The Parnell and Campbell show of 2009
Alaska Gubernatorial Examiner
Now that Christmas season is over, and all we have upcoming is New Years, it is time to look at what Gov. Sean Parnell has accomplished in his first 6 months of office.
The following needs to be viewed from the perspective of whose programs? Parnell’s or Palin’s?
Gov. Parnell initiated a scholarship program that will give any Alaska high school student with a grade average of a B or better a full scholarship to U of A or for a technical vocation. Good idea, and one that expands upon the program U of A had in place, but now would allow a student a voc-ed option. Not everyone goes to college nor wants to do so.
Another well advertised initiative of the Governor was to attempt to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault in the Bush by increasing police presence. That increased police presence was a ploy to fill Village Public Safety Officer positions.
VPSOs are not law enforcement, but hold the status of private security guards effecting any arrest pursuant to AS 12.25.030, the same as any other private citizen. While a good idea, the situation is mere window dressing without any real substance. The inability of the State to fill the existing VPSO positions is telling indicator of how the program is respected in the Bush.
It is recognized by this governor that law enforcement in Bush Alaska is at a crisis level. One tool the governor has that he is apparently unaware of is the Alaska State Defense Force State Military Police Constable program. VPSOs could be enlisted in the ASDF giving the option of armed law enforcement with statutory arrest powers in a time of emergency: AS 26.05.070.
Expanding ASDF into the Bush would build upon the rich heritage of military service that is a part of Bush Alaska. ASDF personnel serve without compensation until called to State Active Duty. Unlike their National Guard counterparts, ASDF is State only and a true volunteer force. It is either a solution that augments the existing VPSO program by giving the VPSO’s legitimate law enforcement standing through a mechanism such as ASDF, or greatly expanding the Alaska State Troopers to police the villages. The Regional Native Corporations (RNCs) that manage the VPSO program could step up to help fund the VPSO’s ASDF equipment, weapons and training requirements.
Of course, incorporating ASDF would be taken as an affront to DPS and the AST, not to mention the National Guard. This internecine turf war has prevented solutions that would be cost effective and workable to any Bush policing program. To overcome this petty selfishness on the part of the various State agencies involved (DMVA and DPS), the governor would have to lead.
Unfortunately, it is so much easier to hold a press conference with a bunch of APD cops and AST personnel serving as a backdrop—one had to wonder who was policing what with all the police present for that photo op—and mouth platitudes about service and preventing abuse.
Lt. Governor Craig Campbell finally was able to do something. He went to China on a trade mission with various State and private companies to sell Alaska’s resources to Korea, Taiwan and the PeoplesRepublic of China (PRC)—the same PRC whose military has openly made part of their military doctrine a first strike on the Unite States.
Guess which State in the Union is a prime military target and within striking range of any PRC ballistic missile? Alaska, of course.
Why this trade mission did not include Japan is something unstated and curious. Japan has been a long term trading partner with Alaska and has been the reason for the LNG export plant at Nikkiski. Why is it that Alaska’s Governor is not seeking a long term commitment from Japan for additional natural gas? Maybe, seeking natural gas commitments from Japan would kill AGIA and once again bring into focus in the public eye that this governor was part of the Palin Administration that not only killed the all-Alaska natural gas line option that was part of the campaign, but then turned around and improved upon the Murkowski pipeline to nowhere through Canada? That, maybe, with some smart marketing and good leadership, Alaska might have had a natural gas pipeline to Valdez under construction already with a ready customer in Japan? (Note: you need to ask your legislators these questions as they have no small part in this failure to perform on the part of our State government.)
The Governor appointed a new pipeline czar to replace the resigned Harry Noah. Robert Swenson, a Fairbanks geologist with no pipeline construction experience, will now oversee Noah’s conflict with the voters’ creation of the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority. Thus, the Parnell Administration continues the affront to Alaska’s voters since 2002, when we passed then Prop 3 to create ANGDA to build an all-Alaska natural gas pipeline.
An all-Alaska natural gas pipeline route is still favored by over 80% of Alaskans. Continuing to ignore ANGDA’s mission is an affront that will not be forgotten at the polls this coming election. Especially, if the Open Season fails, as is expected by the Parnell Administration and various legislators.
Like the Obama Administration and Congress when it comes to the lack of the public’s support of the healthcare legislation, Parnell and the Legislature just cannot get it through their thick skulls that Alaskans want their gas to go to market via LNG tanker to the world market.
What’s Parnell’s solution to Alaska’s slowing economy? Spend more!
Governor Parnell very recently clued us as to his intended spending for 2011. $10.5 BILLION, or about $16,435 per Alaskan resulting in an 8.5% INCREASE over last year’s budget.
One would think that after Sarah’s contempt shown for fiscal conservatism with her budgets, that Parnell would not emulate Sarah the Quitter. Instead, he ups the ante by 8.5% over her last budget, and harkens the day of reinstating the State income tax and the end of the PFD.
What part of recession does this governor not understand?
What part of “declining” oil production does this governor not understand?
Yes, there is good in the governor’s budget. The deferred maintenance fund is one item. Fully funding education is another. Continuation of various health related infrastructure in the Bush is another—clean water and sewer projects. Funding a 90 mile access road to open up oil production opportunities is another. The rest is just increasing the bureaucracy and maintaining the status quo of the State’s incredible spending. Of course, the Legislature will expand upon the governor’s budget.
The big question is yet to be answered. Whose budget is this? Is this 2011 budget a continuation of Sarah’s desires, or are we finally seeing Sean Parnell in this process?
Bill Egan built the Alaska Ferry System, the Parks Highway, improved the Glenn Highway, and so much more with just $900 million from the first lease sales in the early 1970s. Parnell’s $10.5 BILLION budget builds . . . nothing.
Oh, and the Governor is incensed and irritated over BP’s newest spill on the North Slope. Of course, the State is suing BP for $1 billion over the losses to the State from the 2006 shut down of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System due to oil spills on the North Slope because of failures in BP’s transportation pipe infrastructure.
As Alaskans we need to look at the current group of candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor very closely. We do not have to accept the incumbents.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BUDGET:
The links to the Gov’s proposed budget are:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=5196
Detail can be found at the OMB website:
http://omb.alaska.gov/
Alaska Gubernatorial Examiner
Lawrence is a 55-year resident of Alaska, grandfather and married for 36 years. He is active in politics and will monitor the hype versus the...
.jpg)
Comments
I talked with an old friend last night about Bill Walker becoming the next governor of Alaska. www.billwalkerforgovernor.com
She said Parnell is a nice guy, but he just doesn't have the leadership needed to take Alaska where it needs to go. She's right. The reasons for the different candidates running can be summed up as:
Bill Walker- running because he has passion and vision. A plan to follow the voter's mandate to build the Alaska Gasline that will provide affordable energy, jobs, and a new source of revenue.
Ralph Samules- running because he wants to represent the corporations.
Parnell- running because he likes being governor. Much cooler than being a oil industry lobbyist.
Larry notes the spending spree Parnell is on- totally unsustainable given the declining oil throughput in TAPS. Parnell is trying to play Santa Claus to buy an election. This is consistent with a guy who has no vision beyond his own self interest. "Elect me because its cool being governor".
More of the same old rant from Mr. Wood... rigid, biased, uninformed, uninformative. ??? Save Alaska with a state militia, with the ANGDA pipeline, by coddling Big Oil, and by electing Walker for governor???? This is very funny stuff!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!