Alaska Politics Blog

This is the place to talk about Alaska politics, state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has never been more interesting -- Sarah Palin, a new governor, a new Anchorage mayor, the political corruption investigation, the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. We encourage lively debate, but please keep it civil and stay on point. Don't use profanity, make crude comments or attack other posters. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will lose their ability to post comments.


Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He's worked for the ADN in Anchorage and Juneau, covered the legislature for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, and covered Washington state politics for the Tacoma News Tribune. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers rural affairs, general assignments and politics for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously wrote for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com and also find him on our rural Alaska blog, The Village.

David Hulen

David Hulen, the ADN's state and local news editor, is responsible for political coverage. He has been an editor and reporter at the ADN for more than 20 years. E-mail David at dhulen@adn.com

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Sarah Palin

Follow the former Alaska governor's actions as she embarks on life outside of office.

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Alaska political corruption

The FBI raided state legislature offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.

Samuels wants Parnell T.V. ad pulled - 2/8/2010 4:25 pm

Does Alaska need a transportation permanent fund? - 2/8/2010 3:00 pm

Begich at DSCC fundraising event with "who's who" of lobbyists - 2/8/2010 11:32 am

Begich pushes to limit corporate contributions; Alaska campaign finance regulators wait for direction - 2/5/2010 11:14 am

Palin e-mails show Todd Palin was active participant in administration (Updated with how to search) - 2/5/2010 7:57 am

First hearing on bill to roll back oil taxes set for Monday - 2/4/2010 11:43 am

"There are now no limits on independent expenditures ..." - 2/3/2010 10:41 am

Democrats: Alliance ads on oil taxes "dishonest" - 2/2/2010 12:49 pm

Millett files bill to lower oil taxes - 1/29/2010 6:43 pm

Sitka Assembly member: Kookesh also pressured that city - 1/29/2010 10:12 am

Push in Legislature to oppose Cook Inlet beluga habitat plan - 1/27/2010 12:33 pm

Sealaska CEO: unfortunate that media is focusing on Kookesh controversy - 1/26/2010 6:02 pm

Democrats protest Cohen's removal from cruise science panel - 1/26/2010 1:40 pm

Chenault wants to use permanent fund earnings for in-state gasline - 1/25/2010 12:03 pm

Oil industry launches ad campaign calling for oil tax reduction - 1/25/2010 11:18 am

New Wheeler report - 1/24/2010 8:46 am

Judge sides with Palin on emails - 1/22/2010 4:54 pm

Leg. ethics dings Cowdery - more than a year after he pleaded guilty in court - 1/22/2010 9:06 am

Wielechowski and McGuire: fund Susitna dam and Chakachamna - 1/21/2010 7:07 pm

Galvin:oil industry jobs and investment up but drilling down - 1/21/2010 3:49 pm

Begich: Allow 2009 tax credit for 2010 Haiti donations - 1/21/2010 3:22 pm

Murkowski remarks on EPA regs - 1/21/2010 12:24 pm

Palin's in-state gas line and utility bills unlikely to pass

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From Sean Cockerham in Juneau --

Gov. Sarah Palin’s biggest initiatives for this legislative session appear dead on arrival, at least for this year. Top lawmakers say they aren’t likely to pass the governor’s bills dealing with an in-state gas pipeline and consolidating the six Railbelt utilities to pursue megaprojects like the Susitna River dam.

“They are very big issues. I personally do not believe we will complete those before the end of the session,” said Senate President Gary Stevens, a Republican from Kodiak.

Stevens said the Legislature could start the work and take them up again next year. Lawmakers from both parties say Palin introduced the bills too late. She submitted them about halfway into the scheduled 90-day session of the Legislature. That’s not enough time to deal with such complicated, significant, potentially contentious issues, legislators said.

Palin spokesman Bill McAllister said that’s no excuse. “Well, what did they do last week?” he said.

The state Legislature shut down for most of the last week. About half the legislators went to an energy conference in Washington, D.C. Many of the rest went home to their districts.

“Those bills were dropped in the last week and a half here, and we believe the Legislature can move forward on those,” McAllister said.

But he said Palin wouldn’t force legislators to stay in Juneau for a special session to work on the bills.

“If they simply believe there’s not enough time, if they make an effort and they don’t get there, we’ll be disappointed but we’ll move ahead on those plans to the extent possible and take up the issue in 2010,” McAllister said.

Palin released a statement in which she said, “Lawmakers should not delay consideration of the agenda before them on the mistaken belief that I will call a special session to handle whatever is left on the table.”

Some legislators said they are not sure exactly what Palin is trying to do with her in-state gas pipeline proposal, and whether it’s the right approach. She is proposing to broaden the responsibilities of the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority and to deal with right-of-way and regulatory issues, as well as set conditions for the operation of a pipeline.

There seems to be more support in the Legislature for the idea of consolidating the six Railbelt utilities. But at least one of the utilities, Golden Valley Electric Association of Fairbanks, is objecting to the bill and lawmakers said such a big issue needs to go slowly.

Palin wants to consolidate the utilities for the potential to pursue big, expensive, projects like the Susitna dam. The dam could be the centerpiece of her goal for Alaska to have 50 percent electrical power generated by renewable sources by 2025.


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