Sarah Palin, the State Legislature, and the Meeting That Wasn’t.
26 03 2009
Today on “Cutting Edge with CC” on KUDO 1080am, there was a great segment with Senate Majority Leader Johnny Ellis (D). He talked to CC about some interesting developments that happened today between the Legislature and the Governor. It involved the governor’s favorite weapon of choice – the press release.
[Indented comments from Ellis are paraphrased from my notes of the interview. The actual audio of this segment is forthcoming. The notes were pretty good (I type fast!) and will tide you over until you can hear the whole thing.]
First some background. Communications between the Governor and the Legislature for the first two years was not good. She admitted that and apologized saying it was bad communication on her part. But, there was an opportunity to turn over new leaf this session.
Two weeks ago the joint leadership went to the governor and met about the stimulus money. We were given the distinct impression that she would accept all or most of the stimulus money, except that which pertained to the energy efficient building code. We were told yes on education and for speical needs and disabled students.
Senator Ellis actually got the message that governor Palin was rejecting a third of the stimulus money, including $160 for education, while at a meeting in the White House in Washington D.C. Ellis reports being stunned and having legislators from other states ask him, “Doesn’t Governor Palin have a special needs child?”
The meeting today was the first meeting after her rejection of the funds, and the first after backtracking saying she hadn’t really rejected them which is really ”political face-saving” and “damage control.” The meeting, was scheduled on the calendar as an “in person” meeting. It was originally scheduled at the governor’s house, where legislators had recently been invited to breakfast. But the Legislators wanting to “get down to business” requested that it be scheduled in the conference room in the capitol building.
But this morning, the morning of the meeting, Senate President Gary Stevens was informed by Palin aide Gerry Gallagher that she was not in Juneau, and had other things to do like announce Wayne Anthony Ross as Attorney General. He wanted to know would we be willing to meet with staff? We said, politely, no, that we need to meet with governor because we need soemone with authority to make decisions. Palin has made it very clear that none of the staff can speak for her or make decisions. We had gotten as far as we could go with staff. We want to know going in if the governor is going to veto things, and what to expect. We need face time. So, because the gov was not here we declined to meet with staff.
Then things started to get interesting. The Governor’s office released an official press release which began:
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.
If you’re thinking that sounds nothing like what happened, you’re not the only one. Senate President Gary Stevens (R) had this to say:
“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.”
Ellis acknowledged that the press release had “infuriated” the president of the senate. He went on to say that meeting with the legislature on the matter of the stimulus money is “something you would expect the executive to take care of,” and despite Palin’s feeling of conflict about the stimulus, there has been “no leadership” coming from the governor.
But what about the governor’s accusation that the Legislators cancelled the mythical teleconference “to host their own press conference”? What press conference?
The legislative leadership held the press conference to announce an “Alaskan Clearinghouse” providing stimulus information to communities and nonprofits. The partnership between lawmakers and the Denali Commission was ironed out only a few hours before.
The clearinghouse will help link Alaskans with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money that can be applied for directly by local entities to the federal government.
The entity will open March 27 in the Denali Commission offices in Anchorage. A comprehensive Web site, yet to be determined, will be a key part of the package.
So….what does this press conference have to do with anything? Ellis explains:
“I think the governor and her staff thought we were getting together to criticize her for not being in Juneau She put out a preemptive press release saying she would have met with them telephonically. She tried to get the upper hand. The telephonic availability was all news to us! It didnt’ help legislative relations.”
So, the governor issues a false press release because she thought that the legislature was ganging up on her to criticize her for cancelling the meeting and flying to Anchorage, when in fact they were not? There are days in Alaska when many wonder if the lunatics are running the asylum.
Ellis reminds us:
We have three weeks left in the legislative session, and we need to get down to brass tacks. We need definitive answers. Alaskans need a full-time governor and a full-time legislature during the session. I don’t know why she couldn’t have announced Wayne Anthony Ross as her pick for Attorney General here in Juneau in the last three weeks of a very busy session.
