise money for U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s re-election campaign, a move Palin’s camp says should end speculation the governor is eyeing the senator’s seat.
Palin is expected to hold at least one fundraiser for Murkowski. Both are Republicans.
Meghan Stapleton, spokeswoman for SarahPAC, the governor’s political action committee, says Palin thinks Murkowski is doing a fantastic job for Alaska and wants to show her support. Palin’s term also is up next year, but she hasn’t announced if she’ll seek re-election.
Stapleton says the governor “has never had any intention, not even a thought, of running for the senator’s seat.”
Palin catapulted onto the national political scene when GOP presidential candidate John McCain picked her as his running mate.
Governor Palin Pushes for More Missile Defense
The Governor of Alaska is doing the right thing by requesting greater missile defense and stressing the need for it during these rocky times. With the latest launch from North Korea, the recent findings that Iran and China have been creating schemes to ship nuclear materials overseas – it’s no wonder why a state like Alaska or the entire nation, for that matter, would want more defense – namely in the form of missiles.
April 6, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Responding to the missile test by North Korea, Governor Sarah Palin today reaffirmed Alaska’s commitment to protecting America from rogue nation missile attacks.
“I am deeply concerned with North Korea’s development and testing program which has clear potential of impacting Alaska, a sovereign state of the United States, with a potentially nuclear armed warhead,” Governor Palin said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we continue to develop and perfect the global missile defense network. Alaska’s strategic location and the system in place here have proven invaluable in defending the nation.”
Governor Palin stressed the importance of Fort Greely and the need for continued funding for the Missile Defense Agency. The governor is firmly against U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ proposed $1.4 billion reduction of the Missile Defense Agency. Greely’s isolated location in Alaska as well as its strategic location in the Pacific allows for maximum security and development of the country’s only ground-based missile defense complex.
“Our early opposition to reduced funding for the Missile Defense Agency is proving to be well-founded during this turbulent time,” Governor Palin said. “I continue to support the development and implementation of a defensive missile shield based in Alaska. We are strategically placed to defend the critical assets of the United States and our allies in the Pacific Theater.”
Governor Palin also requested stimulus funding for the Kodiak Launch Complex. The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehicles owned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska.
Governor Palin’s Letter to Obama (Makes Deadline for Stimulus Funds Under ARRA)
I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve next.
This along w/ her recent strategy in Alaska versus the senate democrats is masterful:
The concern in regards to the governors who were threatening to veto stimulus funds was the fact that many thought they were just grandstanding and Obama’s very clever plan that required meeting the deadline of April 3rd would seem to have hamstrung most of the Republican Governors trying to earn some brownie points.
Governor Palin, however, has made the deadline and not only sent this letter to the president – she also attached her original letter to him from early February.
Mr. President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500Dear Mr. President,
The purpose of this letter is to provide notice that I am accepting those funds available to Alaska under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that create new, private-sector jobs and grow the economy.
I have invited public discussion through the legislative hearing process currently underway on ARRA funds that appear designed to grow government programs or that will impose federal mandates on our state. Federal stimulus spending must not add to strained state budgets nor diminish state sovereignty by imposing mandates, now or in the future.
The law requires that I certify that every dollar of these economic stimulus funds will create jobs and grow the economy. I take that charge seriously. I have forwarded requests to Alaska’s legislators to appropriate hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure projects that truly create new private sector jobs and stimulate the economy. Through our budget process, I have also accepted additional Medicaid funds available through ARRA.
U.S. Drops Charges Against Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Many of us recall that the oldest and longest senator in the history of the U.S. had corruption and ethics charges brought against him right before elections last year.
There was a lot of conspiracy talk going on and many saying he was innocent. I do not have much of an opinion on this issue because I neither knew of the man nor was I as involved in politics over the last few years as I am now.
From the Anchorage Daily News (ADN):
The Justice Department has moved to dismiss former Sen. Ted Stevens’ indictment, effectively voiding his Oct. 27 conviction on seven counts of filing false statements on his U.S. Senate financial disclosure forms.
Sarah Palin Writes Op-Ed in the Anchorage Daily News (ADN) on Stimulus
“Shovel ready or digging a hole?”
By Gov. Sarah Palin
Support her and post some comments on the ADN website
Some question my decision to accept job-ready stimulus funds, while leaving on the table for discussion other funds that grow government. Washington dollars are tempting, but we must consider whether they create sustainability, help develop our resources, reduce dependency on Washington, and all without mortgaging our kids’ futures.
Under federal law, I must certify that every stimulus dollar will create new jobs and stimulate the economy. I take that charge seriously. Accordingly, I’ve requested $514.4 million for capital projects that legitimately create new private sector jobs. Shovel-ready projects are certifiable because they put people to work and grow Alaska’s private-sector economy.
Unfortunately, a disproportionate percentage of the federal package available to Alaska would increase government operations. It’s a stretch to certify that more spending on more bureaucracy actually grows an economy.
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? My administration will not willingly and knowingly dig a hole for Alaskans to fill under this enormous, debt-ridden, Washington spending plan. That’s why public discussion on budget increases must happen through open, transparent legislative hearings so everyone is aware of the cost.
