By: g

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:49:22 +0000

Political “pork” has become synonymous with congressional earmarks, a mechanism used by members of Congress to direct federal dollars to specific projects. Earmarks are criticized because, by their nature, they encourage cronyism, corruption and abuse, and because they destroy merit-based or competitive allocation of public funds. Earmarks have become a national issue, with Ted Stevens and Don Young as their key promoters. Stevens and Young continue to defend the practice despite mounting national anger. The infamous Bridges to Nowhere caused grief and criticism for Congressmen nationwide, and added momentum to the movement for earmark reform. Alaska’s delegation caused a national uproar for earmarking $452 million for two expensive bridges near Ketchikan and Anchorage; the amount appropriated would cover only part of the costs. Gov. Palin recently cancelled the Gravina Island Bridge near Ketchikan that would have connected the Alaska mainland with Gravina Island (population: 50). New information about Ted’s earmarks continues to surface and draw scrutiny. The Anchorage Daily News reported Sept. 30, 2007 about a $3 million earmark Ted directed to his personal friend Bob Penney. State officials were puzzled by a line buried in a 2004 appropriations bill: "$2 million is for the Kenai River; $1 million for the Russian River."When they asked Stevens to clarify what the money was for, his office replied in an email: "The $2 million for the Kenai River; and $1 million for the Russian River go to Bob Penny [sic]." Penney co-founded and helps direct the non-profit Kenai River Sportsfishing Association, which, working with the Department of Fish and Game, determined how the money was spent, the Daily News reported.Other questionable earmarks by Ted include appropriations to the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board, the Seward SeaLife Center, and for a pipeline project sponsored by Enstar. The other bridge, named Don Young’s Way and also known as the Knik Arm Bridge, is a proposed two-mile span that would cross Cook Inlet’s Knik Arm and connect Anchorage with undeveloped land in the Mat-Su Borough. Ted’s current chief of staff and former top aides are among those who own land that would benefit from construction of the bridge. other connections: Ted in the news September 8, 2008 September 5, 2008 Survey floats Senate replacements Stevens Not So Confident He Can Prove His Innocence Before Election Palin mum on endorsing Stevens Lobbying Firm Raises Funds For Stevens The Many Ways Special Interests Give To Stevens - And The List Keeps Growing Seward Land Deal Semco + Enstar Private Industry Groups & Firms Gravina Bridge Don Young's Way Defense Contractors Boeing Tankerscam Ben's Secret Fish Deal Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board

Comments on: Palin and the Bridge(s) to Nowhere

By: g