“Correcting the Factual Errors” of Sarah Palin’s Stimulus Talking Points.
26 03 2009This morning, the following was posted on the Alaska Politics Blog:
Legislative leaders are meeting with Gov. Sarah Palin [today] and hope to get a sense of how much of the federal economic stimulus money she might veto if they accept it. (UPDATE — Sounds like the governor will be in Anchorage and the lawmakers will have to settle for meeting with her legislative director, Jerry Gallagher, instead.)
To which the entire Alaska Legislature, and residents of Juneau, Anchorage, and around the state say “Hey, Sarah….The Job’s in Juneau!” Not that they are surprised…. They’re just sayin’.
The juxtaposition of these two bumper stickers really speaks to the growing disillusionment of Alaskans. The “young, fresh-faced, no-nonsense, corruption-busting, gun-totin’ fiscally conservative Valley gal that kicked Frank Murkowski’s butt” meme is dying a slow and ugly death.
But back to that stimulus money conversation. We all remember Palin’s rationalization for rejecting the stimulus money. It’s the same talking point that the national GOP is using. We don’t want to accept this money just because it sounds good, and then end up getting roped into a bunch of additional government programs with “strings attached” that will need to be sustained, and will bleed our coffers dry. Like most talking points, it sounds good.
But here’s some interesting information that was passed on to me that originated from Larry Persily who works in the office of Rep. Mike Hawker (R), a member of the Legislative Budget & Audit Committee, and Co-Chair of the House Finance Committee.
The subject line of the email was: Factual Corrections to Governor’s Pronouncements.
Now, it may just be me, but when I see that someone needs “factual corrections” I presume that either they just don’t know what they’re talking about, or they are, as my mother would say, “a fibber.”
First here’s the “factual error” from Governor Palin’s press release:
In order to accept what look like attractive energy funds, our local communities would be required to adopt uniform building codes. Government would then be required to police those codes. These types of funds are not sensible for Alaska.”
Now the “correction” from Larry Persily:
The governor was incorrect to suggest or imply at last week’s announcement that Alaska ’s eligibility for home weatherization funds ($28.6 million) and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants ($8.5 million) is dependent on adoption of a statewide building code. The state is fully eligible for both funds, regardless of any energy codes.
Two points:
· The energy-efficiency building standards apply ONLY to State Energy Program Funds ($28.56 million). The stimulus bill requires that within eight years of the act (by February 2017) the state adopt building codes for residential and commercial structures that meet or exceed international energy-efficiency standards. The standards must apply to 90 percent of new or renovated building space; not existing structures. The requirement deals with energy-efficiency standards, not a complete set of building codes.
· The energy-efficiency standards DO NOT apply to the weatherization funds or block grants. I confirmed that point Friday with the supervisor of the weatherization program at the U.S. Department of Energy and an attorney/adviser at the department’s headquarters in Washington , D.C.
Factual error from the governor’s press release:
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.
And the correction:
The governor was incorrect to suggest or imply at last week’s announcement that Alaska could select some of the Fiscal Stabilization Funds in the economic stimulus bill while declining some of the funds. Based on my conversations with officials in Washington and a thorough reading of the law, it appears states have to take or all or none of the Fiscal Stabilization Funds (mostly destined for education).
The governor said she had not decided to accept Part A of the funds, the $93 million that could be distributed to school districts and the university. But she said she had decided to accept the $20.7 million in Part B of the funds.Part A is the 81.8% of the Fiscal Stabilizations Funds that MUST go toward education.
Part B is the 18.2% of the Fiscal Stabilization Funds that can go toward education, but also can go toward public safety or any government service not prohibited by law. The governor labeled this money as “Education and Job Training” in her March 19 announcement.
The law does not appear to allow a state to take Part B without Part A. It appears the same certifications apply to both parts.
And another correction:
The governor has also included federal funding for child support services on her “undecided” list of stimulus money. The funding provided in the stimulus bill is not entirely new money, but rather a restoration of a federal program that existed for more than 15 years before it was dropped in state Fiscal Year 2008.
The stimulus provision allows states to receive more federal matching funds to pay the operating expenses of their child support collection and enforcement services.
States currently receive federal incentive payments based on their success in several measures of child support services. Until FY2008, states could also receive federal matching funds for those incentive payments, just as they receive federal matching funds for state money appropriated to their child support programs. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 ended the ability of states to receive matching funds for the incentive money, effective Oct. 1, 2007 . The stimulus bill restores the matching funds provision through Sept. 30, 2010 (retroactive to Oct. 1, 2008 ). It provides Alaska with the opportunity to receive federal funds to replace state funds in the child support operating budget for FY2010 and into FY2011.
