OK, by now you know (you can probably hear her Minnesota accent saying it) that Gov. Sarah Palin said "thanks ... but no thanks to that 'bridge to nowhere'." And, maybe you know that she was refering to the Gravina Island Bridge project that would have connected Ketchikan, Alaska, to the Ketchikan International Airport on Gravina Island. According to Wiki:
The bridge was projected to cost $398 million.
You may also know, more correctly, that Gov Sarah Palin was for it, before she was against it.
(please jump the fold)
According to the Alaska Government’s new archives:
"Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer," said Governor Palin. "Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it’s clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island," Governor Palin added. "Much of the public’s attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened."
But maybe you don't know about the Knik Arm Bridge and how it's the other "bridge to nowhere." According the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project:
The Knik Arm Bridge likely will cost $639 million for its first phase and $504 million for its second phase, vastly more than most Alaska road projects.
Have you choked on your tongue, yet? Gov Palin was against the $329M bridge to nowhere, but the $1M+ other bridge to nowhere is still on track.
Now, you might read a lot of articles about these bridges and maybe you'll find that Alaska does deserves some better roads. I will not argue that point. But I will argue to understand how "fiscally conservative" and "use taxpayers' money" go together.
In fact, let's digress for a minute ...
I live in Florida. And, we enjoy an income-tax free living here. In other words, the only income-tax we pay is to the federal government. We get that benefit due to the income this state receives from tourism. But, mind you, it is not the only benefit for the income generated in this state. That money also goes towards schools, roads, and government costs, amongst many other things.
Now, back to Alaska ...
Alaska is an state-income-tax free zone, as well. The state of Alaska gets income from the oil revenues generated within the state for its oil reserves and pipelines. In fact, because of the rise in oil prices, Alaska received record income from oil revenues and Gov Sarah Palin distributed that extra income to all of Alaska's residents as a bonus on top of the checks each and every resident of Alaska already receives. The Alaska Permanent Fund doubled the dividen paid this year (2008: $3269) as compared to last year (2007: $1654).
The question begs: Why didn't Gov Sarah Palin use that extra revenue towards the Knik Arm Bridge and other Alaska Public Works projects before she used her connections in Washington, D.C. to obtain money, via earmarks, of the entire United States taxpayers' to pay for Alaska's infrastructure?
Those extra revenues in the past year went to Alaska residents, only, even though Alaska is part of the whole United States of America. So, in that, Alaskans got their cake.
Then, Gov Palin accepts more money from the US Govt - our tax money - to build this other bridge [to nowhere]. That would be Alaskans eating our cake, too.