Sarah Palin: Ryan's Boondoggle Queen

Tweet

Here's what Sarah Palin told the Anchorage Daily News on October 22, 2006,

She Was For Pork Excerpt:
5. Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?
Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist. – Sarah Palin

Here's what she told the nation at the RNC.

Before she was against it
“And I championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress -- I told Congress, "Thanks, but no thanks," on that bridge to nowhere. (APPLAUSE) If our state wanted a bridge, I said we'd build it ourselves.” – Sarah Palin

Is that so? When she was Mayor of Wasilla, a town about the size of Edgerton, she captured $27 million dollars in earmarks. During her first two years as governor she requested 83 earmarks totaling over $453 million in Federal money.

The oil-rich State of Alaska is considered the Saudi Arabia of America, only less tolerant. This year Alaskan families can expect to receive around $29,000 in oil royalties plus an extra $1,200 from a windfall profits tax on Big Oil. A tax orchestrated by Sarah Palin. Despite the nationalized wealth, Palin found it necessary to request Federal funding for stuff the state could afford to build themselves.

Good ol' Girl Sarah:
In her earlier career as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin hired a lobbyist to help the tiny town secure at least 14 earmarks, worth $27 million between 2000-2003. McCain has touted Palin as a force in his long battle against earmarks.

Can we assume Palin was the opposing force?

But there is an additional catch here with Palin's connection to the bridge to nowhere and McCain's attempted hijacking of Obama's theme of "change." His name is Rep. Paul Ryan. It's no secret that Palin's bridge to nowhere is the same bridge that compelled Ryan to create his "Budget Boondoggle Award" for pork spenders.

In addition, Ryan has been trying to help the GOP uncover why they've lost the majority in the House.

GOP lost their way:
"Was it that we'd lost our way on spending and the need for small government? The majority of hands went up ... The American people came to believe that we're the party of Big Government." -- Rep. Paul Ryan

Sarah Palin and Paul Ryan are at the opposite extremes of the earmark spectrum. Palin of course is addicted to pork. While Ryan continues to shortchange his district hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal appropriations.

Last year alone, Ryan worked hard bringing his district home about a billion dollars LESS in Federal Grants than the average district in Wisconsin. Only Sensenbrenner's district got gypped more. Yet, residents of the 1st CD receive no special tax breaks or oil revenue dividend for their unsolicited sacrifice.

Which leaves me with this. Who are the Republicans who lost their way? And which Republicans are the ones promising change?