Gov. Palin and Legislature war over State's duty to Bush villagers in need

[underpants]

http://www.examiner.com/x-2968-Alaska-Gubernatorial-Examiner~y2009m2d7-Gov-Palin-and-Legislature-war-over-States-duty-to-Bush-villagers-in-need---

An unnecessary war of words between Gov. Sarah Palin and Rep. Jay Ramras (R), Fairbanks, over the economic situation in Lower Yukon Kuskokwim villages is ongoing with both the Governor and Rep. Ramras issuing press releases.
The controversy revolves around the village Emmonak (Emo) and other western Bush Alaska villages that are experiencing hard times because of increased home heating oil costs which are also being exacerbated by severe weather and lower than normal salmon runs. Some residents of Emmonak issued a public plea to the State for help with food and fuel.

Governor Palin responded by sending officials from the State to the impacted area to assess the situation to see if there was a basis to declare an emergency under State law. The impact was found not to have arisen to that level of distress, thereby barring any direct State emergency aid.

Rep. Ramras disagreed. He felt that the State should be able to meet the plea for aid directly using state assets for transportation of emergency food and fuel provided by the private sector. In response, he has introduced HB114 to allow for “compassionate” aid during a crisis that does not rise to the level of an emergency.

Over $15,000 in cash has been raised by the private sector to buy fuel and food. The Legislature is holding a fundraiser to raise more money. Efforts by the Anchorage and Fairbanks Food Bank organizations, Walmart, Safeway and many churches in both communities are working to donate food to the impacted communities in Bush Alaska. It is expected that 20,000 lbs of food will be raised to donate to Bush Alaska’s impacted villages.

The war of words between Gov. Palin and Rep. Ramras has been growing more strident in their tone and do nothing to affect getting timely aid to the impacted areas.

the exchange of press releases is at the link

[TWiley]

1. One would think that a GOP presidential candidate and energy expert

would be able to handle this without much thought or effort. Interesting also is the staggering amount of heating oil in alaska, and the relatively low cost of crude. Once again, it is probably due to the strategic non-placement of oil refineries.

Funny as well is the relationship between the salmon run and starvation. Is moose hunter Palin's plan to place the welfare of the entire country in the hands of God (who controls salmon runs) and the skills of the hunter?

I think so. Sounds like another Saturday Night Lives skit to me.