tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213492972024-03-13T05:30:10.975-08:00SOL in SOLdotna, AlaskaBegin with one of the most productive wild salmon rivers in the world, bring in the oil and gas industry, have almost non-existent land use ordinances, squeeze in as many strip malls, car lots and big signs as you can manage - and what do you get?<br>
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SOLdotna!
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Folks call this place Slow-dotna, but that's too cliché.
SOLdotna begins with S-O-L and you know that you're Shit Outta Luck in this town.Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-54750623334984903732016-01-09T16:19:00.000-09:002016-01-29T07:38:12.422-09:00Micciche's Freedom to Discriminate and Hate BillAddendum/Correction: I've left the original post intact, but Micciche's bill might just exclude clergy, which is still unfortunate because they are already protected. This is a bill that is in search of a problem and seems to be submitted just to pander for votes.<br />
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The price of oil has plummeted to under $40/barrel, the state is operating at a deficit of billions of dollars and Gov Walker has proposed cutting the PFD, instituting a state-wide sales tax and maybe even a state income tax to fix the train wreck that the state is facing. <br />
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So with these pressing matters, what does State Senator Peter Micciche begin the legislative session with? A bill that does Kim Davis one step better.<br />
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Micciche's bill would allow state officials to refuse to marry someone for any reason. Don't want minorities getting married? No problem. Don't want Jews, Muslims or Atheists to tie the knot? Micciche is behind you. Can't stand Mormons or Catholics? Micciche want you to hate away! Think that God might be displeased if same-sex couples want to exercise their constitutional right? His Arrogance, Peter, knows better than the US Supreme Court and has your back.<br />
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Let's be certain here. Right now, by law, it is OK if you are clergy or a private citizen, you don't have to solemnize the wedding for anyone. You are 100% completely free to marry or not marry anyone you want. Micciche's bill allows a person employed/appointed by the state to refuse to solemnize a wedding for absolutely any reason. WTF?!? If you are hired by the state to do a job for the public, either do it or find a different line of work. Here's a link to the bill <a href="http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/29/Bills/SB0120A.PDF" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Go figure, maybe we should allow Peter not to do his job, he's been doing such a bang-up job after all. He was the swing vote on replacing ACES, now the state gives more way to the oil companies than it receives in revenue (to be fair, ACES needed to be tweaked for times when prices are low, like they are now and will be for quite some time). He was on the finance committee and was all for the Taj MaHawker, the way expensive no-bid LIO Palace the Republicans leased. As a member of the finance committee, Peter also approved of a $ million dollars in new furniture (including waste bins that automatically open). As a mid-level manager of ConocoPhillips mothballed LNG plant in Nikiski, Peter has had his entire political career subsidized by his employer. Generous time off to attend meetings and such and then handsomely rewarded for his efforts to broker sweetheart deals for his company. <br />
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But Peter is good at bluster. He helps rescue pets, gets artificial Christmas Trees (brought to you by ConocoPhillips) installed in the park and such. Gotta keep the base happy; a picture with a tin tree or a neglected puppy guarantees votes. And that is all this bill does, give the homophobic base the right to discriminate. It's good for some more votes.<br />
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Anyone wanna bet that Micciche is going to run against Don Young or Lisa Murkowski?<br />
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Here are some wishes: that no legislator introduces any bill until the budget mess is figured out; and that no legislator (or aid) goes on any junkets during the session. Just maybe they can take care of business and not have (yet another) hugely expensive special session like the've had to have these last few years.<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-50487015521113274682015-06-05T17:24:00.000-08:002015-06-05T17:24:00.460-08:00Call To Duty: Peter Micciche and Gary StevensThe budget deal was close - a compromise passed the Alaska House of Representatives. Democrats gave up on Medicaid expansion, but held fast on education, the ferry system, negotiated pay raises and other issues. The additional costs for those programs amounts to less than 1% f the budget. Left alone were cuts to pork projects like The Susitna Dam, the Juneau Road to nowhere, the Knik Arm Bridge and cuts to the ridiculously expensive LIO building in downtown Anchorage. Also left untouched were the massive production credits being paid to the oil companies.<br />
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Yet that wasn't enough for the Alaskan Senate. Nope, there's not been an inch of compromise offered by the Senate.<br />
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However, our two Kenai Peninsula senators, especially Micciche, who is on the Finance committee, can take a stand and buck the Republican majority. I've heard Peter say (many times) that he is willing to work across the aisle. That he's for education. That he represents the people of the central peninsula. And from his past actions, Gary Stevens often shows that he is an old-school republican, reasonable, in other words. Not that there's been any evidence of that this session.<br />
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So, please Senators Micciche and Stevens, show that you are true representatives of the people of the Kenai Peninsula, cut the puppet strings from the Republican majority and vote for what's right. Approve the House budget. Move Medicaid expansion forward - it's the morally right thing to do. And it's what your constituents want you to do. If you two start acting like grownups, maybe a few other on-the-fence republicans will join ranks.<br />
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Yeah, I'm not going to hold my breath either.Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-50225249816678922712015-05-21T13:55:00.001-08:002015-05-21T13:55:05.128-08:00Starving the Beast While Feeding the Piggies (and robbing the bank)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecdJFTPBUNVBCmWUjY_-Hxx4uGpUwdAg3o0AsJhVqB1BlZsF_gMwKzZYiEA8EDQKCJkZffyJaPdhpIYH-NKF75SBHo8kAaD2g7P6NLNV6jpU1-rWRmyM5flDkMQbQbGV8wRrpYA/s1600/chekel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecdJFTPBUNVBCmWUjY_-Hxx4uGpUwdAg3o0AsJhVqB1BlZsF_gMwKzZYiEA8EDQKCJkZffyJaPdhpIYH-NKF75SBHo8kAaD2g7P6NLNV6jpU1-rWRmyM5flDkMQbQbGV8wRrpYA/s1600/chekel.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petting party (pic from the Juneau Empire)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hope that no one is surprised. Republicans have long been enamored with the concept of cutting taxes to the point that there is no money left for basic government functions to exist. it's called Starving the Beast. Witness Kansas and Louisiana, two states that have recently tried this approach and are sinking into deficits so great that schools are shutting down early and basic government services are being cut as massive tax breaks are being given to the wealthy and to corporate sponsors. <div>
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And now it's happening in Alaska. </div>
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The Republican controlled majority under the previous governor, rammed through massive reductions in the money we sell the oil that the state owns to the petroleum companies. And to make matters worse, these same 'fiscally conservative' politicians gave their employers (the oil companies) production credits that will exceed the revenue we get from selling the oil by $650 million over the net two years at the current rate. We are paying the oil companies to take the oil the state owns! </div>
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The mess has led to a $3.2 Billion deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. Mike Chenault (owns an oil service business) and Kevin Meyers (employed by Conoco Phillips) have not been able to come up with a balanced budget and their only solution has been to blame the Democrats. Why, because they need the support of the Dems to access the $9 Billion in the Constitutional Budget Reserve. And the Dems say that we should get our priorities straight by cutting funding for pork projects like the Susuitna Dam, the Knik Arm Bridge, the TajMahawker LIO building in Anchorage and maybe reduce the hundreds of millions we are paying the oil companies for taking our oil. (Read Chris Tuck's take on it all <a href="http://www.adn.com/article/20150521/heres-truth-democrats-budget-cuts-more-gops-and-helps-alaskans" target="_blank">here</a>).</div>
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But the Republicans are doing what Republicans do. Cutting education, refusing to help out the working poor in need of health care, cutting public TV and radio, rescinding negotiated pay raises (but gladly taking their own excessive per diem) and etc. And making the oil companies and their cronies richer and richer.</div>
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And now, maybe they have an endgame: to raid the Permanent Fund. They don't need the 2/3 vote of the combined house and senate to tap into this. It will be interesting to see if they have the balls enough to do this. Of course, they will blame the Dems, just like they have blamed the Dems for the current mess. It's easier to blame the innocent than take responsibility.</div>
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It will get interesting if they do that.</div>
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Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-7597892857961423062015-05-06T17:04:00.001-08:002015-05-06T17:10:31.882-08:00Micciche, Olson, Chenault and The Republican Legislature: Playing Hooky, Cutting Class and Passing Gas<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGR0v4Rm-jeBgI-jvcQp4IG_sM7xRS0_wQ0zA24wld5gfDhce9rTvG0ZnLRvnpzDTpfMcQR83IdjMl_3NZ7whJJ66xXCAckm55_C7EAUBMg_zZcWqa8GlevblfgaeNgo_H4AILw/s1600/stooges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGR0v4Rm-jeBgI-jvcQp4IG_sM7xRS0_wQ0zA24wld5gfDhce9rTvG0ZnLRvnpzDTpfMcQR83IdjMl_3NZ7whJJ66xXCAckm55_C7EAUBMg_zZcWqa8GlevblfgaeNgo_H4AILw/s1600/stooges.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, I suck at graphic design, but you get the point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Their one job as legislators is to pass a real budget, you know a balanced one that lasts through the fiscal year. But the best the Republican controlled majority could do is come up with a lame budget with only enough money for a few months and would still fall some $3 Billion short of what was needed to fund government for the remainder of the year.<br />
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That was after some drastic cuts to public school education (in addition to draining $1.3 Billion from the Forward Funding of Education Account), a $30 million cut from the university system (that will result in the elimination of up to 500 jobs - how's that for job creation!?!), and rescinding pay raises for state workers that had already been negotiated.<br />
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What it didn't cut were millions of dollars set aside for various boondoggles such as the Knik Arm Bridge, the Road to Nowhere in Juneau and the Susistna Dam.<br />
