Posted on 09/24/2007 4:21:12 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
On Friday Alaska's Gov. Sarah Palin ordered the state to prepare a "fiscally responsible" alternative to the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere," which made the state a national laughingstock and shone an unwelcome spotlight on the pork-barrel greed of its all-Republican congressional delegation. The $398 million bridge would have connected Ketchikan (population 7,400) to its airport on a nearby island inhabited by 50 people.
The same day, the Associated Press reported that the FBI has recorded two phone calls between Sen. Ted Stevens, who sponsored the bridge, and Bill Allen, a Stevens patron who dominated state politics as the head of the oil-services firm VECO until he pleaded guilty to bribing state legislators this year. Mr. Allen has also testified in open court that he paid some of the bills incurred in the expensive remodeling of Mr. Stevens's Alaska home. Last month, FBI agents raided the senator's home to secure evidence about the remodeling work. Few expect Mr. Stevens, who has served since 1968 and rose to become chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, to survive politically.
An era is ending in Alaska politics. For decades the state justified its raids on the federal treasury because Washington owned so much of the state and had locked up so many of its natural resources to development (the oil underneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge being the most famous example). In what some called "compensation," the state made sure it became No. 1 in the nation for pork per person--$984.85 for each Alaskan in 2005.
The arrogance Alaska congressmen displayed in pursuing their taxpayer largesse was stunning. Rep. Don Young, the former Transportation Committee chairman and the state's lone House member, became famous for trying to secure funding for another dubious bridge near Anchorage, this one costing $223 million. \
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
If there are any Freepers from Alaksa, he or she needs to start an Alaska Ping List.
Good article. Thanks for posting it.
If anyone out there ever had a doubt that Congress (in particular, Alaska’s congressional delegation) is out of touch, they should read this article.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Don Young is much worse than Ted Stevens! It’s time to clean house. I hope the residents of Alaska are willing to forgo the accumulated congressional seniority for members who’ll watch the pursestrings better.
LOL….Everyone evolved with the “Bridge to Nowhere” deserves everything they get. The “Bridge to Nowhere” can explain it’s self and stands alone in conversations across the country still. This made the GOP –CONSERVATIVES look bad, while the late President Reagan was rolling in his grave...SHAME
LOL….Everyone evolved with the “Bridge to Nowhere” deserves everything they get. The “Bridge to Nowhere” can explain it’s self and stands alone in conversations across the country still. This made the GOP –CONSERVATIVES look bad, while the late President Reagan was rolling in his grave...SHAME
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