As Alaska Stimulus Showdown Nears, Gov. Palin to Leave Town

The Alaska State Legislature

JUNEAU — With just one week left before the Alaska Legislature adjourns for the year, the conflict between Gov. Sarah Palin and lawmakers over taking federal economic stimulus money is the dominant issue left.

In fact, legislative leaders don’t seem intent on doing a whole lot else this year.

Just nine of the 419 bills introduced have passed through the full Legislature so far, and while many more will pass in the frenzied final week, there is little desire to make major state policy changes in what Senate President Gary Stevens conceded is basically a session of preserving the status quo.

There’s still a chance that bills will pass increasing the state minimum wage, requiring parental notification when a teenager gets an abortion, expanding Alaska children’s health insurance for lower-income families and stopping the state, including the Permanent Fund, from investing in companies doing business in Sudan, the African country whose government has been blamed for genocidal killing in the Darfur region.

Legislators will also vote Thursday on approving the governor’s appointees, including attorney general Wayne Anthony Ross, who has proven controversial but is still likely to be confirmed.

Palin herself will be leaving Alaska this week to attend the Vanderburgh County Right to Life dinner in Evansville, Ind. on Thursday, as well as an event for special-needs children. Fairbanks Republican Rep. Jay Ramras questioned her leaving town right at the end of the session, when critical decisions are being made.

Former Sen. Ted Stevens’ Political Future Cloudy Despite Reversal

Alaska Republican Party chairman Randy Ruedrich is calling for the resignation of U.S. Sen. Mark Begich after the Justice Department dropped charges against former U.S Sen. Ted Stevens who Begich defeated in last fall's election.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Former Sen. Ted Stevens may be clear of legal problems, but his future as an Alaska elected official could be over.

Department of Justice prosecutors on Wednesday asked a judge to dismiss an indictment against Stevens and toss out his October conviction on charges of failing to report home renovations and gifts from a wealthy campaign supporter.

However, the 85-year-old politician’s age and scars from the legal battle likely would be used against him in any future race, according to Alaska political observers.

Sarah Palin’s Sister-in-Law Arrested for Burglary

Sarah and Todd Palin

WASILLA — Todd Palin’s half-sister was arrested Thursday after police say she broke into a Wasilla home to steal money for the second time this week but ended up getting caught by the armed homeowner. The woman’s 4-year-old daughter was nearby, police said.

Todd Palin is Gov. Sarah Palin’s husband. He referred questions to a spokeswoman for the governor, who said the family would have no comment.

Police arrested 35-year-old Diana Palin at a house on West Mill Site Circle near Wasilla’s Multi-Use Sports Complex.

Ted Stevens Should Run Against Palin, Says Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young

Will Sarah Palin face a primary challenge from Ted Stevens in 2010?

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Now that the corruption case against former Sen. Ted Stevens has been dropped, Alaska Rep. Don Young wants Stevens to run for governor – a move that would set up a Republican primary between the veteran lawmaker and Sarah Palin, if she decides to seek a second term in 2010.

“Personally I’d like to see him run for governor, and that’s my personal feeling,” Young told the Alaska Public Radio Network on Thursday. “So, we’ll see what happens down the line. He probably won’t, but I think that would be a great way to cap off a great career as being the governor of the state of Alaska.”

Stevens will be 87 years old by the time the next governor takes office in January 2011.

Other top Alaska Republicans, including Palin and Alaska GOP chairman Randy Ruedrich, said Thursday that Democratic Sen. Mark Begich should step aside so a new vote can be held now that the charges against Stevens have been dropped by the Justice Department.

Gov. Palin Challenges Rejection of Senate Nominee Grussendorf

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

JUNEAU – Gov. Sarah Palin said late Thursday she is refusing to accept the Alaska Senate Democrats’ rejection of Tim Grussendorf as her appointee to the state Senate.Palin said the rejection isn’t legally valid because it happened behind closed doors, and only among Democrats.

“We don’t believe that a closed door meeting of just a partisan group says yea or nay to the governor’s choice,” Palin said in an interview on Thursday night. “We believe based on a 1987 opinion of department of law, it needs to take place out in the open with a larger body than just the partisan participants.”

“I believe my selection of Tim Grussendorf is legitimate and it stands until they take that vote in an open, public forum with more than just the partisan participants,” Palin said.

Palin cited a 1987 legal opinion that challenges the constitutionality of the state law that sets out how lawmakers should confirm an appointee to an open legislative seat.  Anchorage Democratic Sen. Hollis French, reached Thursday night, was surprised to find out that Palin was disputing the legality.

“What is she trying to do, sue us?” asked French, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Alaska Dems Reject Palin’s Senate Choice Tim Grussendorf

JUNEAU, Alaska, April 2 (UPI) — Alaska Democrats have rejected Gov. Sarah Palin’s choice to fill a Democratic state Senate seat, suggesting he is a closet Republican.

Tim Grussendorf, a legislative aide, was registered as a Republican until a few weeks ago, the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News reported Thursday. Democratic senators met Wednesday in the office of Majority Leader Johnny Ellis.

Gov. Sarah Palin Calls for Alaska Sen. Mark Begich’s Resignation

Gov. Palin wants a special election in the wake of the DOJ's decision to drop corruption charges against Stevens.

Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) called on Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska ) Thursday to step down from his seat and run in a special election in the wake of the Justice Department’s decision to drop corruption charges against former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Begich narrowly defeated Stevens in 2008, a contest overshadowed by Stevens’ October conviction.
Palin’s call came after a reporter at the Fairbanks News Miner emailed her a copy of a statement by Alaska Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich calling for Begich to step down.

Asked for her response, Palin simply wrote back: “I absolutely agree.”

When the reporter wrote back to confirm that Palin meant she’d like to see Begich resign in order to hold a special election, the governor responded: “Yes.”

Alaskan Faith Groups Urge Gov. Palin to Reconsider Stimulus Funds

Alaskan Natives and members of faith based groups met in Anchorage, Alaska on March 29 to discuss President Barack Obama's federal stimulus funds earmarked for Alaska.

Despite volcanic ash that prevented the commissioner of Alaska’s Department of Education and Early Development from flying to the event from Juneau, more than 100 people gathered at St. Anthony Church in Anchorage on March 29 to address native education issues.

Foremost on their minds were the proposed federal stimulus funds, and Gov. Sarah Palin’s suggestion that she might refuse to accept a portion of the federal money slated for education. Nearly 20 people testified. Many of those identified themselves as Alaskan Natives with roots in places as diverse as Chevak, Bethel, Shismaref and Wales. Some were professional educators, other parents. Some were interested community members like Catholic Social Services Executive Director Susan Bomalaski.

All had a common theme – to urge Gov. Palin to accept the education stimulus money in order to assist Native Alaskan students struggling with the educational system throughout the state.

Todd Palin: $150K RNC Spent on Sarah’s Clothes was ‘Out of Our Control’

Gov. Palin after her fashion makeover in 2008.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The husband of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says the Republican Party’s lavish spending on her wardrobe during the presidential campaign was “out of our control.” In the May issue of Men’s Journal, Todd Palin was asked about the more than $150,000 that the Republican National Committee spent on clothes, accessories and beauty services for the GOP vice presidential nominee. He defended his wife, saying she was focused on preparation for her debate with Joe Biden.

“She never went to Saks, or any of that stuff,” he said. “You come into a campaign late, you put all your trust into the team, you got people who are working on VP ops for a long time, and we’re just focused on debate prep. I couldn’t give a rat’s (expletive) about clothes. Please. I mean these are my Sunday go-to-meeting jeans!”