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And thanks to the new oil tax scheme, the state now pays more in oil production credits than it gets from per/barrel oil revenues - about $100 Million more. The Republicans have refused to look at tweaking those credits so that Alaska actually earns money for the oil we own, rather than pay the oil companies for taking it away. Yes, I do realize that the oil companies do pay other taxes (property, pipeline, etc), and I do realize that at the current low prices, SB21 charges the oil companies more than ACES would have, but thank goodness ACES was in effect for the previous years as it padded the state's coffers and made these trying times a bit easier to deal with. If SB21 had been in effect before, we'd be tapping the PFD AND paying a state income tax about now.<br />
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These three Kenai Peninsula legislatures, especially Chenault and Micciche have been the driving force that has driven the ship of state up on the rocks of fiscal irresponsibility. Olson, well, he just does what ever Mike Chenault tells him too.<br />
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One didn't need to be an accountant to see this fiscal cliff coming. Why last year, even in this lame blog, it was pointed out that oil production wasn't going to be anywhere near where these three (and then Gov S Parnell) predicted. Despite the warnings, Micciche (on the finance committee) voted for the new LIO remodel job (a no-bid deal with a friend of another legislator)and we now have the Taj McHawker, the hugely expensive and unneeded office space.<br />
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Gov .Walker ordered the legislature to stay in session and figure out the budget (and to pass Medicaid expansion), but the Republican controlled house and senate thumbed their noses and voted to take a 2-week vacation rather than do the job they were elected to do.<br />
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The one solution is to negotiate with the Democrat Minority and tap into the $10 Billion Budget Reserve (thanks to ACES). But the Dems say they will only do so if some education cuts are restored and that production tax credits are re-visited.<br />
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And that's where we are today.<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-43337129861377710322014-12-11T21:51:00.000-09:002014-12-11T21:54:39.868-09:00Micciche Saves Persecuted Christians in District OYeah, right here in river city those who would dare call the holy metal tree-like symbol of corporate greed (and donated by ConocoPhillips) a 'Holiday Tree' rather than by its God-given name, Christmas Tree, were given a Facebook dressing down by his eminence, state senator Peter Micciche.<br />
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Commenting on the production of "a Charlie Brown Christmas", Peter pontificates: "The play is about the importance of Christ's birth as the meaning of, and reason for Christmas. Period."<br />
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So far, so good. Personally, I think the reason Christmas and other Christian holidays (and holidays really means Holy Days, of course) are still celebrated might have less to do with Jesus having been born and more about the beauty of his teachings.<br />
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Peter can't just be happy about a nice community celebration though, he's got to play the persecution card. Despite the fact that really no one in Soldotna has ever tried to prevent anyone from celebrating Christmas, Micciche lets loose some arrogant rage "What Linus read on that stage Saturday, or reads on your Blue Ray at home is Luke 2: 8-14...straight from the new testament. Gasp. That's right, we are not afraid to celebrate the birth of Christ here in District O."<br />
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Gasp. But then in a comment, a citizen asks Peter if he also celebrates the holy days of other religions or at leasts acknowledges that some of his constituents may not be Christians. Peter's went on the attack. "My post is about the hijacked symbol of a religion. The end result is a loss of religious freedom for just one religion. I helped organize and attended a joyful Christmas event. I believe calling a symbol of Christmas a holiday tree is restricting my and some of my constituent’s right to worship as I/they see fit."<br />
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Of course, no one was hijacking Charlie Brown's Christmas. There were no protestors, no angry letters to the editor. No one was beheaded or crucified. But Micciche seems to feel he is the defender of Christianity, no matter how much it isn't being attacked here in SOLdotna.<br />
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It's called grandstanding.<br />
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But he goes on to be condescending to the writer of the comment and avoids answering her question - Does Micciche actually show some deference to his constituents who may not be Christian?<br />
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He does give her some advice: "Focus on the positive instead of preconceived notions regarding the diabolical intent of your conservative “friends”. Such notions are almost never true."<br />
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Since when is asking if he celebrated the holy days of his non-Christian friends a 'preconceived notion of diabolical intent'?<br />
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Maybe His Arrogance should follow his own advice. Focus on the positve, Micciche, instead of your preconceived notions of your non-conservative 'friends'. Such notions are almost never true.Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-56710861399437936852014-10-29T14:53:00.000-08:002014-10-30T15:11:15.445-08:00Picking and ChoosingSOL avoids watching TV and now that the Citizen's United ruling permits unlimited secret money to be dumped into election ads, I'm sure most of you can't wait for the election to be done and the return of the normal TV ads that try to get you to buy things you don't need. I hope you all read Alan Boraas's <a href="http://www.adn.com/article/20141019/we-need-rescue-our-democracy-plutocrats" target="_blank">OpEd piece in the ADN</a> about how our government is a <span class="updated">plutocracy. </span><br />
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<span class="updated">Since I am working out-of-town, I already voted using the state's new electronic voting system. As long as my vote is actually going to be counted, it was a very easy process. But isn't it sad that here in the land of the free and the home of the brave, it's also the land of the corporate rules and corrupt politicians? Can one be sure an electronic ballot is actually counted?</span><br />
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<span class="updated">Anyway, here's what I was thinking as I cast my vote.</span><br />
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<span class="updated"><b>Governor</b> - How can anyone vote for Parnell? The <a href="http://www.adn.com/article/20141018/national-guard-documents-detail-chronic-misconduct-among-recruiting-leaders" target="_blank">AK National Guard scandal</a> should be enough to make him resign. His refusal to turn over emails related to when he was notified indicate that he chose to ignore the rapes and corruption that were happening. But that's Parnell's MO - public business is conducted in private. I don't agree with everything Walker has to say, but I do think he is basically an honest person and that is enough a reason to vote for the man.</span><br />
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<span class="updated"><b>US Senate</b> - Let's see, Dan Sullivan is against the EPA, so he is OK with polluting our air and water. He filed the state lawsuit to overturn native subsistence rights - crazy! He knows nothing about commercial fishing. He claims MD as his place of residency to avoid taxes. He would be the best candidate the Koch brothers could buy. Begich is a centrist and has done a world of good for Alaska. I'm glad he voted for Obamacare. </span><br />
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<span class="updated"><b>US Representative</b> - Really, how can anyone vote for Don Young? He's racist, ignorant, hateful, corrupt and arrogant - and those are his best qualities. Forrest Dunbar is smart, open-minded and energetic. Read <a href="http://www.stonekettle.com/2014/10/the-devil-you-know.html" target="_blank">this piece from Stonekettle Station for a well-written take on Dandy Don.</a></span><br />
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<span class="updated"><b>State Senate District O</b> - Peter Micciche is evolving, but he is still a tool for industry and a fool to his own ego. On the plus side, he does support good causes and at least shows up to events where he might not be Mr Popularity. I don't know too much about his opponent, Eric Treider, but I think a vote against Micciche is vote for a good change.</span><br />
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<span class="updated"><b>State Representative District 30</b> - Shauna Thornton has been a refreshing and engaging candidate that has been tireless in her effort to give the central peninsula honest and accountable representation. Her opponent, Kurt Olson is Mike Chenault's Mini-Me. Kurt tried to ramrod HB 77 through, gave himself a back-door payraise where he keeps money that was suppose to go to office supplies. </span><br />
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<span class="updated"><b>Ballot Measure # 2</b> - just legalize it. Read <a href="http://www.newsminer.com/opinion/community_perspectives/marijuana-prohibition-is-immoral/article_d53fc20c-59b9-11e4-a9a7-001a4bcf6878.html" target="_blank">Marijuana Prohibition is Immoral</a> from the Fairbanks NewsMiner</span><br />
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<span class="updated"><b>Ballot Measure # 3</b> -Raise the minimum wage. There's no reason not to do this. Try living on minimum wage for a year if you think it shouldn't be raised.</span><br />
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<span class="updated"><b>Ballot Measure #4</b> - I actually have mixed feelings on this one. I'm certainly opposed to the Pebble Mine, but who wants politicians involved in decisions that should be made by regulatory agencies and policies already in place?</span><br />
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<span class="updated">Please get and vote. All of the candidate choices are between those who support the interests of the rich and powerful over the interests of ordinary people. It matters!</span><br />
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Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-71891909614574757252014-09-26T16:59:00.001-08:002014-09-29T15:22:36.271-08:00Bear(up) With Me<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNhCN55EAQyRjpBIs0E6gK6NQc5vj8VeEaVKwAo1XPdPe6Cbo0hp1i1gKOgEsrBcVq7eHRqR-ajHbEogb8ozmGAXIujI7WxtLRWffQFf-Zlq8QIYpnuznbo3jLKS-3VFMUOHRNg/s1600/dirtylaundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNhCN55EAQyRjpBIs0E6gK6NQc5vj8VeEaVKwAo1XPdPe6Cbo0hp1i1gKOgEsrBcVq7eHRqR-ajHbEogb8ozmGAXIujI7WxtLRWffQFf-Zlq8QIYpnuznbo3jLKS-3VFMUOHRNg/s1600/dirtylaundry.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom's Dirty Laundry (Maricopa Monitor)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Like many of you, I know very little about Tom
Bearup, Mike Navarre's opponent in the upcoming Kenai Borough's mayoral
race. A quick little search on the internet was revealing.<br />
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The
most interesting thing was that Tom served as the right-hand man of
Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona. Yes, THAT Joe Arpaio,
the sheriff of posse fame that targets brownskin individuals, that has
been investigated for corruption, that has had prisoners die in his
custody and etc. Tom was instrumental in building up the reputation of
Arpaio, but then there was a falling out between the two men, Bearup
apparently couldn't take the various abuses that Arpaio had alledgedly
committed. Tom ran for Sheriff against Arpaio and was spanked by Joe.