The estimated savings to the state total between $3.5 million and $4 million through FY2011.
When the stimulus bill provision expires, states would merely return to the funding system that existed last year. Yes, it’s a short-term reprieve, but it does save the appropriation of state funds.
In case you were wondering, the child support provision is certainly not as germane to the nation’s economic recovery as, say, unemployment insurance or road building or tax breaks. But child support agencies had been looking for a way to get back to the matching funds and supporters saw the stimulus bill as the best way to get it done.
And another:
Among the several stimulus provisions the governor has not decided whether to accept is an estimated $1.489 million in federal aid to subsidize the health insurance premiums for state employees terminated between Sept. 1, 2008 , and Dec. 31, 2009 . The stimulus bill provides that the federal government will cover 65% of the monthly premium (called COBRA) for laid-off or terminated employees for up to nine months.
Under federal law, COBRA is not optional — employers must offer the extended coverage to employees (at the employees’ cost).
And, under the stimulus bill, the federal subsidy for COBRA is not optional — the State of Alaska , just as other employers nationwide covered by the program, must participate.
So I’m a little confused why the governor has said she is undecided about accepting the COBRA subsidy.
Federal law requires employers to notify their health insurance provider when an employee is terminated. Federal law requires employers to notify terminated employees that they have the option of self-paying their group insurance premium under COBRA. And now federal law requires employers to notify terminated employees of the 65% federal subsidy.
The federal government will cover the 65% subsidy by requiring employers to front the money for the premium, with employers then immediately recovering the funds by deducting it from payroll taxes paid to the federal treasury.
The $1.489 million cited in the governor’s backup represents an estimate of how much the state might receive in federal funds to pass through as a subsidy to terminated workers who might decide to pay for COBRA coverage between now and the end of the year.
Other facts:
· The federal stimulus subsidy does not count as taxable income to the individual.
· The 65% subsidy is not available to workers who quit their job or were dismissed for gross misconduct.
· An individual is not eligible for the full federal subsidy if his or her income for the year exceeds $125,000.
Wow. That’s a lot of “factual corrections” about something that’s pretty important to Alaskans, from someone who is supposed to be running the show. Hmmmm. It may be time for a poll to sort this all out.
[Thanks to Mudflatter inJuneau for the great pic! And thanks to Mudflatter Rick for the info from Hawker's office!]
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March 26th, 2009 at 2:02 PM
SMR New thread. I’ve copied and pasted your comments for InJuneau on the new one. Come on over.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:03 PM
@GA Peach–Thanks, I’d spotted SMR’s comment over there (love those multiple tabs…).
SMR–Now why on earth would she want to appoint someone less partisan?! Really now…
March 26th, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Ross represented her when PALIN filed an ethics complaint.
Another thing I did not know.
The pipe line that has not been built and may never be built?
Law firm of Greenberg Traurig. of the Jack Abramoff/ tom DeLay fame.
branches all over the US.
Sarah sure pals around with ethical people and files ethics complaints when she sees fit.
Didn’t and ethical complaint jump start her career???
In 2004 she resigned in protest from her position as ethics commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission when fellow commissioner and then-Republican party chairman Randy Ruedrich used his office to do party work on public time. Palin filed a complaint against Ruedrich with the commission; she was represented by Wayne Ross, a partner at the law offices of Ross & Miner in Anchorage.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:18 PM
The Overall Professional Performance ranking for the 13 applicants for David Stewart’s seat on the Court of Appeals is:
Kevin McCoy 4.6
Joel Bolger 4.4
Susan Carney 4.2
Patrick Gullufsen 4.1
Timothy Terrel 4.0
Mark Wood 3.9
Ken Diemer 3.8
Douglas Moody 3.8
Jack Smith 3.8
Colleen Moore 3.7
Rick Svobodny 3.6
James Fayette 3.4
Wayne Anthony Ross 2.9
This according to Duckie on ADN
March 26th, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Another link about WAR, even if OT: http://community.adn.com/adn/node/139744
March 26th, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Okay, after taking the spouse down to our friendly Italian restaurant for a couple of DIPAs, discussions with the manager about European beer (yuck), and an annoying crossword puzzle, I’m back to say get out the rubber boots and let’s wade through the you-know-what.
Stop the whining, put on the capes and rubber boots, and get your arses out in the mud.
btw, if anybody has a word for a temporary residence, something both big and beautiful (largetits is probably not the answer), a formal ball (oxymoron) or an informal quiz (another oxymoron), please feel free to jump in here.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:47 PM
From ADN
He has lobbied Congress over amendments to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. He was co-counsel on the initial subsistence lawsuit, the McDowell case, in which the state Supreme Court tossed out the state’s rural-preference law and affirmed equal hunting and fishing rights for Alaskans no matter where they live.
