Alaska

Legislation overhauls system, several new safeguards for consumers

May 19, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today joined an overwhelming majority of his colleagues in passing a major overhaul to the credit card system. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act, also known as the CARD Act, protects consumers from excessive fees, ever-changing interest rates, and complicated contracts designed to confuse the credit card holder.

The bill passed 90 to 5.

"As we look to rebuild our economy, we have to look out for consumers who are trying to pay their bills and stay in their homes," Sen. Begich said. "This legislation sets up several backstops to protect the credit card holder and end the abusive practices of credit card companies."    » read more »

May 18, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin welcomed news today that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals closed its review of the Department of Energy’s decision authorizing an extension of the Kenai LNG facility’s export license into 2011.

This decision resolves a long-running dispute about allowing continued export of Cook Inlet gas while also ensuring gas supplies are made available for local utilities. The foundation for the court’s decision is a recently announced agreement by ConocoPhillips to supply all of Chugach Electric’s gas supply requirements through the export term, and a large part of its needs through 2016.    » read more »

May 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, have written to the chairman of a Senate subcommittee expressing concern over the panel’s investigation of Alaska Native Corporation participation in a federal contracting program.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight, has scheduled a hearing July 16, 2009, on government contracts awarded to Alaska Native Corporations under the Native American 8(a) program administered by the Small Business Administration.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight Chairman Claire McCaskill last week began the process of gathering key information on a how a federal law is being used to obtain millions of dollars in government contracts without competition.

Read a copy of McCaskill’s letter (pdf file)    » read more »

May 15, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – At the direction of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the state Department of Law filed a supplemental brief today with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting development of the Kensington Mine near Juneau.

“The state’s legal efforts, including the supplemental brief filed today, show support for developing our resources responsibly, growing Alaska’s economy and creating well-paying jobs,” Governor Palin said. “The brief should assist the Supreme Court with rendering a decision that finally allows the Kensington Mine to move ahead.”    » read more »

May 13, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today welcomed the “excellent news” that Chugach Electric Association and ConocoPhillips have contracted to satisfy Chugach’s unmet natural gas needs into 2011. This resolves a dispute over the two-year extension of the export license for the liquefied natural gas facility at Kenai operated by ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil.

“This is a big victory for consumers, who are facing huge energy challenges,” Governor Palin said.

The contract, which was filed this afternoon with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, continues through 2016. It is intended to avert all of Chugach’s projected gas shortfall through June 2011, half of the shortfall thereafter through December 2015, and about 25 percent in 2016.    » read more »

May 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today asked the Department of Justice to seek clarification from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on the scope of its April 17, 2009 decision that Bush Administration officials did not conduct sufficient scientific and environmental analysis before scheduling oil and gas lease sales on the Outer Continental Shelf off Alaska.    » read more »

Tours Flood-Stricken Community of Eagle

May 12, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin yesterday toured the flood-stricken community of Eagle, located about 200 miles east of Fairbanks. Dozens of homes have been destroyed in Eagle after ice jams caused the Yukon River to flood. The governor and John Madden, director of the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, overflew Fort Yukon and the village of Circle on approach to Eagle.

Governor Palin met with numerous officials during the trip, including Assistant Mayor Bo Fay, Emergency Coordinator Krystie Depue and First Chief Joyce Roberts. All-terrain vehicles were used to travel from Eagle to Eagle Village downriver.    » read more »

May 8, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was pleased to learn that U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has decided not to change the existing Section 4(d) rule regulations concerning the protection of polar bears under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

This decision will provide for continued monitoring and strong protections for polar bears under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and international treaties. This means that subsistence activities and oil and gas development on the North Slope will not be subject to the consultation requirements of the ESA. Governor Palin and the Alaska congressional delegation argued strongly for retention of the polar bear rule.    » read more »

Yukon, Kuskokwim, Kobuk and Susitna Rivers all show potential to damage communities

May 6, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin declared a disaster for the flooding event in the Interior of Alaska, including the drainages of the Yukon, Kuskokwim, Kobuk, and Susitna Rivers. The disaster declaration will allow greater coordination between state agencies and easier access to state disaster relief funds, and will pave the way for receipt of federal funds from a possible federal disaster declaration.    » read more »

$929 million slated for state projects and service

April 28, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – The Palin administration today acknowledged the state legislature’s action to accept economic stimulus funds with passage of House Bill 199, Senate Bill 75, HB81, HB113, and two legislative resolutions supporting receipt of the funds, House Joint Resolution 11 and House Concurrent Resolution 13.    » read more »

April 22, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – The Office of Alaska Governor Palin today expressed outrage that yet another "baseless" ethics complaint has been filed as part of an alarming new development in Alaska politics.

“In the past several months, we have seen an orchestrated effort by the governor’s opponents to make differences of opinion and ideology almost criminal,” said Mike Nizich, the governor’s chief of staff. “Governor Palin has spent a considerable amount of time and money fighting ethics complaints – and no charge has been substantiated. I hope that the publicity-seekers will face a backlash from Alaskans who have a sense of fair play and proportion. I served six previous governors, and I’ve never seen anything like the attacks against Governor Palin.”    » read more »

Impact Assistance Funds will Help Gulf States, Alaska and California to Restore and Protect Coastal Areas

April 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Six U.S. coastal states will share nearly half a billion dollars from offshore oil and gas revenues in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to help restore and protect coastal wetlands, wildlife habitat and marine areas, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today. The funds are available for approved uses by Alabama, Alaska, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and their coastal local governments.    » read more »

California, Florida Join List of Ten Worst States in Disciplining Doctors; Minnesota Is Overall Worst State While Alaska Is Best

April 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Public Citizen’s annual ranking of state medical boards shows that most states, including two of the largest, are not living up to their obligations to protect patients from doctors who are practicing substandard medicine, according to the report released today.    » read more »

Bush Plan Neglected Impacts on Marine Mammals, Environment

April 17, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. A federal appeals court threw out plans to expand off shore drilling in Alaska today. The court sided with environmentalists, ruling that a Bush administration plan opening drilling in Alaska's Chukchi and Beaufort Seas failed to consider impacts on marine life and the environment. The Chukchi and Beaufort Seas are home to roughly one-tenth of the world's polar bears, as well as walruses, seals and whales.

Statement of Sierra Club Lands Director Athan Manuel:    » read more »