Curiously, Tom was endorsed by the Arizona Tea Party, but to no avail. You
can read more about the dealing between Bearup and Arpaio <a href="http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1997-11-06/news/doubting-thomas/" target="_blank">here,</a> <a href="http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2000-09-21/news/muck-my-day/" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.arpaio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=947" target="_blank">here</a>. There's an interview with Tom about some of Arpaio's shenanigans <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vWYHf5ZKBE&list=PL3C277C9BB1CAFCC1" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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A
little more digging reveals that Bearup was previously fired from a
supervisor's position at the federal department of Housing and Urban
Development. Apparently To<a href="http://www.akb.uscourts.gov/opinions/10abr/10abr162.htm" target="_blank"></a>m
was on default on his own HUD home loan, but had not reported this
conflict to his superiors. To be fair, Tom says he was fired because he
was a whistle-blower on some department improprieties, but I couldn't find
anything to back up that claim. You can read about that <a href="http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1996-06-27/news/the-shadiest-guns-in-the-west/" target="_blank">here</a> - but be sure to scroll down to begin the info about Bearup.<br />
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Bearup
filed for bankruptcy in 2011, but the court rejected his plea.
Apparently, the judge felt that Bearup and his wife did not try to
settle their debts honorably, but rather used the guise of a ministry to
keep from paying the debts they owed. You can see the court document <a href="http://www.akb.uscourts.gov/opinions/10abr/10abr162.htm" target="_blank">here</a>. Without a doubt, Tom had some health issues that contributed to his financial woes, but
the judge pointed out that Tom and his wife came into a bit of money
and rather pay down the debt, spent the money on travel and their
ministry.<br />
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Tom ran for Sheriff of Pinal County
Arizona in 2012, but he lost the election. In a bit of a publicity
stunt, Tom 'aired his dirty laundry' by actually hanging underwear on a
clothes line; each piece representing some alleged scandal from
his past. You can read about that<a href="http://www.trivalleycentral.com/maricopa_monitor/county_state/election-bearup-airs-dirty-laundry-in-casa-grande-park/article_b0323034-1a87-53b1-8ca8-4040f47e3523.html" target="_blank"> here</a>.<br />
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To
his credit, Tom has a solid history of helping those in need. Remember
when local businesses were taking advantage of international student
visas and hiring foreign students, but charging them outrageous rents
and housing many in small apartments? Tom and his wife stepped up and
took these students in. Read about that <a href="https://redoubtreporter.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/open-hearts-homes-%E2%80%94%C2%A0local-families-offer-more-than-just-shelter-to-summer-visa-workers/#more-6735" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Tom
has spent most of the last few years in Arizona, only recently moving
back to the Kenai, but he was the mayor of Soldotna many years ago and
did work for the Soldotna police. He does seem to have trouble dealing
with finances and seems to be keen on getting elected to some position, either in Arizona or Alaska.<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-3669453230288375602014-08-07T14:58:00.001-08:002014-08-08T09:25:01.474-08:00Joe Miller: The King of Welfare Queens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wondering which US senate candidate to support in the upcoming primary? Maybe this Q and A can help!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1) What candidate was </b></span><b>disciplined by the Fairbanks North Star Borough<span style="font-size: small;"> for breaking into co-workers computers and using those computers for his own purposes?</span></b></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">That would be Joe Miller. And Joe is on record admitting that he lied about his involvement. Joe also tried to prevent news agencies from investigating this breech of ethics. Joe also tried to delete some 10,000 emails related to his involvement. Oh, while Joe officially resigned from his position with the borough, it came right before he was going to be fired.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2) What candidate is opposed to ObamaCare, yet had no problem enrolling his many kids in Denali KidCare, federally funded health care for children from impoverished families?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">That would be Joe Miller. Yes, federally funded health care is fine for his kids, but not for yours. You know, Joe, if you couldn't afford to have kids, for God's sake, you should have kept your zipper up! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3) Who hired his wife to be his aide when he was a part-time magistrate and then had to let her go because it violated state laws concerning nepotism?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">That would be Joe Miller. His wife Kathleen had to be let go because cronyism is sort of against the law. She immediately filed for unemployment benefits. That's right, she went on the government dole. Another example that welfare is good for Joe and his family, but bad for everyone else.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4)What candidate took federal subsidies for property he owns in Kansas?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">That would be Joe Miller. Yes, it's OK for him to suck on the government teat, but he's against poor folks from doing it. Mead Treadwell also took federal subsidies for a company(about $7Million)he was on the board for - and then cashed in for a cool $1 million when he then promptly sold his interests.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5)Who applied for an Alaskan low-income hunting and fishing license after buying a $400,000 house and taking a job with a law firm?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">That would be Joe Miller. I don't know, but to me it seems like he's the King of Welfare Queens</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6) What candidate believes that companies should be able to discriminate against blacks, non-Christians and LGBT citizens and that it is no business of the federal government to interfere with discrimination?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">That would be Joe Miller. Do read his interview with <a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/03/10/absolutely_moronic_tea_party_senate_candidate_tells_salon_why_we_should_keep_discrimination_legal/" target="_blank">Salon</a>. But he does support the federal Defense of Marriage Act which does support discriminating against gay marriages. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>7) What Candidate proudly welcomes the endorsement of Gun Owners of America, whose leader, Larry Pratt, is on record saying that Obama is raising a black army to kill white Americans, that liberals rejoice at mass shootings like Sandy Hook and that members of congress should have a fear of getting shot?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">That would be Joe Miller. The local branch of GOA help kick off his first event this election cycle. Miller was also a buddy of Shaeffer Cox, the convicted terrorist. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>8) What candidate would put a woman in prison if she decided to get an abortion after being raped or after being a victim of incest?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">That would be Joe Miller (and Treadwell too). Joe says that if a woman got an abortion after being raped or being a victim of incest, she would be punishing an innocent child. Joe, isn't that a bit too much federal overreach? Shouldn't God be the judge when a woman has such an awful decision to make? Of course, Joe (and the other republican candidates) would punish the mother in these dire situations who decided to carry the child by denying her any sort of health care, child support or child care support. Joe is a false Christian with no compassion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>9) What candidate was ordered by the courts to pay $85,000+ to the Alaska Dispatch for their legal fees after he tried to prevent them from investigating his shenanigans?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">That would be Joe Miller. The court found that Miller was "M</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">aking inconsistent positions, failing to disclose information during discovery, being unavailable for his deposition, and his procedural filings which the record did not support,” caused unnecessary delays and costs for both the Dispatch and the Fairbanks North Star Borough. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>10) What candidate would build a 'Berlin Wall' to keep out illegal immigrants?</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">That would be Joe Miller. He would also abolish the IRS, so no word from the bright folks crunching his numbers on how the wall would be funded.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><b>11) What candidate is a big crybaby and sore loser?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">That would be Joe Miller who filed several lawsuits to disqualify votes for Lisa Murkowski during his last senate run. Of course, he not only lost election, but also the lawsuit and the appeal.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><b>12 What candidate has his head stuck up his ass about Global Warming?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">That would be Joe Miller, Dan Sullivan and Mead Treadwell. Joe has driven this primary so far to the right, that the other two candidates will say anything to get the lunatic fringe vote. Of course, the lunatic fringe = mainstream Alaskan republicans these days. Despite overwhelming evidence from 95%+ of climate scientists and supporting data, all three of these guys claim (without citing any legitimate sources), that global warming is simply liberal fear-mongering. Yeah, despite the fact that Alaska is taking global warming on the chin. Glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, coastal villages in the western and northern part of the state are getting hammered by waves from winter storms; waves that normally wouldn't happen because the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean is usually frozen for longer periods; that permafrost is melting like never before; and ocean temperatures and acidification may be having a huge negative impact on salmon and other fisheries. But these candidates, especially Joe Miller, get their marching orders from the Koch Brothers (who bankroll the Tea Party) and who have financial reasons to continue to pollute and discharge massive amounts of carbon in the atmosphere.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">It's crazy to think that Joe Miller even has a chance to win the Republican primary, but all he has to do is say he's against abortion, for 2nd Amendment rights and against ObamaCare and his base couldn't care less that the man is </span><span style="line-height: 21px;">hypocritical, a liar, and is ethically challenged. </span></span><br />
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Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-91717205915192973462014-03-14T15:57:00.000-08:002014-03-14T15:57:52.505-08:00Cathy Giessel to Alaskans: Shut Up and Go Away!HB 77, the the unsuccessful pro-development, anti-public input legislation sponsored by Gov Parnell last year is back in revision this year. Cathy Giessel, who partially represents the northern Kenai Peninsula and the chairperson of the senate Finance Committee, cut off testimony on Wednesday and prevented other committee members from asking questions to those speaking for or against the bill. Well, there were only two who had anything to say in favor of the bill, both representatives of the mining industry. <br />