He has represented, without fee, anti-abortion protesters charged with trespassing and military veterans who ”res-cued” the American flag from an artist who displayed it on the ground. A champion of gun rights, director of the Na-tional Rifle Association and past president of the Alaska Gun Collectors Association, he sued Gov. Tony Knowles to stop the state from destroying firearms seized from criminals. He won.
He was an Alaska delegate to the past two Republican National Conventions. He was, according to his resume, the Alaska chairman of Lawyers for Bush/Quayle in 1988 and co-chairman of Alaskans for Phil Gramm during the 1996 presidential primary election campaign.
He has helped develop the Republican Party political platforms that have guided other Republican candidates.
”Wayne Ross was always the name that went with the Republican Party,” said LaJuana Streiff, a 19-year party veteran
March 26th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
He advocates intensive game-population management, including killing predators like bears and wolves, to build up the number of moose, caribou and other meat animals. If people object, as they have in the past? ”The hue and cry does-n’t bother me,” Ross said.
He said an outsider can’t know all the ins and outs of government and doesn’t need to know to be governor. His ap-proach would be to hire people with practical experience outside of government, tell them what he expects of them and then give them authority to do their jobs.
Ross smiled wide at the prospect. ”That would be fun,” he said.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Though widely known for his gun-rights stand, Ross has been active for 23 years — on both a personal level and as a lawyer — with Alaska Right to Life, lead organization in the anti-abortion movement. A devout Catholic, Ross believes his big remaining task on Earth is to help stop abortion, a practice he sums up as ”killing kids.”
”I feel I have a good relationship with the good Lord (but) if I could overturn Roe vs. Wade, I figure I got my ticket, ” he said.
”Mom would get upset, ” said his oldest son, Greg. ”But if school opened on the first of September, guess what? The Ross kids would not be there. We’d be hunting with dad.”
”He’s arrogant and opinionated, ” Mendel said. ”He shows up (in court) with his cowboy boots and cowboy hat and doesn’t stand up when the judge comes in. . . . He has a very definite view of the world.”
During a fight several years ago over gay rights, Mendel helped organize Anchorage lawyers in support of an anti- discrimination ordinance. Ross wrote a nasty letter to the Bar Association newsletter, using words like ”immoral, ” ”perversion” and ”degenerates.” The language went way beyond reasonable disagreement, Mendel and others said.
, said Abood, Ross ”can’t stand to be wrong. . . . He’s on a mission. There’s no doubt about it. He thrives on confrontation. . . . He tries to convince me that he is absolutely right and I am absolutely wrong, and I don’t buy that. . . .”
”He can dig in and be very belligerent, say there’s my way and no way, ” said Close.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:05 PM
One of Ross’ clients a defendant in an assault case once offered to pay his legal fees with the Smith & Wesson 9mm automatic that was seized during his arrest. When the client pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, the court impounded the handgun for costs.
Ross protested and promptly filed a “Writ of Habeas Pistola” in which he argued that it was “too fine a weapon to give to the state, where it would not be appreciated.”
The gun was released
During those arguments particularly arguments over gun rights Ross seldom listens to the other side with an open mind, Carlson says.
“He’s very, very sure of himself
March 26th, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Is she crazy!!??
March 26th, 2009 at 3:11 PM
http://www.newsminer.com/news/2009/mar/26/legislators-palin-feud-over-canceled-meeting/
“”That is absolutely false, absolutely false,” Stevens said emphatically. “I am sorry that the governor has put this out … To say that we cancelled the meeting to have a press conference is absolutely not true. Someone should be brought to task on that.”"”"
March 26th, 2009 at 3:11 PM
mommon – that would be my guess.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:11 PM
WAR is Palin’s economic stimulus package for Alaska attorneys. Business is about to pick up at the Alaska Supreme Court. What an embarassment for Alaska. So now we are all going to waste time fighting endless divisive battles over looney tune right-wing family values. Man, that’s just what we need in the middle of a depression – more infighting.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:14 PM
@mommom (15:08:08) :
Is the Pope Catholic?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:18 PM
DEEP breaths. This will only add nails to her coffin. The dead wolves and bears leading the way to her coffin are indeed tragic, but do NOT be distracted or discouraged. Darkest before the dawn and all that. As a gun-totin’ liberal without a gun (shopping for a 30 ought), I declare him out of bullets. YES WE CAN!
