There is more than one “bridge to nowhere” in Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin ’s past.

Palin Less Upset by Alaska's Other 'Bridge to Nowhere'
By Mike Christensen, CQ Staff


There is more than one “bridge to nowhere” in Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin ’s past.

Most everyone by now has heard the story of how Palin canceled a $400 million bridge in the small coastal town of Ketchikan in order to save the federal government money, although the year before, while campaigning for governor, she had been all for the project. Some Republicans have adjusted to the revelations by presenting Palin as a “reformed earmarker.”

But there is a second bridge, more than twice as expensive and just as controversial, that Palin has expressed concern about but hasn’t tried to kill off. That project, the Knik Arm bridge, is in Anchorage near her hometown of Wasilla, and its construction would both improve commuting and aid the development of the Matanuska-Susitna, or Mat-Su, Valley where Palin lives.

“Growing up out there in the valley, I’ve always shared that vision with others that we would have that physical linkage with the municipality of Anchorage,” Palin told the Anchorage Daily News in June. “And I am such a proponent of muscled-up infrastructure in Alaska in general and, you know, beefing up our infrastructure.”

Worried about the growing cost of the bridge, though, and who would pay for it, Palin has called for a review of the project, and the state transportation department this summer sought an independent estimate of the cost before going further. The department tried, but its request for proposals drew one response, which was later withdrawn. Department officials say they have not decided whether to try again.

The history of the two bridge projects also shows that Palin halted the Ketchikan bridge and is reviewing the Anchorage span because the federal government was no longer likely to foot the entire bill — not because she worried that Washington was spending too much.

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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=weeklyreport-000002944951

The earmark was cancelled before Palin was Governor. She had nothing to do with it. And the deal was, Alaska got to keep the money to spend on other things. How did that save the federal government money?

Were these earmarks received under Palin's watch?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6976264&mesg_id=6976264

Alaska Received Over $346 Million In Congressional Earmarks In 2007. According to Citizens Against Government Waste, the state of Alaska received $346,073,350 of congressional earmarks in 2007, more than any other state. Alaska received $506.34 per capita, compared to the national average of $69.38. {Citizens Against Government Waste, 2007 Congressional Pig Book}

* McCain: “I Will Veto Every Bill With Earmarks.” During a speech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, McCain said, “I will use the veto as needed, and as the Founders intended. I will veto every bill with earmarks, until Congress stops sending bills with earmarks.” {MSNBC, McCain Speech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 4/15/08}

* McCain Pledged To Eliminate Earmarks. During an interview on CNN, McCain proclaimed, “I wanna eliminate this wasteful and outrageous earmark and pork-barrel spending.” {CNN, “Newsroom,” 3/13/08}

* McCain Pledged To Veto “Every Single Bill” That Has An Earmark. During a town hall meeting in Houston, Texas, McCain said, “I will veto, I will veto every single bill that comes across my desk as President of the United States, that has an earmark or pork barrel project on it.” {McCain Town Hall Meeting in Houston, Texas, 3/4/08}

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http://progressiveaccountability.org/2008/08/29/governor-sarah-palin/#more-78