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Everyone else spoke against the bill, despite the revisions that have done little to placate fears that HB 77 would give the DNR broad and unchallenged powers and take away the public hearing process for green-lighted development. <br />
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Giessel did re-think restricting testimony and opened up another public testimony session today.<br />
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HB 77 has singularly united citizens of all political persuasions - not many of us would like to give bureaucrats in the state over-reach powers. Not many of us want to give away our right to be heard. Not many of us are fooled by the intent of this bill, which is to fast-track dams and destructive mining practices in critical salmon habitat areas. Representatives Kurt Olson and Mike Chenault have backed this legislation 100% since its inception last session.<br />
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Senator Peter Micciche wasn't convinced last year and his lack of support was helpful in keeping the bill from passing back then. However, in an email published by the Peninsula Clarion, Micciche stated “My goal is to work with folks and to give them the chance to digest the
actual changes, as opposed to the incorrect and exaggerated effects
claimed by extreme Anchorage environmental groups with an obvious
anti-development-of-any-kind agenda.”<br />
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I wonder if Peter considers all environmental groups to be 'extreme'? And because someone might disagree with Micciche, does that make them incorrect? In my experience, that's exactly his attitude. <br />
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Paul Zimmerman of Kenai had this question during his testimony: "More and more legislation and proposals are coming up that are designed
to take the public out of the process and this is another step,” he
said. “Our state constitution was founded on ideals of public
participation in their government. Whose interests is (Micciche) serving
if he’s not serving the public? This is un-American."<br />
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The new version of HB 77 is as odious as the previous version, we shall soon see how the legislature votes on this.<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-89126176980507816202014-02-16T12:53:00.000-09:002014-03-14T15:05:31.405-08:00Peter Micciche: Direct Deposit BriberyIt used to be when someone bribed or paid off a politician, money was stuffed in a paper sack and passed off in some back room. But Alaska now operates a corporatocracy, a government run by corporations. If you work in the oil industry, and are elected to the Alaska Legislature, when you pass bills that benefit your company, you get a pay raise.<br />
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And that seems to be exactly what happened with State Senator Peter Micciche. When he ran for the senate seat, Micciche reported an income of somewhere between $100,000-200,000, not including stock options or perks. This year, just 10 months after passing Senate Bill 21 which gave the major oil companies an annual $2 Billion tax rebate, Micciche reports that his salary from ConocoPhillips now is somewhere between $200,000 and $500,000, not including stock options and perks. Read about it <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20140211/peter-micciches-swift-rise-power-alaska-senate" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Because of the state's very lax income-reporting laws, Micicche does not have to be more specific, so it could be that he got a one-buck raise, from $199,999 to $200,000. If that was the case, Peter, whose ego makes him the King of Grandstanding, would have flaunted the meager increase. Peter has promised all along to be completely transparent, because goodness knows as he says, there is no conflict of interest between him being an executive with an oil company and voting on bills that benefit his company. Well, why not be completely transparent? At least that would keep bloggers like me from saying his salary increase looks like legalized bribery.<br />
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It could be that he got the raise because he did some exemplary work as the superintendent of Kenai's C/P LNG plant, but that thing has been mothballed for a couple of years. That's certainly not making ConocoPhillips any money.<br />
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It's funny, but just this last week, Micciche accused Representative Les Gara of grandstanding because Les returned the unused portion of the $16,000/20,000 allocated to representatives/senators for office expenditures. No word on how much Peter actually spent on office expenses and how much he (legally) pocketed thanks to a law passed by Mike Chenault. Oh, yeah, Mike and Kurt Olson have been pocketing the full amount, $16,000 allotted for Representatives ever since the bill passed several years ago. No receipts were required to show that any of that money was spent on office supplies. The law has been tweaked for next year - legislatures will now have to provide receipts for actual expenses. Les was at least being honest, a quality lost on Micciche. Read more about it <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20140215/average-compensation-alaska-lawmakers-surpasses-88000" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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If you are on Facebook, undoubtedly you saw the post by Micciche inviting constituents to take part in a survey - here's the<a href="http://www.alaskasenate.org/senate/member/peter-micciche/micciche-survey" target="_blank"> link</a>.<br />
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Mr Ego (the guy who said Les Gara was grandstanding) has his handsome mug on the page - let's not forget that this is all about him. He asks us for our opinions about what should be legislative priorities, but the survey is nothing but a republican push poll. All of the questions only give the constituent answers that support a very narrow point of view. Or worse, the question itself only offers a limited point of view. <br />
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Question 1 - It has yet to be shown that if Alaska invests in a natural gas pipeline, energy costs to consumers would go down. Certainly, his company stands to make billions.<br />
Question 2 - It's already a done deal. Of course, Alaska should honor a commitment to state workers. (I am a semi-retired recipient of state retirement benefits)<br />
Question 3 - Another loaded question and impossible to answer with a yes/no response.<br />
Question 4 - If Peter wants to improve education, breaking things down to sound bites that feed into the governor's and legislature's desire to fund private schools will not improve education.<br />
Question 5 - Why is this question even on this - Change the AK constitution to fund religious schools? If this is the direction citizens want to go, it should be grassroots driven. Circulate a petition and get it on the ballot.<br />
Question 6 - The worst of the lot. Peter would love to fast-track the Chuitna and Pebble Mines, and to hell with clean water and air. By the way, his company, ConocoPhillips is the #3 polluter in the US. Imagine the pay raise he would get if they could turn Alaska into a toxic waste dump.<br />
Questions 7-12 all offer limited and agenda-promoting options.<br />
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My priority would be to tighten up government conflict of interest laws. Let's at least pretend that our state government is not tainted by corruption.<br />
<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-9566480490503925652014-01-13T11:34:00.000-09:002014-01-13T12:25:47.992-09:00Prince Peter's Game of Thrones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56F9HfHBHqDunVUO5844ZY-VOeG5YEv5iK52PvXd5zEdpZCsnDstKTu7bKD1ZGrfhpcAbVXWxcEZdWQ3-18APpJWi93Erx-BdNKoheoFThb7RvAh7lT_kjeWrN9pJjD6PmMj1uA/s1600/princepeter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56F9HfHBHqDunVUO5844ZY-VOeG5YEv5iK52PvXd5zEdpZCsnDstKTu7bKD1ZGrfhpcAbVXWxcEZdWQ3-18APpJWi93Erx-BdNKoheoFThb7RvAh7lT_kjeWrN9pJjD6PmMj1uA/s320/princepeter1.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
So, who cares that the state operating budget will have over a $2Billion deficit next year? Who cares if we will have to start tapping our savings to balance that budget? Who cares if SB 21 will not spur oil production? Who cares if the state is looking at cutting the education budget?<br />
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Not Prince Peter Micciche. As part of the legislative council, Peter voted for the renovation of the LIO building in Anchorage that will now cost the state of Alaska some $280,000/month for rent, five times what we're paying now.<br />
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And you can't have a fancy new office without some brand new furniture. Peter also voted to spend $100,000 on designing new <strike>throne</strike>s desks and chairs for the Princes and Princesses of state. The final cost of the new furniture will run between $1,000,000 - $2,000,000. Read more about it <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20140101/alaska-lawmakers-shouldnt-spend-100000-furniture-design" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Peter did say that it would be "a badge of honor" to use hand-me-down furniture. He also said <span class="updated">"The idea that we have brand new shiny furniture in each office is something that we should guard against, in my opinion." But of course, in typical Micciche fashion, he voted for the expenditure anyway. </span><br />
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<span class="updated">So quick, it's photo-op time for the Prince. Let's do a quickie feel-good, aw-shucks, good-guy, save-the-world publicity stunt. Save Freedom, the rescue dog!</span><br />
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<span class="updated">Yeah, and Al Capone donated a lot of money to orphanages, but I don't really think that it made up for the other stuff he did. </span><br />
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<span class="updated"><br /></span>Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-13412519813578315022013-12-21T09:54:00.000-09:002013-12-22T07:41:21.818-09:00Pay Raids for Parnell and CoHe was for it before he was against it, but Gov Sean Parnell and cronies, despite huge budget deficits and declining oil productions, will get a nice pay raise for 2014 unless the legislature acts to prevent it. Representatives Gara from Anchorage and Kawasaki of Fairbanks have promised to do just that, but unless the bill they propose to write can be fast-tracked and pass both houses, the raises will be automatic.<br />
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I have an idea, let's tie executive salaries to performance.<br />
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Start with $0<br />
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If test scores for all of Alaskan children go up significantly, give him $25,000. Tack on an additional $25 K if dropout rates decline.<br />
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If there is a significant reduction in domestic violence, give him another $25K. If sexual assaults in villages can be reduced, throw in another $25K.<br />
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For every village that adds windmills to their power grid, that would be $5K.<br />
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For every village that gets water and sewage, give him another $5K.<br />
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For balancing the budget without tapping into savings, give him $25K.<br />
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For increasing production in the oil pipeline, that would be worth another $25K.<br />
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If he were to be paid for his accomplishments, he could earn well over $200K and it would be well-worth the money. But just how much would he be paid if his pay was tied to what he has actually accomplished so far? Well, $0. And that's about what this Captain deserves. Each commissioner should also have their pay tied to benchmarks set for their departments too.<br />