March 26th, 2009 at 3:28 PM
http://order-of-st-stanislas.org/index.htm
Funny but I found a link to a Bollywood director who is also a member
March 26th, 2009 at 3:31 PM
RE: Wayne Ross and Sarah Palin client relationship, I googled and found a few mentions. One has already been posted, but at the bottom of this piece is something interesting too:
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202424173645
“That gutsiness has landed her in an Alaskan ethics investigation of her own. In July, Palin fired a former department of public safety commissioner who had refused to fire her brother-in-law, a state trooper who recently was enmeshed in an ugly divorce and custody battle with Palin’s sister. Wayne Ross, who is representing a member of Palin’s administration in that investigation, declined to comment on the matter.”
So, he seems to have been involved in that ethics investigation that we just went through, although I can’t tell from this which investigation is referred to. But, seems clear that he should not be confirmed. He is too thoroughly tied to Sarah it would seem.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:38 PM
nails, nails, nails…
She has lost any perspective judgement to help her out of her mess. This appointment, while scary in the short term, will help put her on the bus to SF Greyhound Bus Station (the scariest place on the planet, believe me).
For those who don’t know this history, it was common practice to put the useless bums and dregs on the boat south, which then resulted in SF officials putting the useless bums and dregs on the boat north to Alaska. sarah on the bus, yes we can! WAR on the bus, yes we can! Reactionary choice for AG=bus to SF=bumsRUS=Buh-Bye=Take back our state=Alaska is FREE AT LAST!
ps…anybody have a word for “great size and beauty” that isn’t “hugetits”?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:39 PM
misspelled judgment.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:47 PM
I stand by what I said last week when she said she was going to turn the money down:
What a jackass!
March 26th, 2009 at 3:48 PM
forgive me if this has already been posted but…it was a comment from ADN:
Is it true, if so WTF Is with GINO? Is she so anxious to appoint a new AG (hmmm, womder why?) that she would lie in print about the Leg? Has she gone off the rails completely?
*****
onejrkitty wrote on 03/26/2009 03:01:41 PM:
PALIN’S DONE IT NOW ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
JUNEAU ? Legislative leaders blasted Gov. Sarah Palin this afternoon for issuing an “absolutely false” press release & denying lawmakers direct access to discuss the federal stimulus & the state’s budget.
Her legislative liaison, Gerry Gallagher, asked Senate Pres. Stevensif lawmakers would be willing to meet with staff instead.
There is really limited value in our meeting with the staff, when in fact we need to meet with the governor,” Stevens said.
Palin planned a 1:30 p.m. press conference in Anchorage to announce Wayne Anthony Ross? appointment as Alaska?s new attorney general.
She sent out a press release during a leadership press conference charging that lawmakers had called off a meeting with her to hold a press conference.
That is absolutely false, absolutely false,” Stevens said emphatically. “I am sorry that the governor has put this out. To say that we cancelled the meeting to have a press conference is absolutely not true.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:48 PM
I voted “is just being piled on by members of her own party because they hate her, and they’re jealous, and they’re part of the problem.”
Because everybody knows all the gay marriage pro-aborts are afraid of Sarah and all feminists have Palin Derangement Syndrome because they are cannot attract men and are just fat ugly lesbians anyway so they are just jealous of her figure and hunky husband and are thus made more and more miserable with their degenerate lives, killing babies for their blood to offer in rituals to satan every time there’s another news report about her running for 2012 which is why the mainstream media picks on her even though our Queen Esther/Deborah/Moses never does anything wrong because she has been given this destiny by God On High Himself.
(Even though she hasn’t even said what she’s doing for 2010 yet, but whatever.)
March 26th, 2009 at 3:51 PM
womanwithsardinecan (15:38:54) :
Can’t resist a cryptic clue, as this thread seems to have gone slow, give me the whole clue, number of letters and any letters in it that you have for sure
March 26th, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Shadow’s HeartNo Gravatar (14:00:09) :
Names submitted for nightlight round up
Sunset on the Flats
The nightly howl
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*The nightly howl* but I’m biased that way
March 26th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
I voted for “is just being piled on by members of her own party because they hate her, and they’re jealous, and they’re part of the problem. (2%, 11 Votes)” because I thought Sarah would want me to. And since I am female, it is a moral imperative that I support all women in politics regardless of whether they’re forwarding the cause of women or not. Or at least, that’s what Sarah says… /zombie
Seriously? That woman is KILLING ME. She operates on a completely different plane from rational, thinking people.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:59 PM
from mommom article:
“”He’s arrogant and opinionated, ” Mendel said. ”He shows up (in court) with his cowboy boots and cowboy hat and doesn’t stand up when the judge comes in. . . . He has a very definite view of the world.”
