Early this morning one phrase bugged me out of Sarah Palin's speech accepting the GOP nomination for Vice President:
Now I admit I'm not an ardent following of the minutiae of Alaska state politics so I decided to google it and find out just what Governor Palin felt her veto was necessary and while I was at it discovered some other scary possibilities this woman might stretch to.
Well she used it earlier this year to she sued it to veto funding to allow funding for teenage mothers a place to live for up to 18 months while they gained the necessary skills and resources to change their life. So faced with a tough choice that unmarried teenage mums who don't have the supportive family of say the First family of the state, some Alaskan teenagers may face financial issues if they find themselves pregnant that may result in their choice of whether to keep or terminate their unborn child as a result of that veto.
In 2007 she vetoed $231 million off the Republican Legislature's capital budget that was about 13% of the proposed spending. Last night she boasted that amongst other things the McCain-Palin administration was going to create jobs with clean coal. Yet part of those cuts she made was for a 50 megawatt Fire Island wind project and funds to restart the 50 megawatt Healy Clean Coal Project. Oops! She also vetoed $10 million expansion of the Port of Anchorage. $58 million of these were attempted to be reintroduced this year only to face the Palin veto pen once more.
At the end of 2006 her first veto less than a month into her Governorship was a bill to give public employee benefits such as health insurance to same-sex couples. It was a bill sponsored by Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole, I guess he's more Santa Claus than she was. This is one veto that recently people have been trying to spin counterclockwise saying that she is actually in favour of sax-sex couple having such benefits. But at the time of the veto Palin claimed that allowing health care for same-sex partners was "unconstitutional".
She claims to uphold the American constitution but while Mayor of Wallisa she didn't seek to uphold the Freedom of Speech part when seeking to ban books from the local library. she then threatened to get the librarian Mary Ellen Baker fired when she refused to co-operate with the request.
"I came to office promising to control spending - by request if possible and by
veto if necessary. "
Now I admit I'm not an ardent following of the minutiae of Alaska state politics so I decided to google it and find out just what Governor Palin felt her veto was necessary and while I was at it discovered some other scary possibilities this woman might stretch to.
Well she used it earlier this year to she sued it to veto funding to allow funding for teenage mothers a place to live for up to 18 months while they gained the necessary skills and resources to change their life. So faced with a tough choice that unmarried teenage mums who don't have the supportive family of say the First family of the state, some Alaskan teenagers may face financial issues if they find themselves pregnant that may result in their choice of whether to keep or terminate their unborn child as a result of that veto.
In 2007 she vetoed $231 million off the Republican Legislature's capital budget that was about 13% of the proposed spending. Last night she boasted that amongst other things the McCain-Palin administration was going to create jobs with clean coal. Yet part of those cuts she made was for a 50 megawatt Fire Island wind project and funds to restart the 50 megawatt Healy Clean Coal Project. Oops! She also vetoed $10 million expansion of the Port of Anchorage. $58 million of these were attempted to be reintroduced this year only to face the Palin veto pen once more.
At the end of 2006 her first veto less than a month into her Governorship was a bill to give public employee benefits such as health insurance to same-sex couples. It was a bill sponsored by Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole, I guess he's more Santa Claus than she was. This is one veto that recently people have been trying to spin counterclockwise saying that she is actually in favour of sax-sex couple having such benefits. But at the time of the veto Palin claimed that allowing health care for same-sex partners was "unconstitutional".
She claims to uphold the American constitution but while Mayor of Wallisa she didn't seek to uphold the Freedom of Speech part when seeking to ban books from the local library. she then threatened to get the librarian Mary Ellen Baker fired when she refused to co-operate with the request.
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the research into Governor Palin's veto history. Her speech last night was meant to place her in the context of a proper running mate, and in my estimation, she is a huge improvement over our current vp Dick Cheney. I share your concerns regarding her claims, but I attribute the bulk of that misrepresentation and the flat out distortions to McCain's speechwriter.
-Brian Bell
Pella, Iowa
Brian,
ReplyDeleteThe vetoing part for me is just the tip of the iceberg, in fact some of what she said struck me as very contradictory to what I'd alredy read up about on her in a short time. Most of her stances I can in no way support and as an outsider looking in I'm just trying to find out who on earth may be one heartbeat away from the Presidency, and as a political anorak I do way too much looking into things, but people seem to want to read it.
Stephen
In her speech, she states our opponent opposes an Energy Plan. Well take a look at this:
ReplyDeleteState of Alaska > Governor > News
> News Archive
Palin Pleased with Obama's Energy Plan
Includes Alaska's Natural Gas Reserves Printer Friendly
No. 08-135
August 4, 2008, Fairbanks, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today responded to the energy plan put forward by the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
“I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska’s natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs,” Governor Palin said. “The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs.”
In a speech given in Lansing, Michigan, Senator Obama called for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, stating, “Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process.”
Governor Palin also acknowledged the Senator’s proposal to offer $1,000 rebates to those struggling with the high cost of energy.
“We in Alaska feel that crunch and are taking steps to address it right here at home,” Governor Palin said. “This is a tool that must be on the table to buy us time until our long-term energy plans can be put into place. We have already enjoyed the support of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, and it is gratifying to see Senator Obama get on board.”
The Governor did question the means to pay for Obama’s proposed rebate — a windfall profits tax on oil companies. In Alaska, the state’s resource valuation system, ACES, provides strong incentives for companies to re-invest their profits in new production.
“Windfall profits taxes alone prevent additional investment in domestic production. Without new supplies from American reserves, our dependency and addiction to foreign sources of oil will continue,” Governor Palin said.