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There has been one pleasant surprise when it comes to sneaky pay schemes our politicians manage to provide for themselves, legislatures will no longer be allowed to pocket their unspent office supply money. Mike Chenault was behind this back-door pay raise and he and our other central peninsula representative, Kurt Olson, have mysteriously had no office expense money for the past few years. So the two just cashed these checks meant for pencils, staples and etc. Oh, and it's not pocket change we're talking about. Both Chenault and Olson claimed all of $16,000 house members have been allotted - and have pocketed all of their 'office expenses' ever since Chenault and company allowed themselves to do so.<br />
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Tom Wagoner, our senator before Peter Micciche, claimed $10,000 of the $20,000 allotted to that branch. The figures for 2013 and the amount Micciche might have taken home, are not yet available.<br />
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And yet teachers have to dip into their pay to make up for supplies. Legislatures will still get reimbursed for expenses, but now must provide receipts that they actually spent the money on office supplies. I wonder if cigarettes, booze and big macs will be counted as office expenses.<br />
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Legislature creature comforts are still on tap. There's the newly renovated LIO office in Anchorage that will cost us over $280,000/month compared to the old offices which cost about a fifth of that, around $57,000/month.<br />
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And don't forget about Chenault's spiffy new outdoor smoking lounge he had installed in Juneau.<br />
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Why do we keep electing these guys?<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-51728480289938978292013-12-13T10:01:00.002-09:002013-12-13T10:03:45.772-09:00Oily Politics - Breaking the Bank in AlaskaI don't think that anyone with a shred of integrity is at all surprised by the recent budget fiasco Alaska's republicans have brought about.<br />
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Let's start with Gov Parnell's oil tax giveaway spearheaded by our own state senator, Peter Micciche. According to the latest report by the Department of Revenue, the state will see a 38% decline of oil production for at least the next 10 years. So much for the oil tax giveaway spurring production. And then the lower tax rate that the major oil companies were given have led to a near $2 Billion reduction in revenues just this year alone. Sure, the price of oil dipped a little, but not nearly to the extent to cause such a massive revenue hit. Read more <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20131209/state-predicts-oil-decline-stay-roughly-same-despite-tax-cut" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20131211/alaskas-big-oil-forecast-question-where-did-billions-go" target="_blank">here</a>. Parnell got a little tripped up at a press conference last week when someone asked him to explain his statement that the new tax bill would bring about the same as ACES when oil is at the price it is now, over a hundred a barrel. The Department of Revenue said that the price would have to fall below $80. Parnell said someone showed him the figures, but he couldn't explain the math. Right.<br />
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Then there's the budget. The latest one for 2014 is operating at $3 Billion deficit. For 2013, Parnell had promised a $3.7 surplus. Wrong. Right now it's almost $400 Million in the red and all the bills are not in. How to make up for the difference? Well, tap the savings, of course. Gee, pretty much everyone who was opposed to the oil tax give-away figured out that busting the bank was what the Parnell's, Chenault's and Micciche's wanted to do. Lo, and behold. How long will it be before the PFD is tapped and a state tax is re-instated?<br />
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Still in the budget is seed money for some of Parnell's pet projects - $36 million for roads to the resources (the tab for these projects to proceed will be in the billions) and $10 million for the Susitina Dam (and that will be another billion+ dollar project if that goes through).<br />
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Cutting the University of Alaska system <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20131212/budget-squeeze-puts-university-alaska-unsustainable-path-gamble-says" target="_blank">will be a priority</a>. Can't be having educated people hanging around the state.<br />
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On the positive side, Parnell did say he wanted to begin paying down the state unfunded retirement obligation. But that too will come from savings.<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-79540942003385771832013-12-10T10:45:00.001-09:002013-12-10T14:41:33.707-09:00HB 77 - Fast Tracking the Destruction of a Salmon StreamI'm willing to accept that reasonable people can disagree about most things and I think it's a good to be open to divergent ideas. On Monday evening, state senator Peter Micciche held a town-hall meeting at the borough building in Soldotna and brought along Ed Fogels, a deputy commissioner at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and Cora Campbell, the commissioner of the department of Fish and Game to present the state's argument for trying to have HB 77 become state law. <br />
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But from the get-go, it was obvious that the concept of Integrity does not compute with many of our elected and appointed officials. </div>
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Mr Fogels, stated that the bill came from the regular folks in the DNR in an attempt to streamline the permitting process to 'advance the public interest'. He talked about how backlogged the DNR was in granting permits, but almost in the next second, he admitted that they've been able to reduce the wait time quite a bit. What he didn't mention was that the court, responding to Gov. Parnell and the state's argument that it didn't have the personnel to deal with permitting was BS. I think that Mr. Fogel was hoping he was dealing with an ill-informed crowd as he glossed over the scary parts of HB 77. But every person who came forth to testify about 77, called him on the intent and the language of the bill. </div>
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For her part, Cora Campbell, who does not have a background in fish or wildlife research or management, assured the crowd that just because HB 77 would allow for private citizens to be ignored and salmon streams to be raped, Fish and Game would at least do their part to review any permit that might allow that. </div>
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Conspicuous by their absence were representatives Mike Chenault and Kurt Olson, who both voted for the bill. Neither really have the stones to face a crowd that might disagree with them - and that would be 100% of the folks in the audience. And it just wasn't tree-huggers out there. Yeah, both of them can be dismissive of people who disagree, but they both know that they can't support their views with logic or truth, so of course neither of them nor their spokespersons were there.</div>
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Paul Seaton, the representative from the southern peninsula did attend and spoke out about all the problems he had with 77. When a republican has problems with a proposal that fast-tracks development, you know the bill has flaws. Paul used up his allotted two minutes pointing out the nefarious language of the bill and he was just getting warmed up. I don't always agree with Paul, but he makes the short list of Alaskan Republicans who have integrity. </div>
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Anyway - here's a list of the items in 77 that are particularly evil.</div>
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1) <b>It's Racis</b>t. It does not recognize that tribal governments are governmental agencies and prohibits them from filing water reservation rights. </div>
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2) <b>It Takes away Individual Rights</b>. Citizens will no longer be able to challenge government decisions. Marge Hayes made a good point at the meeting. Democracy is messy, but it's the foundation of our country. Dictatorships are efficient. Do we really want to give up our personal rights and let those with money and influence be in total control?</div>
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3<b>)It lets the State Operate in Secret</b>. Public meetings would be held concerning broad regional plans, but when a specific area plan is developed, there would be no public input.</div>
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4)<b>It fast-tracks one of the most hideous business plans that exists on the planet</b>. This is what the state wants to happen: put a surface strip coal mine on Chuitna River watershed, an anadromous salmon stream, mine a low-quality coal and sell it to China. China will use the coal to power their factories and take away jobs from the US. And of course, the additional pollution from burning this low-grade coal gets blown eastward, over the Pacific Ocean and would contribute to acid rain, global warming, mercury in fish, and all sorts of environmental damage. The last I talked to Peter Micciche, he supported this plan. </div>
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5) <b>It grants too much power to political appointees</b>. The director of DNR, who is appointed by the governor might not have any background in natural resources. Oh, someone like the current acting commissioner, Joe Balish, who has a degree in political science. Their decision on development would be final. </div>
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HB 77 is simply state overreach. It takes away the rights of local communities and individuals to have a voice in how their regions will be developed.</div>
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The bill is before the senate and Mr Micciche may very well cast the deciding vote on 77. Anyone want to take any bets on what he'll do?</div>
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Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-36745179193294773052013-06-09T23:33:00.002-08:002013-06-11T08:15:25.485-08:00Pimp My Ride: Micciche's (Fairly) New Rig<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRQihjqHlfWFTovkudRsuN9P_0iAZMZDNN-pzG8980YIm4q_3Z8BN14yupldcFdrVrrHckr6DbhTm2jpHpa_XRV-cTdIpwCVpqDR6lACPopgydRRPoez4NkNDJcH0DTiqJRnbqQ/s1600/IMG_0194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRQihjqHlfWFTovkudRsuN9P_0iAZMZDNN-pzG8980YIm4q_3Z8BN14yupldcFdrVrrHckr6DbhTm2jpHpa_XRV-cTdIpwCVpqDR6lACPopgydRRPoez4NkNDJcH0DTiqJRnbqQ/s320/IMG_0194.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Micciche's New Ride</td></tr>
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The ink is barely dry on SB 21, the Oil Tax restructuring bill passed by the slimmest margins this last legislative session and someone has been driving around all Soldotna in his big rig celebrating the victory for Big Oil. That slim margin was thanks to Peter Micciche, who despite his obvious conflict-of-interest (he is a mid-level manager for Conoco-Phillips), not only voted to pass the bill, but served on the committee that re-wrote the legislation. Mr Micciche drives the largest SUV on the market, a GMC Yukon XL, with a MSRP of around $65,000.<br />
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Peter, doesn't quite connect the dots here. As a senate candidate, he reported the required estimated wages he earned from Conoco Phillips, but did not disclose his stock holdings (not required). But of course, Peter promised to be completely transparent, whatever that means to him. I wonder how much his stock dividends were after the generous package he arranged for his bosses? <br />
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<b>ADDENDUM: </b>It was pointed out to me that Mr Micciche acquired the Yukon XL <b>BEFORE</b> he became the Alaskan Senator representing the Kenai. The only thing brand-spanking new about the rig are the custom AK Senate license plates. I apologize for that inaccuracy in my first post.<br />
