Palin's Administration just eliminated the Highway fuel tax for a year

[Winterblues]

Alaska is now enjoying a tax holiday for a year of $.10 a gallon. Every bit helps I guess. I wonder if it will be something she brags about tonight..Would this be considered a populist idea or Conservative?

[Imalittleteapot]

1. Just in time for tonight.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. How will they fund bridges to nowhere in the future?

Did they ever think of that?

[Blue_In_AK]

4. The majority of Alaskans never asked for the bridges

nor want them now. This is a red herring.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. She did this (well, the legislature did, actually)

because Alaska has the highest fuel prices in the country. Even here in Anchorage, which is the lowest-priced gasoline in the state, we are still paying $4.21 or thereabouts. It was stuck on $4.44 for many weeks. The price for a gallon of gas out in the Bush is upwards of $7 or more. Also as part of that bill we will receive a $1200 energy rebate attached to our permanent fund dividend checks because the profits to the state from the oil companies' windfalls have bulged our coffers. A lot of the more fiscally conservative Republicans in the state are calling Palin a "socialist," which I find pretty funny, but I don't see too many of them refusing to take the cash.

This happens because we are an "owner state," as it's written into our state constitution.

[Winterblues]

5. I am not complaining, don't get me wrong.

And yes I know she did not do it on her own. The Legislature had to approve which they did overwhelmingly. I am just wondering if any other states, especially "red states" will follow her example. Is this a Conservative thing or a populist thing? I know Conservatives are all for tax cuts but usually only when they effect the ultra wealthy the most. When it comes down to the middle class (working people) they don't seem all that eager to find relief..

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Oh, sorry, WinterBlues, I didn't realize it was you

when I replied. I was trying to educate non-Alaskans on our energy situation here. I think Sarah was wearing her populist hat when she proposed this, not her Conservative hat. She's certainly a contradiction sometimes, that's for sure.

[PA Democrat]

6. Was she planning on getting pork from Washington to pay for the state's highway repairs?

Nice that Alaska one of the richest state's in the union with respect to natural resources gets MORE per capita in pork than any other state.

http://blog.thehill.com/2008/04/02/172-billion-in-pork-projects-in-fiscal-year-2008/

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Highways cost what they cost

whether or not the state has a large or small population. In addition, a lot of the federal money sent here is military- and defense-related. Not saying that there hasn't been a ridiculous amount of pork directed here by Ted and Don, but some of it, at least, was legitimate.

[Disturbed]

9. "I think Sarah was wearing her populist hat"

Yeah, she needs to remain popular in Alaska, which is why she does this sort of thing.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. I think she's really going to regret having accepted

McCain's offer in the coming months. After she loses and comes back here to finish her term, she's not going to be nearly so popular after all the info that's come out about her personal beliefs. I think we all knew that she was a "social conservative," but I don't think that it was such common knowledge that she's in reality a radical right-wing nut case. This is a conservative state, but some of the things we're hearing now are beyond even Alaskans' level of tolerance for wingnuttery.

[ColbertWatcher]

10. I hope this becomes an issue.

It would be nice to have a conversation about all of it.

I mean, regardless of her involvement in the secessionist fraction, there are still people over there getting money every year from oil companies and who don't want to be a part of the U.S..

Imagine talking about high gas prices and how much money gets sent to Alaska and the corruption over there.

Maybe there will be a little light shone on their dealings and what not.