| |
Capitol
Undercurrents
Horse (race) whisperers--A
politically  connected friend in Seattle recently told me our governor
is talking to some folks in Washington State about polishing his
political image prior to a potential re-election
campaign.
Food fight--Idaho Governor
Kempthorne is asking California Governor Schwarzenegger,  very
politely one assumes, to just 'terminate' a plan to require warnings
that French fries could cause cancer because the chemical acrylamide
is released when spuds are baked or fried. Potatoes are to Idaho
what salmon are to Alaska.
Graduation exam meets market
test--A school in Maine offers diplomas to high school
students in states with must-pass  graduation tests. Transfer at least 17.5 credits to the
Maine school, along with a check for $450, and get a Maine high
school diploma. Maine does not require graduation exams.
Grading on the curve--A recent
national study says Alaska ranks 45th in the nation  when measuring high school graduation rates, 48th in the
nation when measuring the number of high school grads that enroll in
college within a year of graduating, and 50th in the nation when
measuring the number of freshmen graduating with a bachelor's degree
within six years of enrolling.
Phone:
(907) 465-4947
Fax: (907) 465-2108
Mail:
Sen. Elton, State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Email:
Senator.Kim.Elton
Jesse.Kiehl
Paula.Cadiente
Web:
http://elton.akdemocrats.org
|
|
|
|
The governor's jet
an historical perspective
June 11
| |
The movie ET-The Extraterrestrial was released on this date in 1982.
The Penns Railroad debuts the world's fastest train on this date in 1905, with the connection between New York and Chicago slashed to just 18 hours.
Alaska's governor says he wants to use $2 million in anti-terrorism funds to buy a jet to transport him (and prisoners) on this date in 2004, slashing an hour or so from the trip between Juneau and Anchorage.
|
June 20
| |
The Krazy Kat comic strip debuts on this date in 1910.
Price is Right model Janice Pennington is knocked out by a TV camera on this date in 1988.
On this date, 16 years after Janice's unfortunate TV camera incident, the commissioner of Alaska's Department of Public Safety is himself assaulted by TV cameras (and pesky press questions) as he defends governor's decision to buy a jet with federal anti-terrorism dollars.
|
June 27
| |
The U.S. sends 30 military advisors to Vietnam on this date in 1950.
A NASA civilian pilot takes an X-15 jet to a top speed of 6,606 kph on this date in 1962.
On this date in 2004, the governor holds a press conference to defend his decision to travel by jet at a speed of somewhat less than 6,000 kph.
|
August 26
| |
Krakatoa erupts killing 36,000 on this date in 1883.
David Eisenhower pens his last sports column on this day in 1973.
Sen. Hollis French and Rep. Les Gara, on this day in 2004, pen their first letter telling the governor a jet to transport him and prisoners is not an Alaska priority.
|
September 2
| |
Teddy Roosevelt outlines his "speak softly and carry a big stick" philosophy on this date in 1901.
George H.W. Bush bails from his burning plane on this on this date in 1944.
Federal Homeland Security bails from the guv's jet proposal on this day in 2004 saying: the state failed to meet required parameters for spending federal dollars.
|
January 24
| |
The rubber heel was invented by Humphrey O'Sullivan on this date in 1899.
Hulk Hogan pins the Iron Sheik for the WWF title on this date in 1983.
Alaska's budget director begins legislative wrestling match by revealing the budget contains $1.4 million for a jet on this date in 2005
|
February 19
| |
The first prize was included in a Cracker Jack box on this date in 1913.
Vice President Aaron Burr is arrested in Alabama on a charge of treason on this date in 1807.
Republican Representative Bill Stoltze not arrested for a treasonous political act when he cuts $1.4 million for the governor's jet from Alaska's budget in subcommittee on this date in 2005.
|
April 21
| |
Ivor Nivello's Perchance to Dream debuts in London on this date in 1945.
Tsarina Catharina II ends noble privileges on this date in 1785.
Governor announces plan to sell a state turboprop and use the proceeds to lease a jet for the privilege of traveling faster on this date in 2005.
|
April 23
| |
The term 'hillbilly' was first used by the New York Journal on this date in 1900.
Houston Colts pitcher Ken Johnson becomes the first major leaguer to pitch a no-hitter and still lose, losing 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds on this date in 1964.
In another losing effort, Rep. Eric Croft announces he's pitching the idea that the budget conference committee strike out the guv's authority to spend dollars for his jet on this date in 2005.
|
April 28
| |
Axel Rose of Guns & Roses marries Erin Everly on this date in 1990.
The war between Lydia and Media is ended by a solar eclipse on this date in 585.
The war between the governor and the media flares when the governor announces at a press conference on this day in 2005: "I'm going to get (a jet) and we're going to use it."
|
June 8
| |
Attila the Hun invades Italy on this date in 452.
Russia launches Luna 6, though it misses the moon on this date in 1965.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety successfully launches an RFP for a jet on this date in 2005.
|
June 22
| |
The doughnut is created on this date in 1847.
George Harrison releases "Living in the Material World" on this date in 1973.
Alaska procurement officers, stuck in the material world, amend mandated requirements for the jet RFP to provide for a maximum wingspan of 60 feet on this date in 2005.
|
June 28
| |
The tomato was proven to be non-poisonous on this date in 1820.
The first flight, with non-existent baggage capacity, takes place between Hawaiian Islands on this date in 1918.
Alaska bureaucrats at the last minute amend the jet RFP to provide a minimum baggage capacity of 55 cubic feet on this date in 2005.
|
August 9
| |
The Brits arrest Ghandi on this date in 1942.
Nixon quits on this date in 1974.
Our never-say-quit governor gets a $2.6 million Westwind II jet from a Nevada jet broker after state bureaucrats reject an in-state Turbo North proposal offering a jet for about $1 million less but with not quite 'enough' baggage area on this date in 2005.
|
August 18
| |
The first English child was born in the New World on this date in 1587.
Minoxidil, a hair loss treatment drug, is approved by the FDA on this date in 1988.
Turbo North officials figuratively pull their hair out on this date in 2005 when the state rejects their bid appeal, even though they say they will modify their substantially less expensive jet to meet the baggage space requirement added at the last minute to the state's request for jet proposals.
|
August 19
| |
Sputnik 5 carries two dogs and three mice safely into space on this date in 1960.
The Beatles' "All You Need is Love" single hits #1 on this date in 1967.
The state announces on this date in 2005 that love don't cut it but money does when buying a jet and that the state will tap into a $25 million line of credit, making the cost of the jet, with interest, $3.04 million over three years.
|
|
|