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Everything else in the post is accurate. The conflict of interest, not reporting stock holdings (as mentioned, this was not required - but Micciche did promise to be completely transparent). I still wonder how much his net worth went up after the new tax scheme passed. Peter still doesn't connect the dots here. Most folks struggle to pay the over $4 for a gallon of gas - most everyone I know is cutting back and that's a good thing. Not Micciche - he's doing his part to keep up the demand for more oil development (does he have to pay to fill that beast up, or is free gasoline a perk of his job?). Of course, not much happened in the legislature this session for schools, domestic violence problems, public safety, health care, affordable energy in the bush and etc., but we now are moving ahead with two gas pipelines and with the billion dollar give-away to the oil companies, I'm not going to hold my breath that the republican controlled house, senate and governorship will do anything for any of those other issues. Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-55185774851674068492013-04-10T17:22:00.002-08:002013-04-10T17:29:08.560-08:00Smokin' in The Good Ol' Boys Room / Pay Cuts for Workers, Pay Raises for the OverLordsJust when you think that things down in Juneau couldn't get any more atrocious, Mike 'COS' Chenault had a personal $74,000 item approved by the House - a "capitol <a href="http://www.adn.com/2013/04/09/2858727/capitol-gets-74000-outdoor-smokers.html" target="_blank">stair landing</a>" AKA a covered outdoor smokers' lounge. Seems that Mike and his COS, Tom Wright, both smokers, feel entitled to a few more perks and damn it, the state should support their nasty habits.<br />
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If you haven't read the <a href="http://www.adn.com/2013/04/08/2856935/compass-fiscal-restraint-should.html" target="_blank">OpEd by Andree McLeod </a>about the recent pay raises that Gov Parnell has given his personal staff, please take a minute and do so. Parnell has been calling for ordinary state workers to take a pay cut and, of course, is all about denying the working poor a chance to be covered by health insurance (that would mostly be paid for by the feds), but he's also all about doling out extravagant pay raises to his staff. Keep in mind that none of these folks even have a job description. His four aids will now cost the state some $1 million is pay and benefits in one year.<br />
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The fiscally conservative, lead-by-example Republicans that we keep electing are doing such a good job giving our money away to each other and the oil companies. Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-1366669291411320962013-04-08T19:46:00.001-08:002013-04-09T15:52:12.522-08:00The Alaskan GOP: The Party of Bear-Shit CrazyBeing an Alaskan political blogger has become a full-time occupation since the current legislative session began in January. Our local republicans have been accused of <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130327/alaska-oil-tax-cuts-moved-through-conocophillips-friendly-committee-chairs" target="_blank">conflicts of interest </a>(Micciche); ignoring the US Constitution (Chenault); padding their paychecks by keeping office supply money (Chenault and Olson); reinventing history by <a href="http://www.themudflats.net/?p=37026" target="_blank">exonerating Exxon</a> from culpability in the Exxon Valdez oil spill (Olson); sending an email to a secretary with the message 'What a crock of shit'(Chenault); making fart jokes in the Alaska House of Representatives (Chenault) and explaining why he voted to override a citizens' initiative and thereby <a href="http://redoubtreporter.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/pizza-and-politics-sen-micciche-holds-midterm-constituent-meeting/" target="_blank">letting cruise ships dump sewage in coastal areas</a> by saying that Anchorage already does so (Micciche).<br />
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In this breaking story, GOP Party Chairperson, <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130408/alaska-gop-headquarters-under-lockdown-leadership-meeting-monday-night" target="_blank">Debbie Holle Brown has now barricaded herself in the Republican Party Headquarters</a> in Anchorage, had the locks changed and has threatened to have anyone entering the building arrested. Apparently, she's doing this to keep the old guard (Randy Ruedrich) from re-taking control of the party after Brown and fellow teabagger, Russ Millete took over in the Ron Paul coup last year. Ruedrich already out maneuvered Millette by exposing Russ's lack of fund-rasing experience and general incompetence and had Millette demoted...<br />
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Crazy!<br />
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<b>April 9th Update:</b><br />
Debbie's out. The GOP executive committee voted to remove Brown as the chairperson citing that she had raised less than $1000 for the party. Since expenses were around $4000/month, the executive board said it was business, not politics that guided their decision.Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-2253163550988352402013-04-03T14:16:00.000-08:002013-04-03T14:17:38.443-08:00Crude Dreams/Crude SchemesJack Roderick, long-time Alaskan public servant, oil industry analyst and author of Crude Dreams which examines the often slimly roll that the gas and oil industry has had with Alaskan politicians (Veco/Corrupt Bastards Club) gave public testimony the other day about the House and Senate bills that takes billions of dollars out of the state's coffers and gives it to oil companies. He's not afraid to tell it like it is. The senate bill passed by the absolute narrowest margins, 11-9 and two of the votes for the break came from ConocoPhillips managers, now in the Alaskan Senate, Kevin Meyer and SOLDotna's own Peter Micciche.<br />
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Roderick just put out on OpEd in the Alaska Dispatch. You can read it <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130402/two-reasons-alaska-should-hesitate-proposed-oil-tax-cut" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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It's been reported all around the state how it's an obvious conflict of interest that these two were not only allowed to vote, but they were both on committees that pushed the bill through the senate. Roderick imagines that the national press will soon have a good time (once again) ridiculing politics here in the 49th state. Let's see, a governor that was an oil company lawyer and lobbyist, two senators on the payroll of a major oil company, and a dozen representatives with direct or family ties to the industry vote for a bill that will enrich every last one of them. And of course, the Republican party had to engage in some gerrymandering to get their way.<br />
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Roderick is annoyed (as we all should be) about the conflict of interest, but what particularity annoys him is that the money has been given to the oil companies without any requirement that they produce more oil or hire more Alaskans. <br />
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As previously mentioned in this blog and elsewhere, is that Senator Gary Steven's rider that would sunset the new tax scheme after three years if the extra oil wasn't produced was defeated by the same 9-11 vote. If the point of the give-away is to spur production, shouldn't we have that clause as an incentive for the majors to actually spur production?<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-50484787296847327842013-03-27T18:42:00.000-08:002013-03-27T18:52:22.703-08:00Another Republican Makes SenseI hope you all got to read Bert Stedman's Compass piece in today's ADN. If not take a few minutes to read it <a href="http://www.adn.com/2013/03/26/2841179/compass-lawmakers-need-to-protect.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Stedman, the Alaskan state senator from Craig and a Republican, is an accountant by trade and voted against Senate Bill 21 which gives multi-billion dollar tax breaks to oil companies without requiring them to step up production. Stedman makes several points and that I wish that our local legislatures, Peter Miciche, Mike Chenault and Kurt Olson would have the integrity and maybe the balls to respond to in detail. Don't count on it. Chenault and Olson have proven over and over again that the concept of integrity doesn't apply to them. Micciche, a Conoco/Phillips manager, doesn't seem to know what the word means.<br />
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Questions that Senator Stedman has:<br />
1) Why is the AK Dep't of Revenue's prediction of oil production in legacy fields twice the rate established by the major oil companies? <br />
2) Why has the progressive tax rate been eliminated? Alaskans own the oil, and progressive taxes are the compensation for the value of the oil at international
rates. Otherwise we are selling our oil for 1990 prices. That is insane! The progressive tax is just the way we Alaskans charge the market rate for oil coming out of the ground.<br />
3) What drastic cuts are those who voted for the bill proposing to make up the monetary shortfall the state will now experience? Come on, let us know what you will fund (Knik Arm Bridge? Susitna Dam? Roads to Resources? Two gas pipelines?) and which you will cut (Education? Health Care? Rural energy? Mental health programs? Unfunded liability to state retirement systems?)<br />
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It's good that there are a few republicans left that ask honest questions and expect honest answers before selling out Alaska. It's too bad that none of our local legislatures aren't that honest.<br />
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I have three additional questions:<br />
Why not have the amendment that would revert that tax structure back to ACES if the oil companies didn't step up production? If the goal is to step up production, why not make it mandatory?<br />
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If oil did drop to $40 a barrel as Kurt Olson mentioned at the recent town hall meeting in SOLdotna, how much more production would be needed to have the same amount of revenue come to the state as we are now getting and should we expect that much extra production with the new bill?<br />
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Why has Gov Parnell not allowed the <a href="http://akdemocrats.org/blog/2013/03/21/news-gara-calls-on-governor-to-stop-silencing-world-renowned-oil-tax-experts/" target="_blank">experts he has hired to look into the tax law</a> to testify to the legislature and why haven't the three oil-company stooges we have representing us demanded that information?<br />
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Well, Micciche, Chenault and Olson, got any honest answers?<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-1934635559279763252013-03-21T17:42:00.002-08:002013-06-11T08:19:22.257-08:00Micciche: Doing Something Stupid in JuneauTo nobody's surprise, the Alaska senate passed the massive tax break bill for the major oil companies. The vote that will give these companies billions of dollars of extra profits was predictable. All seven of the Democrats voted no along with two Republicans, Stedman and Stevens. The remaining 11 Republicans voted in favor of the give-away, including two ConocoPhillips managers that serve on the Senate, Keven Meyer and SOLdotna's own Peter Micciche. In most places on the planet, Meyer and Micciche wouldn't be allowed to vote because of conflict of interest, but Alaska law is very lax about that. While both men declared that they did have that conflict, all it took was the objection of their fellow Republicans to override the declaration. The best government money can buy.<br />
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When asked about restructuring oil taxes, Peter said last month, “I think we have enough
votes to do something stupid. My job is to make sure we don’t,” he said.
