Alaska

April 17, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today objected to a court ruling that undermines the federal leasing program for oil and gas reserves in the Beaufort, Bering and Chukchi seas.

The finding by a three-judge panel in Washington, D.C., in a lawsuit brought by environmentalists against the Interior Department during the Bush administration, comes just three days after Alaskans had an unprecedented opportunity to voice their opinions on off-shore drilling in a hearing before Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.    » read more »

April 16, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - The 26th Alaska Legislature today rejected Governor Sarah Palin’s nomination for attorney general. Lawmakers failed to confirm Wayne Anthony Ross by a vote of 23 to 35.

“I believed I knew what Alaskans wanted when I selected an individual who is a strong backer of 2nd Amendment rights, a staunch supporter of the state Constitution and a defender of life,” Governor Palin said.

“Wayne Anthony Ross supports responsible, ethical development of Alaska’s rich resources. I’m surprised that legislators in this case really did not seem to represent their constituents and allowed themselves to be swayed by side issues. Mr. Ross is a fine Alaskan. He is held in high esteem by many Alaskans. I appreciate his willingness to serve the public.”    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC, Wednesday, April 8, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced that airports around the country will receive $258 million under the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

“Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act we are creating jobs across the country while investing in the long-term safety and economic vitality of our airports,” said Secretary LaHood.    » read more »

Oil Spills are a Real, Costly Risk We Face in Light of the Recently Lifted Moratorium

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 24, 2009) – Twenty years after the massive Exxon Valdez oil disaster in Alaska, oil spills still occur and the risk of them happening up and down the East and West Coast has increased after the more than three-decade moratorium on offshore drilling was lifted in the waning months of the Bush Administration.    » read more »

Disappointed Gov. Sarah Palin not accepting millions for education

March 20, 2009 -- U.S. Sen. Mark Begich is urging the Alaska State Legislature to act swiftly in accepting the remaining stimulus dollars Governor Sarah Palin is leaving on the table. At a news conference today, the governor said she is accepting roughly $515 million of the estimated $930 million coming to Alaska in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress and signed by the President.    » read more »

March 19, 2009 -- Superintendent Carol Comeau issued the following statement about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s intention to reject $160 million in stimulus funds for education. Included in the governor’s proposal is the refusal of $12.9 million for Title I programs and $12.9 million for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and special education programs for the Anchorage School District.

“We’re shocked and very disappointed that the governor said she would reject the education stimulus money for Title I and IDEA programs. We believe that we can make very good use of the funds, not only in job preservation but also in adding new positions to ultimately use these funds to increase student achievement for our neediest children.    » read more »

Governor Palin Refuses Nearly Half of Stimulus Package Funds

March 19, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin submitted her federal economic stimulus appropriation bill to legislators today to provide jobs and needed infrastructure improvements in Alaska under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Governor Palin is accepting just 55 percent of the available stimulus funds, all for capital projects. This amount includes the funds the state accepted last month for Department of Transportation projects.    » read more »

March 12, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Beverly L. Masek, a former elected member of the Alaska House of Representatives, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bribery, Acting Assistant Attorney General Rita M. Glavin of the Criminal Division announced.

Masek pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline in Anchorage to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. In court documents, Masek admitted to conspiring with Bill J. Allen, the former chief executive officer of VECO Corporation (VECO), a now-defunct multinational oil field services company, and Richard L. Smith, a former VECO vice president, to soliciting and accepting bribes.    » read more »

March 12, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today signed and submitted the certification required under Section 1201 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Ray LaHood. The ARRA requires states to maintain the same level of state funding for transportation projects that was planned prior to the passage of ARRA.    » read more »

March 3, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today urged the postmaster general not to increase parcel post and bypass mail rates. In a letter to Postmaster General John Potter, Governor Palin outlined her concerns regarding the rate increases that are to be enacted on May 11.

“Alaska has more than 258 airports serving as the primary mode of transportation, and the only means of access for more than 160 remote and isolated communities. Our rural residents have been besieged by a poor subsistence harvest and high energy prices compounded by an exceptionally cold winter. Although it may not be the intent, the new 4th class mail rate structure will raise the already high cost of living further and effectively cripple the already fragile bypass mail system.    » read more »

March 2, 2009
Contact: Joan Moody
(202) 208-6416

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today praised White House appointment of Kim Steven Elton as the Director of Alaska Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Elton has served as a member of the Alaska State Senate representing his hometown of Juneau since 1998, a position he will resign to take the Interior job.    » read more »

February 27, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Office of Management and Budget Director Karen Rehfeld today noted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) directs federal agencies to distribute funds through hundreds of different programs. Procedures for distributing funds include formulas, block grants, competitive grant processes, and in many instances, Congress simply left funding decisions up to the heads of the federal agencies.

The State of Alaska will receive funds through certain formulas and block grants, such as federal highway funds. State agencies are working to identify programmatic and timing requirements and prepare recommendations for legislative consideration to receive and expend federal stimulus funds.    » read more »

February 18, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today encouraged U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to support recently adopted regulations allowing concealed weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges. Secretary Salazar has directed a review of the regulations that were approved by the Bush administration.

In a letter to the Interior secretary, Governor Palin outlined the importance of the possession and use of firearms as a matter of safety.    » read more »

Feb. 2, 2009 -- REDOUBT VOLCANO, ALASKA--Scientists continue to work around-the-clock monitoring Redoubt Volcano--located 106 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska—where they predict the volcano will erupt within days to weeks. Over the weekend and through midday Monday, seismicity remained elevated, and an overflight on Saturday showed continued melting of the glacier that drains the summit crater.    » read more »

Letter urges President Obama to permanently reinstate benefits

January 28, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin applauded Secretary of the Army Pete Geren’s decision to continue retirement payments to the Alaska Territorial Guard members on a temporary basis. A congressional fix will be needed to fully reinstate the retirement money rightfully earned by these veterans.

The Alaska Territorial Guard members are primarily Alaska Natives living in rural areas.

“Rural Alaskans face the highest food and energy costs in the nation, and these veterans need their retirement checks now more than ever,” Governor Palin said. “Using the emergency fund to provide monetary protection for these 26 veterans is the right thing to do.”    » read more »