March 27th, 1964.
This is not a great place to build highrise dwellings.
Posted on 01/20/2006 9:13:03 PM PST by NapkinUser
(CNSNews.com) - A government watchdog group Friday named Alaska Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski "Porker of the Month" for supporting construction of the infamous "Bridges to Nowhere" and for a proposed taxpayer-funded PR campaign "to repair the damage that the bridges helped inflict on" the state's "national reputation."
According to Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), Congress set aside $452 million in the transportation bill for two bridges - $229 million for the Gravine Island Bridge, which connects the island with a population of 50 people to the town of Ketchikan, and $223 million for the Knik Arm Bridge.
"For favoring wasteful pork-barrel projects that may also benefit his own family, proposing the use of tax dollars in a hopeless attempt to prove that Alaska politicians are not porkers, and especially on behalf of its 2,733 members and supporters in Alaska," CAGW named Murkowski "Porker of the Month for January 2006."
The Knik Arm Bridge was renamed Don Young's Way after House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska). The Gravine Island Bridge would replace a five-minute ferry ride, while the Knik Arm Bridge would serve as "an alternate route from Anchorage to a nearly deserted port," the group noted.
The "Bridges to Nowhere" project became "a symbol for congressional excess in the pork-stuffed transportation bill," CAGW said.
Congress removed the earmark instructions from the transportation bill in November, so despite Murkowski's budget plan for the bridges, the final decision on how to spend the money is up to the state Legislature.
Opponents of the bridge proposal say Gravina Island is adequately served by its ferry and building a bridge would take away money from more urgent transportation priorities, according to the group.
CAGW also noted that Murkowski, whose daughter is Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), has a vested interest in the bridge to Gravina Island, because "his wife owns acreage there and development on the island would drive up property values.""
Last week, the governor announced a $1.2 billion state budget surplus, a portion of which he proposed be used to hire a public relations firm to help combat the image that the state's politicians are taking advantage of taxpayers.
"Instead of trying to convince the country they are not porkers, perhaps Alaskan politicians should stop being porkers!" CAGW said.
Since 1999, Alaska politicians brought home more than $3 billion in federal pork, thanks mostly to former Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the group claimed.
Also, the state ranked number one in per capita pork since the group began calculating the statistic in 2000, amounting to $984.85 worth of pork per resident in 2005, CAGW said.
That is one thing McCain is good for...being anti-pork.
Fine. Build the bridge, but make it a toll bridge and make Alaska pay for it.
(Say that as a half-Pole).
That being said, Alaska receives more in government revenue than most states, and will do so for the forseeable future. Ted Stevens has historically intimidated all other Senators into giving him the whole hog, and it looks as though Murkoski has learned from the master.
L
I don't deny at all that Alaska has growth problems. Just don't see why it has to be on the federal dole. Can't the State of Alaska pay for it?
Thanks for popping in, Lurker.
L
ahhh, those dividend checks sure irritate some folks. LOL I'll give up dividend checks when the Federal government lets Alaskans have their land back.
L
I wish I could have explained the situation in Alaska as eloquently as you have, oldfart. You may call yourself an "oldfart" but as with most oldfarts, you are wiser than the hills. :)
Our log home rode out the 7.9 quake we had a few years ago. And that was in the eastern Interior.
Yes, the Alaska Permanent Fund checks are issued by the state of Alaska.
"The state's vast amount of oil revenues are invested in the Alaska Permanent Fund, an inviolate trust belonging to the people of Alaska. The fund, managed by the Permanent Fund Corporation, was established in 1976 to generate perpetual revenues from non-renewable sources for present and future generations of Alaskans."
Either that or you could make it a toll bridge so the folks who actually use it can pay for it.
Novel idea, eh? L
Please look at this Google map and tell me where the most logical place to build houses closest to downtown would be. Downtown Anchorage is near the "Anchorage" on the map.
If I zoom in on that map, I can see my car. I don't know whether that's cool or big-brother-type scary.
Oh, yeah, and about the bridges: I paid federal taxes while a resident of states that got less Federal money back than the residents paid in total to the Federal Government so I figure it's time to be on the other end of the deal for awhile.
Your's is a very well composed and argued post, even though I don't agree with the fiscal assertions in it. And thanks with the liquifaction note.
There is land available an hour drive to the North. Immediately to the North is Fort Richardson Army Base and Elmendorf Air Force Base. I drive through Ft Rich everyday to work. In Eagle River, they are tearing down old houses and subdividing lots into tiny pieces to pack with home and apartments. Land and home prices have been climbing average of 10~12% per year for nearly 6 years due to scarcity of land to build upon.
March 27th, 1964.
This is not a great place to build highrise dwellings.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.