The Mudflats

There’s a passage from the Lewis Carroll poem The Walrus and the Carpenter that seems to sum up the last couple of days. If you substitute “things AKM wanted to blog about” in place of “oysters” it’s right on the money.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more–
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

So here is my attempt to corral just a few of those oysters…because I have a feeling that tomorrow will bring more and more and more…

Palin vs. Legislature

Governor Sarah Palin may be a day late and a dollar short for some bills she was looking to get passed this legislative session.  Part of the problem is that Alaskans voted in 2006 to cut the length of the legislative session from 120 days to 90 days.  The other part of the problem is that SOMEbody wasn’t prepared….

Top lawmakers said Tuesdaythey aren’t likely to pass the governor’s bills dealing with an in-state natural gas pipeline and consolidating the six Railbelt utilities to pursue mega-projects like the Susitna River dam.

“They are very big issues. I personally do not believe we will complete those before the end of the session,” said Senate President Gary Stevens, a Republican from Kodiak.

Lawmakers from both parties say Palin introduced the bills too late — about halfway through the 90-day session of the Legislature. [snip]

“Those are pretty heavy lifts for one session and having them introduced right in the middle of session makes it difficult to do,” said North Pole Republican Rep. John Coghill.

Anchorage Democratic Rep. Mike Doogan was doubtful the market would support both an in-state pipeline and a Susitna hydro project. Doogan said it’s highly unlikely that Palin’s gas pipeline and utility plans will pass under the circumstances.

“If they were really serious about those things, they would have had their ducks lined up on the first day of the session,” he said.

Hmmm….(stroking chin)…perhaps the Governor had her mind on other things…

Other Things (aka SarahPAC)

 SarahPAC, new home to Palin mouthpiece Meg Stapleton, has sent out it’s first “please give us money” email.  Now that the state doesn’t want to pick up the tab for Palin & First Family’s travel, the new PAC will be picking up the tab.  And I hear the RNC has some old second-hand clothes they might be looking to dump.  Maybe SarahPAC can pick ‘em up cheap!

But it looks like SarahPAC has not only a dark side, but a DARKer side, reported on by Geoffrey Dunn at the Huffington Post.

SarahPAC has also been caught up in some controversythat’s gone mostly unreported this week. It’s treasurer, Tim Crawford, of Arlington, Virginia, and a longtime conservative operative, was unceremoniously forced out of his position last week as the Republican National Committee’s finance director, apparently because of his overt ties to SarahPAC. Moreover, SarahPAC is being coordinated by the conservative Donatelli Group, aka Campaign Solutions, also of Arlington, which raised money for the McCain-Palin ticket in the 2008 race, and to which McCain has been connected since his 2000 presidential bid.

A much more soiled legacy of Campaign Solutions was its role in the “swift boating” of John Kerry in the 2004 presidential contest. It also played a significant role in the behind-the-scenes campaignto secure confirmation of Sam Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.

And at the end of the article he gives Mudflats a nice shout out, calling it a “superb” website!  (Looking at the ground and scraping toe in the dirt)  We think Geoffrey Dunn is pretty superb himself!

Bob Poe on KUDO!

Gubernatorial candidate Bob Poe (D) will be on Cary Carrigan’s show tomorrow morning on KUDO 1080am at 8am Alaska time (9am Pacific, Noon Eastern).  Tune in for live streaming HERE.

Welcome Functional Design!

Welcome to our newest advertiser, Functional Design!  These folks are really clever.  They’ve designed a variety of perfect little zip in pieces for a “mummy” style sleeping bag.  Originally developed while guiding couples on Denali, it also works for campers who are pregnant, or who just love snuggling with kids, or significant others, and sharing a little body heat (for practical purposes of course).  The company is a true “mom & pop” outfit and they work from home, handling all inquiries personally.  This lovely couple also donates what they would normally spend on marketing to charitable organizations they believe in.  That cute little ad in the sidebar is their first advertising, and their way of throwing a little support to Mudflats!  So do check out their clever and functional products for yourself, or as a great gift.  Just click on the ad!

Congratulations Dana Stabenow!

Speaking of our wonderful advertisers, Dana Stabenow, Alaskan author of Whisper to the Blood announced that this, her 16th book in the Kate Shugak series, has already made it to the NY Times best seller list!!  Congratulations, Dana!  We doff our collective cap to your tremendous achievement!

Good News for Bristol Bay (for a change!)

On ONE side of the aisle, we’ve got some great news for residents of rural Alaska.  On the OTHER side of the aisle, they’re undoubtedly yelling, “PORK!  EARMARKS! UNNECCESSARY SPENDING!  AAAAAA!  EEEEEEEEK!  GET ME SOME SMELLING SALTS!”

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich announced March 4 that the Bristol Bay Area Health Corp. will receive $1.3 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the Dillingham Community Health Center.

The White House announced the release of $155 million supporting 126 new health centers across the country.

“This additional funding for the Dillingham Community Health Center will have a major impact to the residents of the Bristol Bay region,” Begich said. “This is great news, and it will allow the health center to better serve the thousands of Alaskans who rely on the medical services provided there.”

According to the project description, the Dillingham Community Health Center provides comprehensive primary health care services to residents in the Bristol Bay area which has a population of more than 8,200 living in 34 villages.

The funding from the Recovery Act will be used to expand primary care services at the center, and is expected to create up to 15 new jobs.

“Improving health care and creating jobs are two important pieces to improving the quality of life in rural Alaska,” Begich said. “Funding for the Dillingham Health Center is truly a win-win for the region and our state.”

They Go Cheap in Alaska

As anticipated, former State Rep. Beverly Masek pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to accept a bribe, before U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline.

According to the charging document, Masek sent an emissary to a vice president of the oil-field service company Veco Corp., Rick Smith, asking for a meeting with him or his boss, Bill Allen, to complain about her financial condition. Her plea to the Veco executives, known for their generosity to lawmakers who supported their positions, was made during the legislative session in 2003.

Two days later, an Allen relative handed her at least $2,000 in cash, the charge said.

The next month, she introduced a bill that would have eliminated a big tax break for oil companies on Alaska’s North Slope. A day later, Allen came to her office and told her it was a terrible idea. She withdrew the bill and accepted another $2,000 in cash.

That’s going to be a pretty expensive $4000 by the time all is said and done.  Masek faces 18-24 months in prison, and a $4,000 – $40,000 fine.

And now, goodnight Mudflatters!  We’ll see what comes “hopping through the frothy waves” tomorrow.