Then Ellis urged people who feel passionately about accepting the stimulus money – educators, those who work with special needs and disabled children, those who are committed to energy efficiency, and those who feel that Alaska deserves its fair share, to speak up, and contact their legislators, and not to assume that the stimulus money is a done deal.
This is the time. It’s up to the public. People have to speak up and make the case for these dollars.
Now would be the time to contact your legislators and tell them how you feel.
Wonder how Bob Poe feels? Here’s what he has to say:
With just 25 days left in this year’s Legislative Session and $288.1 million in federal stimulus funds at stake for education, energy and unemployment, Governor Palin chose today to be unavailable for a scheduled meeting with our elected Legislators.
After being criticized statewide for her recent cuts to stimulus funds, Alaskans’ tax dollars, the Lt. Governor and Budget Director tried to console Alaskans by saying Sarah Palin was only seeking a more critical review of selected funding to make sure unacceptable strings were not attached. But her action today seriously calls into question her sincerity. I recognize that it was likely to be an uncomfortable meeting, but that is, after all, her job as Governor.
Had the Governor been in Juneau, her official duty station, she no doubt could have been available to meet with Legislative leaders. As Governor I will live in, and govern from Juneau, Alaska’s capitol.
Additionally, her failure to attend this scheduled meeting, underlines the cynical and narcissistic nature of these arbitrary cuts to the stimulus funds – this is simply part of Sarah Palin’s campaign for President at the expense of Alaskans in time of need.
March 27th, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Here is a awesome article:
Unethical Harassment and wearing Logos
http://www.cityethics.org/node/684#comment-132
March 27th, 2009 at 11:51 AM
I’m sure Rex { Sherry’s lawyer } will help the gentlman with his case/lawsuit. Rex is African-American and has had past issues with the Gov. on race issues.
March 27th, 2009 at 11:55 AM
InJuneauNo Gravatar (11:33:12) :
@womanwithsardinecan (11:29:08) : Yes, it’s getting increasingly bizarre, and I wish it would all just GO AWAY!
————
I’m with you on that. I am SO tired of this dog and pony show and I don’t even live up there anymore. If she were just some blowhard Fixed News person like BillO or Greta or Hannity, we could all shrug and go on with our lives, but she is a public official using her office and celebrity to promote her rabid ambition for bigger things. Bad for Alaska, bad for America. We’re stuck keeping the light on her until she finally self-destructs. I do hope Alaska is still in one piece by the time she is gone.
I just want to pull the covers over my head and forget I ever saw that stupid hair or heard that screechy voice, lying and rabblerousing and youbetching ad nauseum.
March 27th, 2009 at 12:09 PM
I was just re-reading Ann Kilkenny’s famous e-mail and was reminded that when SP was the mayor of Wasilla, THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN AGAINST HER !!
So, hopefully history will repeat itself, but this time– the recall campaign will succeed OR perhaps SP will resign because she realizes that….
SHE NEEDS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HER FAMILY !!! (chuckle…)
March 27th, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Womanwiththesardinecan wrote: Funny how she chose THIS funeral to go to. Somebody open a window. It smells in here.
……………………………..
yeah, I thought it odd he was killed early march so wouldn’t she have known much earlier the date of his funneral? it’s military so I don’t know anything about how it works, I just found it odd.
March 27th, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Wow, every time I refresh to catch up…more enjoyable comments. Finally made it! And I forgot to make notes. Dang. I appreciate your sharing thoughts and opinions! What a documentation for history! Awesome! For what it’s worth, GINO should be removed from office for lack of confidence with supporting documentation she has supplied and laid on a silver platter. And the appointed AG should go, as well.
It’s all about equality. Did I spell that right?
