Alaska natural resource chief removed from job

[UpInArms]

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2005-10-28T012929Z_01_N27489707_RTRIDST_0_ENERGY-ALASKA.XML

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Alaska's natural resources commissioner was removed from his post by Gov. Frank Murkowski on Thursday after the commissioner said that state leaders were making too many financial concessions over a proposed North Slope pipeline.

Commissioner Tom Irwin resigned his post, along with several other top officials in the Department of Natural Resources, including two deputy commissioners and the directors of the Division of Oil and Gas and the Division of Mining, Land and Water, Murkowski said.

<snip>

Over the past week, Irwin had alleged that the state was making too many compromises to try to convince the major North Slope oil producers to build a natural gas pipeline.

...more at link...

[aquart]

1. One gets the feeling that Alaska is a bit corrupt.

[Gildor Inglorion]

2. Ya think?

Isn't this Murkowski the governor who appointed his OWN DAUGHTER to a vacant US Senate seat? And the other Repuke Senator from Alaska, somebody Stephens, threatend to kill himself (or something) if the US taxpayers didn't fund a half-billion dollar bridge leading to an island where 50 people dwell. Fifty perfectly swell people, I'm sure, but as another senator pointed out, we could buy each of them a Lear jet and still have money left over for the same price as building that bridge.

[Broken_Hero]

7. Yeah, Alaska is corrupt as hell...

Yeah, the bridge to no where, was my hometown, Ketchikan, connecting via bridge to Gravina island, wehre maybe fifty people live...maybe. the bridge is a waste of time....

[DenaliDemocrat]

4. Oh yeah, we are corrupt

Wanna know what else? They all claim to be "conservatives" and "autonomous" but Alaska is the biggest social welfare state you will ever see.

Longevity bonus for seniors
Property tax exemptions for seniors
subsidies for commerical fishermen
subsidies for canneries
federal subsistence hunting
native corporations
and of course

the Permanent Fund.

Funny really. They all take the government money, then bitch about other groups of people who do the same thing.

[Toots]

9. Some of your claims are lacking

I was under the impression that Murkowski did away with Longevity bonus. Property tax exemptions are municipality rules , not state. I have never heard of any commercial fishery subsidies, maybe you can elucidate, the same goes for canneries. Subsistence is welfare, :eysroll: Native Corporations got a one time settlement from the US government when Carter was President and the Permanent Fund, Give me a break..How can receiving dividends from a jointly owned account be considered a subsidy?

[Oversea Visitor]

6. No

Alaska is not corrupted

Please check how large of area in Alaska in actually natural reserve.

Now think of all those companies just waiting in line to get their hand on it.

ALASKA IS THE VICTIM and the abuser are all waiting for the rape to start.

[Zorra]

11. Republicans = Corruption. And the legislators in Alaska are republicans.

Yep. Alaska is corrupt.

[WhiteTara]

3. I hope this gets heard loud and clear

by lots of people. The rank and file administrators of our country are leaving in droves because they can't be part of the rape of the land. Sounds to me like Murkowski needs to be recalled and that the people of Alaska need to come alive to save their backyard.

[Erika]

5. People with conscience do not rob their children's legacy

But the bushbots have no problem with it.

[whatever4]

8. No, because they rob *for* their children nm

[maxsolomon]

10. #3 in federal money received

behind California & Illinois, i believe.

senator in charge of senate appropriations committee.
house rep in charge of house appropriations committee.

they use the pork system well. but that doesn't excuse the pork or the system.