In McCain's acceptance speech, he said Palin cut her state budget. What budget?

Question

In Alaska, there is no State Income Tax. There is also no state sales tax. What Budget did Palin cut? She stopped taking as many earmarks for programs AFTER the bridge to nowhere was broadcast nationally - making it impossible to get funds for. And, before that, she redirected the funds elsewhere. So, she got less federal money? So what? She got MORE oil money. That's why on top of the $2000 per citizen annual check for oil, they got a bonus $1200. Now, this is on top of the Federal Rebate we all got. How did she cut her budget? Was this a lie?

Answer 1

You can't think that the state runs for FREE !!!!

Answer 2

Oh my, another dem with a 6th grade education.

Answer 3

Yes, she cut the budget. But the cuts were aimed at things she thought were wasteful spending. She has also taken a chunk of the state's surplus of money due to the oil pipeline and given it back to the people of the state to help with upcoming winter heating bills. So yes, the state does have a budget and she did trim some of the fat out of it. That was not a "lie".

Speaking of the PFD and rebate checks not all residents of the state get them. There are certain qualifications that must be met in order to receive them. There is a large population of military people in the State of Alaska (3 main Army posts, 2 large Air Force bases, a large Coast Gaurd station, along with numerous smaller military posts and air stations throughout the state) and a lot of them don't get the checks. As far as the PFD's themself they are only a small percentage of the revenue earned from the sale of the oil that comes out of the state. This revenue is placed in an investment account and every October a portion of the procedes are split up between those that qualify for the program. The overall cost of living in Alaska is a lot higher them most places in the lower 48 and the checks are a way to help compensate the primary residents of the state. And it is not always $2,000. It varies year to year based on the price of oil and the stock market. I have seem them go as low as $900.

BigBoob - why don't you try to look in to why it went up? It wasn't till the money flooded in to the state coffers over the past year that she increased the money the state spent. She is spending a lot of surplus oil pipeline money to invest in the infrastructure of the state for the good of the people. She is also leading the fight to get a gas pipeline built, not a cheap thing to do.

Scott K - your statement "I do think it's important to point out that because of oil revenue, she does not really have any budget emergencies like those that exist in most of the states" is wrong. While it is true that this year the state has a surplus of funds due to the increase in the price of crude oil it is not always that way. When oil prices drop back down the state will have a lot less funds to play with. Plus due to the extreme winter weather the amount of money the state has to pay for road construction and maintenance is sky high and takes up a large portion of state funds. Also, some years are hit and miss as far as the cost of maintaining the oil pipeline itself. Some years the pipeline will need little as far as repairs but other years large sections might need to be replaced as the repair cost is enormous. So for most years the state does have to follow a strick budget.

Answer 4

Alaska has 24,000 state employees and a Ten Billion Dollar budget.  She cut wasteful spending and fine tuned spending in other areas.  She got rid of frills set aside for the Governor (a private jet, a private chef) and cut spending in her state.

Yeah - that's called a budget!

Answer 5

her state budget tripled in two years read up she is a republican

Answer 6

I have no idea whether she cut the budget or not, but the permanent fund dividend isn't a set $2000.  After the expenses are paid, the government decides what the surplus from the oil revenue is and then they issue checks.  If that totals $1K one year or $4K the next is just a math function.  I do think it's important to point out that because of oil revenue, she does not really have any budget emergencies like those that exist in most of the states.

Answer 7

this one.

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/results/a...

Answer 8

what a moron! how do you think a government runs? from dreams and people working for free!

she cut 500 million in the governments budget the first year in office.

she got rid of the maids and cheff and limo and even sold the jet. she drives herself to work and flies on normal airplanes like the rest of us common folk.

lolol

you guys hang out too much on leftist blogs. come to real life and watch the news or learn how to use google and wiki

wow! what intelligent question! just full of "real" info! LOLOL