March 27th, 2009 at 12:32 PM
WHAT’S UP WITH OUTING AKM??? New post up…:/
Why does that dingbat think it is necessary to ‘out’ anonymous bloggers? I just hope AKM does not have ANY of the reasons she posts as potentially possible! :/
{{{{{{{AKM}}}}}}}
March 27th, 2009 at 12:49 PM
NOT that I’m defending the timing of attending the funeral of a fallen serviceman (rest his soul), but it often is the case that it takes a while for the military to return a body to the US and then transport it on to where the funeral will be taking place. So, it could have been a last minute addition to the calendar. HOWEVER, I’m not sure that making the choice to attend that over meeting in person with one of the CO-EQUAL branches of government in the midst of economic turmoil and SESSION is the best decision to have made…
March 27th, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Hey- The yet to be confirmed AG opposes the death penalty- That’s one good thing. Ya know, all this SP stuff is just a diversion (at the moment) With what recently happened between her and the legislature- maybe she will be bye-bye soon for us anyway???
What hit me this AM was something that I heard on NPR. A “storycourt “episode where a son interviewed his recently deceased dad. His dad when he was young, joined the boy scouts and was intent on being the best boy scout he could be. He was looking for a way to do his daily good deed. He saw a bllind woman about to cross the street. He asked her if he could help her. She clung onto his arm and was very happy for the help and very talkative with him. Then she asked him if he was white or colored. He said he was colored. In the middle of the street, she threw his arm off her and said “don’t you touch me.” She wouldn’t allow a black boy to touch her. He thought that then we had a long way to go.
This was recorded in November 2008. He saw the election of Obama. Something great and exciting has happened. We have an intelligent, capable president who won’t step down to the special interests. What he can accomplish is somewhat dependent on how vocal and supportive we are. So I am going to try to ignore SP- maybe blog or do what I can to expose her. But I am going to focus on the prize we have in the white house. We got our prize Yahoo!!!!!!!
It’s more than we could have ever hoped for. God protect him. Write to the paper in support of his programs.
I get tired of the responses of Murkowski, but I am still going to write her and Begich and idiot Don Young. E-mails make it easier. I may find some other people to write to too!!!
Tell Obama what a good job he is doing- Michelle too??
Anyway- you know what I mean.
March 27th, 2009 at 1:25 PM
I’m glad some folks found the CityEthics site and article that supports Celtic Diva’s recent ethics complaint.
It’s pretty clear that GINO has run totally amuck now, and that the Sarasites are out in full force poo-pooing anyone who dares challenge their blessed Queen. I can’t imagine a worse week for GINO… unless Mt. Redoubt’s rivers of mud bust open the tanks that hold millions of gallons of oil causing an environmental disaster. Her star, even among her most sycophantic devotees, would fade faster than you can say, “Heckuva job, Sarah!”
Have any of the state Senators or Congresspersons blogged about the shaft that GINO just gave them? I can’t imagine they are pleased at being maligned by -her-.
March 27th, 2009 at 1:29 PM
thank you GA Peach a/k/a Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble for reposting and thank you Ennealogic for bringing it to our attention…. That was a great article..
March 27th, 2009 at 1:30 PM
From ktuu: http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=10080650
The memorial service was on Thurs, Mar 26; Pvt Devoe was killed on Mar 9, 2009. There is also a video of a portion of the memorial service (the playing of Taps – very moving).
There was no mention of the Governor being in attendance.
March 28th, 2009 at 12:48 AM
GINO is in petulant, “You can’t tell me what to do!” foot-stamping mode. She’s doing everything she can to sabotage everything and everyone in her wake. I truly believe she is showing definite signs of a mental disorder. She is heading rapidly toward meltdown.
She is doing and saying things without regard to potential fallout. She is beginning to seem paranoid (preemptive press release? A snarky one at that? How OLD is she- 12?)
March 28th, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Mike Doogan needs to receive a huge Karma violation from his colleagues – perhaps he should be assigned an office in Siberia…back in the old days in Juneau, they’d just quietly move them down the street. Oh yeah, and that Anchorage Office – anyone using their office to settle personal vendettas doesn’t even deserve one.
March 28th, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Palin was at Pvt. Devoe’s memorial service. I saw her there.
March 28th, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Representative Mike Doogan (AK)
Current Office: State House
Current District: 25
Party: Democratic
Representative Mike Doogan repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff.
March 28th, 2009 at 7:41 PM
What a b*tch!! She operates like a third-grader. She makes a fence post look like a Rhodes scholar.