“If it’s fair and protects Alaskans, I’m likely to be for it. If it
goes the governor’s way, I probably won’t.” Well, basically the bill isn't fair and it doesn't protect Alaskans, but it does pad the already record profits of oil companies. Stunningly, there is no requirement of any extra production from the oil companies. That is simply stupid. But what can you expect from people who get their paychecks from the folks that will gain the most from this legislation?<br />
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Micciche was able to get his amendment passed that kept the base rate at 35% rather than the 33% the finance committee recommended, but that 'compromise' does little more than placate his ego that he is the great compromiser.<br />
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The vote was also 11-9 opposed to Steven's amendment that would have sun-setted the new law if the oil companies didn't step up production. There's the moment of truth. If the bill is supposed to stimulate production according to the R's who supported it, why not make sure that it does? By voting against Steven's amendment, there is no question that this bill is a sham and designed only to give away the resources that each and every one of us in Alaska owns.<br />
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Micciche has stated that no one can explain why a progressive tax is any good. Well Pete, it's called capitalism: supply and demand. What business would sell their product for a low price when they could easily get a whole lot more for it?<br />
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Well, it is what it is. Next up it will be curious to see how the senate and our own former mayor will vote on spending bills. How much will they spend on the Susitna Dam, the two gas pipelines, the Knik Arm Bridge, the Port of Anchorage, public funding of private schools and other such boondoggles being proposed? Let's face it we're SOL n Alaska these days.<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-32460562244052828612013-02-11T16:15:00.001-09:002013-02-11T16:55:54.870-09:00Mike Chenault: COS eats COS<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgclwShCGwMbGA29j8jar4g4RZvLuV8xsCCNaGY9Nv0ZnHcSrqnNO-l2NrZd0FRNqwrVQa_w7E6gCXIA2tLsPmeoyU5L7Pzjqia7I6phwES_wk_YmtzDHgzie82f-bqkAzs146A/s1600/mc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgclwShCGwMbGA29j8jar4g4RZvLuV8xsCCNaGY9Nv0ZnHcSrqnNO-l2NrZd0FRNqwrVQa_w7E6gCXIA2tLsPmeoyU5L7Pzjqia7I6phwES_wk_YmtzDHgzie82f-bqkAzs146A/s1600/mc.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge this COS</td></tr>
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Mike Chenault is a hack-blogger's dream and this past weekend, has shown Alaskans what he is made of: A steamy pile of Shit!<br />
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Here's what happened. The secretary for the mayor of Valdez sends an email letter to Gov Parnell and all state legislatures that encourages them to consider moving forward with a large diameter natural gas pipeline that would have Valdez for its terminus. Nothing wrong with advocating for your own home town, right?<br />
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Mike Chenault, or someone using Mike's email and signing off as Mike, replies to one and all, <br />
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"What a crock of shit"<br />
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SOL will refer to this reply as COS for expediency. <br />
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The email reply goes to the secretary who is mortified to received such a vulgar response from the Alaskan Speaker of the House. The mayor of Valdez, Dave Cobb, is also a bit offended, but the guy has some dignity and wit. He's quoted as saying "I'm not going to stoop to his level, but I'd like to."<br />
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Well, after the COS hit the fan, the brainiacs at Chenault headquarters went into spin control. It was decided that Mike's Chief of Staff (SOL will use COS for expediency) would take the blame. So an apology, not from Mike (who thinks he is hot shit or that his shit doesn't stink), but from Tom Wright (the COS) who says he accessed Mike's email and sent out the reply intended for Mike's peers and it was inadvertently sent out to the secretary. <br />
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Do you believe that COS?<br />
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So, Mike's COS is the fall guy for Mike's COS remark and has to eat the contents of the COS. Mike might have a large body and even larger ego, but he must have the tiniest set of balls to not man up on this one. If he let Wright access his email and send out a reply like that, he should fire the COS. The apology should have come from Chenault in any case, where exactly does the buck stop? <br />
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Can you belive that crock of shit?<br />
Check out the story <a href="http://www.valdezstar.net/story/2013/02/06/main-news/valdez-gasline-route-called-a-crock-of-sh-t-by-rep-chenaults-senior-staff/265.html" target="_blank">here</a> in the Valdez Star and <a href="http://www.themudflats.net/?p=35734" target="_blank">here</a> on the Mudflats<br />
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The bigger issue, of course is the natural gas pipeline. I'll have a post about that coming up.<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-6067335643772031652013-02-04T18:36:00.003-09:002013-02-04T18:36:43.745-09:00SOL in AlaskaOh, Crap, and I literally mean Oh, Crap. <br />
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One of the first bits of legislation passed by the Republican controlled House of Representatives has been HB80 sponsored by Republican Governor S Parnell. It repeals the rest of the citizens initiative passed back in 2006 that prohibited cruise ships from pumping sewage into Alaskan waters. Parnell had previously weakened the initiative by cutting back a cruise ship tax that was meant to finance the infrastructure in those towns that were impacted by cruise ship tourists. It was just COINCIDENCE that Parnell proposed the tax roll-back after the cruise industry treated the governor to a cruise. Move along people, there's nothing to see here, just republicans serving their masters. Oh, and that is not you, fine citizens of Alaska.<br />
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HB 80 pretty much give a green light to cruise ships to dump their sewage and waste water most anywhere and without having to bother to tell people where they took their dump. I can see there will be a lot of happy commercial fishermen out in PWS, Glacier Bay and the gulf as they pull in nets filled with shit. <br />
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So, the voters of Alaska approve of an initiative, and Republicans feel that they can go around the desires of the people? Obviously...<br />
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Unless it is something that they don't really want to do.<br />
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Quoted yesterday, House Speaker, Mike Chenault of Nikiski said "The voters have spoken..." voicing his reluctance to support resurrecting a coastal management program. A program he opposes because he doesn't want local communities to have a say in what might happen in their areas.<br />
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But from out of the other side of his mouth, Chenault has no problem ignoring what the voters have said about cruise ship sewage. <br />
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Folks, it is only going to get worse! Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-62376122576047577722013-02-01T13:10:00.002-09:002013-02-01T14:49:19.846-09:00The Brown Queen of the GOP: Through the Looking Glass, ComicallyIt's official, Russ Millette, the elected chair of the Alaska GOP was ousted last night by the Republican Party leadership and in his place, Kasilof's own Debbie Holle Brown has ascended the throne.<br />
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Former party chair, currently under investigation for various shenanigans, Randy Ruedrich led the coup. Claiming that Millette was basically incompetent, a charge that no one disputes, the Republican Executive Committee decided to have Debbie Brown, the elected vice-chair, take over the top position.<br />
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Yes, THAT Debbie Brown who always had something (inane) to say at Kenai Borough Assembly meetings. THAT Debbie Brown that asked to have the three-minute public testimony allowance expanded just for her because it took her at least three minutes to give her introduction to what she was going to say. That Debbie Brown whose word salads make Sarah Plain seem like a Rhodes Scholar. THAT Debbie Brown who when serving on the Kenai school board, the rest of the board and school superintendent had to create a new rule to keep her from making unauthorized, and well, crazy statements on behalf of the board. <br />
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Brown, who herself was under investigation for misusing Party funds apparently was cleared, but her husband, former borough assemblyman Jack Brown, faces over $30,000 in fines by APOC for misusing District 34 funds.<br />
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Well, does Ruedrich and the old republican guard think they can use Brown as a puppet? Do they think she has the capacity to really lead the party? Will she actually have any power?<br />
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Ruedrich and company are not taking chances. They've already transferred the republican political war chest to a fund out of Brown's reach.<br />
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It will be fun watching to see how all of this will unfold. <br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-49987169365034796482013-01-24T13:30:00.002-09:002013-01-24T14:01:50.639-09:00Ethics 101 for MiccicheFormer Soldotna mayor and now state senator, Peter Micciche made <a href="http://www.adn.com/2013/01/22/2762163/sen-micchiche-employed-by-conoco.html" target="_blank">the front page of the ADN Wednesday</a> in an article that addresses his possible conflict of interest. It's common knowledge that Micciche is a superintendent at the Conoco Phillips LNG plant in Nikiski and he now serves on the senate resource committee and on two other senate committees that involve the gas and oil including acting as vice chairman of the special committee evaluating the governor's oil-tax bill.<br />
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It's reasonable then, that Alaskans might have some concerns of a possible conflict of interest. A mid-level executive for one of the big-three oil companies will now help make the rules that regulate and tax those very companies. <br />
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Peter dismisses the idea that there is a conflict and vows that his desire to serve honorably will be easy to track. He cites the 2008 ethics committee's conclusion that let then Representative Kevin Meyer, another Conoco-Phillips employee, vote on matters involving oil production. If the ethics committee OK'd Meyers, he concludes that they would do the same for him. Meyers now also serves in the senate. The ethics committee cleared Meyers to vote on matters concerning the oil industry, but did Meyers serve on committees that might advance big oil agendas?<br />
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Let's take a look at the Alaska legislature's code of ethics:<br />
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<i>(1) high moral and ethical standards among public servants in the legislative branch of government are essential to assure the trust, respect, and confidence of the people of this state;<br />(2) a fair and open government requires that legislators and legislative employees conduct the public's business in a manner that preserves the integrity of the legislative process and avoids conflicts of interest or even appearances of conflicts of interest;<br />(3) the public's commitment to a part-time citizen legislature requires legislators be drawn from all parts of society and the best way to attract competent people is to acknowledge that they provide their time and energy to the state, often at substantial personal and financial sacrifice;<br />(4) a part-time citizen legislature implies that legislators are expected and permitted to earn outside income and that the rules governing legislators' conduct during and after leaving public service must be clear, fair, and as complete as possible; the rules, however, should not impose unreasonable or unnecessary burdens that will discourage citizens from entering or staying in government service;</i><br />