“During a fight several years ago over gay rights, Mendel helped organize Anchorage lawyers in support of an anti- discrimination ordinance. Ross wrote a nasty letter to the Bar Association newsletter, using words like ”immoral, ” ”perversion” and ”degenerates.” The language went way beyond reasonable disagreement, Mendel and others said.
, said Abood, Ross ”can’t stand to be wrong. . . . He’s on a mission. There’s no doubt about it. He thrives on confrontation. . . . He tries to convince me that he is absolutely right and I am absolutely wrong, and I don’t buy that. . . .”
”He can dig in and be very belligerent, say there’s my way and no way, ” said Close.
OMG! he’s like a male GINO———-> WARGINO!
March 26th, 2009 at 4:04 PM
womanwithsardinecanNo Gravatar (15:38:54) :
nails, nails, nails…
She has lost any perspective judgement to help her out of her mess. This appointment, while scary in the short term, will help put her on the bus to SF Greyhound Bus Station (the scariest place on the planet, believe me).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please bypass cali and send her to mexico, where the drug cartel can take care of her.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:09 PM
From SOA website:
March 26, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin was scheduled to participate telephonically in a meeting with legislative leadership today when legislative leaders cancelled the meeting to host their own press conference.
***
I think she is off her meds or something! Crazy train! If they don’t impeach her for this….?
She PUT HER LIE ON THE STATE WEBSITE!
March 26th, 2009 at 4:26 PM
AKM, how much longer will Sarah be governor of Alaska? Hopefully, Alaskans will not have to put up with her for too many more years.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:55 PM
If by turning down stimulus money Republicans extend or increase the impact of lost jobs and failed businesses -
There are not a whole lot of things that cost the states more than unemployment and the poverty that results.
There is of course the loss of sales tax. Loss of retirement investment that increases dependency of the elderly on state and federal aid.
Rental, housing and business units stand unused and loose value so property tax income falls and the rate has to be raised (never to be lowered)
I’m not an economist so I can’t give numbers but I bet anything that -
The cost in Medicaid alone is greater than the cost of food stamps and unemployment. And is vastly greater than job training and job availability.
If the stimulus money is used properly – that is to create jobs, then the state saves hundreds of millions in health care under Medicaid.
I just left employment in a rural hospital with 80% of its patients under Medicaid. or Medicare And they are there for life. The area is very poor and unemployment and underemployment is high.
What costs less, job training, availability of jobs, or the loss of tax revenue, and the cost of unemployment, food stamps, and subsidized or free health care?
What the RepoTaliban Governors are doing in turning down the stimulus, and the RepoThugs in Congress are doing by trying to disembowel it, is turning away money that would help create jobs and improve education and are thus increasing exactly what they say they condemn, a giant socialistic step toward national health.
March 26th, 2009 at 5:16 PM
I know there are two more newer threads, but I just had to voice my opinion after reading the nuts and bolts of the stimulus package and GINO’s response: she is an a$$. Plain and simple, an a$$. The only reason she hedged about what she would and would not “accept” or “reject” had nothing to do with what she knew would happen, but everything to do with the hype she could spew in her next national political campaign.
You know, it’s not like me to be unable to see the good side of nearly everyone, but GINO has stretched my good will past the point of breaking. I see her as a definite menace to society, not only in Alaska, but to the greater US, as long as she aspires to national political roles. She MUST be stopped, spanked, banished, and the sooner the better.
March 26th, 2009 at 5:48 PM
womanwithsardinecan (15:38:54) :
“a bell used to sound an alarm”, 6 letters, “s” is definitely letter number 4————-
is klason an alternate spelling for klaxon?
March 26th, 2009 at 5:53 PM
crystalwolf – ‘Please bypass cali and send her to mexico, where the drug cartel can take care of her.’ That was good – thanks for making me laugh!
If I lived in Alaska I would start a recall or petition for the legislature for impeachment. There is enough dirt to get it going but I guess people just figure it’s only until next year and then she’s toast. Problem is impeachment or recall is the only thing that will definitely stop her political agenda to F with the whole country (including worldview of us).
Never seen such a freak save for maybe Limbaugh.
March 26th, 2009 at 6:37 PM
There are smart, intelligent ppl in AK, I know this because I read lots of AK Blogs…daily…so please somebody explain GINO…she was born in Iowa, maybe thats the answer????
In the words of Fred Sanford…[to GINO], “You big Dummy!”
March 27th, 2009 at 8:28 AM
@SarahGates of Hell said Teal (18:37:21) :
Even better–she was born in Idaho. Potatoes for brains, maybe?
March 27th, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Hey, hold it! I’m from Iowa and have some good friends in Idaho…