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Point 1 is a given. The rub is that what one person considers ethical, another might find immoral. It's essential to keep in mind that these ethics rules are set <i>to assure the trust, respect, and confidence of the people of this state. </i>I think that politicians need to understand that they have to be reasonably ethically responsible to <b>all</b> people in the state, not just to those who agree with their politics. <br />
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The second clause is also open to interpretation, but the closing few words, <i>avoids conflicts of interest or even appearances of conflicts of interest,</i> applies to Mr Micciche. Certainly, Micciche can bring some knowledge of the oil and gas industry, especially an understanding of LNG, but as a mid-level manager, there does appear to be a conflict of interest with him serving on these committees. If he pushes forward with Parnell's ACES overhaul, at least 40% of the voters are going to think he is in cahoots with his employers. The ONLY way Peter can avoid the appearance of conflict of interest is to remove himself from these committees AND to go before the ethics board to see if he should recuse himself from even voting on oil and gas issues.<br />
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The third condition notes the difficulties citizen-legislatures have. It is legitimate to have oil industry employees in the house and senate. Their knowledge and insight to resource extraction is needed.<br />
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Peter dances around the fourth clause. While he has provided the minimum amount of information in his financial disclosure, to be completely above suspicion, he should release a more detailed accounting of his salary and his stock holdings. His backs off of his own pledge to serve honorably by being easy to track, by choosing to hide his complete financial ties to the oil/gas industry. <br />
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Peter has issues with how integrity and ethics apply to politicians. In the ADN article, he justifies his own committee memberships by (incorrectly) noting that Sen. Bill Wielechowski, a lawyer for the IBEW, served on the Labor and Commerce committee, but then withdraws that statement saying that he wasn't sure if Wielechowski actually was a member. Of course, the truth is that Wielechowski didn't and doesn't serve on that committee, well because in Bill's own words, "I just think it's inappropriate. It raises the appearance of
impropriety. I work for the labor union. Sitting on the labor committee,
it just didn't feel right to me." But in his own mind, sitting on committees that will govern the hand that feeds him seems OK to Micciche. He thinks that can justify his own ethics, we all should, well, trust him. Who needs stinking ethics rules saying that there shouldn't be appearances of a conflict of interest? It's not as if Alaskan legislatures have been found guilty of corruption any time recently, right? <br />
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That concept is lost on Peter. In his own mind, he can separate his professional life from his legislative life, but justifying ones own honor is not what the code of ethics is all about.<br />
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On his Facebook site, Peter slams the previous senate's bi-partisan makeup, which had a republican as the president and a fair mix of people from both parties on committees. He touts the current senate majority's makeup as truly being bi-partisan. Well, there are only two Dems that joined that coalition, and Dems, who account for about 40% of the voters in Alaska, have been shut out as players. Micciche likes to make up his own reality about what constitutes a balance of power. As long as you agree with Peter, you are fair and balanced.<br />
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If you're curious about how Peter and ethics sometime diverged when he was mayor of Soldotna, you can follow some links listed below.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Attempted Hutchings Building/Chamber of Commerce purchase:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=21349297" name="7920215769660086084"></a><br />
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<a href="http://solinsoldotna.blogspot.com/2012/04/may-day-may-day-corporate-welfare-day.html" target="_blank"> May Day, May Day - Corporate Welfare in SOLdotna Day</a> (Peter commented as FromSoldotnawithLove on this post)</div>
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<a href="http://solinsoldotna.blogspot.com/2012/04/hutchings-building-update.html" target="_blank">May Day Vote Update</a></div>
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<a href="http://redoubtreporter.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/central-to-the-debate-soldotna-residents-to-vote-on-land-purchase/" target="_blank">Central to the Debate</a> (from the Redoubt Reporter)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Soldotna Cemetery Debacle:</span></div>
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<a href="http://solinsoldotna.blogspot.com/2009/05/burial-plot-thickens.html" target="_blank">The Burial Plot Thickens</a></div>
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349297.post-66453278682220402582013-01-17T16:33:00.005-09:002013-02-07T16:28:55.792-09:00State of the State: The Madness Begins<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6xpT8aBc82tWGCLVOypx50AQXz5Xi11hFH2Rl-xXcCiOaffkh-5jLnKXYEo20oxMTkjxKX-dhfLRYI7kx0oAmhRXbEHLW1aQLHejYbl6CPsSbjX5ZcRhiuL4cfrOsjOCDQwvOg/s1600/StateL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6xpT8aBc82tWGCLVOypx50AQXz5Xi11hFH2Rl-xXcCiOaffkh-5jLnKXYEo20oxMTkjxKX-dhfLRYI7kx0oAmhRXbEHLW1aQLHejYbl6CPsSbjX5ZcRhiuL4cfrOsjOCDQwvOg/s320/StateL.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Best Big Oil Can Buy <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Chris Miller — Associated Press</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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The legislature has gaveled in and the Republican-led House, Senate and executive branch has begun what might be the craziest session in AK history. Let's take a look at some of what is being proposed:<br />
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1) The Kenai's own Mike Chenault has introduced HB 9, legislation that could result in the arrest of federal agents if they tried to enforce any possible future national gun control laws. The new federal proposals include ammo clips designed to hold more than 10 rounds as well as automatic weapons. Never mind that the Alaskan law would be void as it violates the US Constitution. Alaska has the highest rate of all states per capita of deaths by guns, only DC has more gun-related deaths. One might think that our politicians might offer something to address the problem rather than ways of making it worse. <br />
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2) Not to be outdone, Republican Bob Lynn has introduced HB 55 that would allow teachers to carry concealed weapons in classrooms. Hey, now that we have over 300 million guns in the US and we in Alaska are doing all we can to make it easy for everyone to pack heat, let's face it, there's going to be more and more school shootings. The Republican/NRA answer is to turn the country into an armed nightmare.<br />
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3) Republican Mark Neuman has offered up a stand-your-ground gun law that would make it legal to blow someone away anywhere you are legally allowed to be. Seriously. Anyone remember the shooting at The Sports Authority a few years back? Thanks to our already lax laws, two gangbangers were let free despite shooting and killing another doper in the parking lot there. The dead guy, who had stolen some bling from a pusher, saw the hit men coming, pulled his gun, but was slow on the draw. Since he had pulled down, it was OK for the other gangsters to shoot away. In the middle of the day with customers all around. I think some of these politicians have watched too many spaghetti westerns. <br />
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The logic behind both of these bills escapes me. It
does seems that the 2nd amendment to our constitution has trumped the
whole purpose of that document as stated in its preamble: to provide for
domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare of citizens. I
know of 20 kids and 5 teachers who no longer have life and liberty and I
know that their families are not going to be able to pursue happiness
for quite some time. <br />
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The
first amendment guarantees freedom of speech and religion. As a nation,
we have restricted speech in some cases. There are laws prohibiting
libel, threats, and yelling fire in a crowded theater. We have
restricted religious beliefs by outlawing polygamy and hallucinogenic
drugs used in religious ceremonies. <br />
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But we'd rather bury children than confront the problems guns cause.<br />
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4) Republican Wes Keller has proposed a bill to allow the state to fund religious schools. Cool - can't wait to see the reaction when a madrassa (Islamic relgious school) requests to be let in on the gravy train.<br />
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5)Republicans Eric Feige and Charisse Millett are trying to restrict local governments, native organizations, citizens and environmental groups from questioning resource development and would require these people/groups to post a bond which would be forfeited if they lost in court.<br />
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6) Republicans Neuman and Charlie Huggins have proposed legislation that would pump millions more into the Knik Arm Bridge. Yes, Republicans, the party of fiscal conservatives (well only when Dems are spending), would throw money at this project that reeks of cronyism, cost-over runs and would primarily benefit their buddies with property near the project.<br />
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Of course, the Biggies are the Corporate Welfare Bills that the bi-partisan Senate had stymied the last two sessions:<br />
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7) Republicans House Speaker Mike Chenault and Rep. Mike Hawker have introduced HB 4, to fund a 24" natural pipeline from the slope. Initially, there would be $335 million of state money appropriated, but the cost of that pipeline would be around $8 Billion and that's without considering overruns. The stunning thing about this bill is that the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation work and reports would all be done in secret and with no oversight. And then there's the competing large-bore pipeline that TransCanada/AGEA is now proposing instead of that original plan to pump natural gas through Canada and into the midwest. Alaska has already committed $500 million for that. Two in-state pipeline projects...? Really?<br />
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8) Then there's the $2 Billion/year giveaway to the major oil companies that Governor Parnell is still trying to pitch. It got nowhere with the bi-partisan in the past, but that safety net is no longer there.<br />
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I wonder how many of these bills will become law? Thanks to gerrymandering and now with no opposition (despite 40% of the voters casting ballots for Dems last election), we could be about to witness the complete sell-out of Alaska.<br />
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<br />Souldotnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590310067380434662noreply@blogger.com3