« Second Wasilla Project Video Launched - Sarah Palin: Religion in Politics | Main | Sarah Palin: The email scandal »

October 16, 2008

Sarah Palin: Fiscal Conservative?

On the heels of the final, historic 2008 presidential debate, the Wasilla Project releases Part 3 of our series, where we examine Palin’s record as a fiscal conservative. Clearly, the economy has emerged as the dominant issue of the 2008 presidential campaign and we hope that this video will be a useful contribution in understanding some of the history of Palin’s public service in Alaska.

After 8 years of a Republican White House, there still seems to be a reality distortion field around the concept of “Fiscal Conservative”. Governor Palin presents herself as a fiscal conservative who has a record of helping taxpayers in her state. The reality has often been quite different.

It’s surprising that someone who came into office as mayor promising to cut wasteful spending and lower property taxes, actually left office with Wasilla over $20 million in debt. Records show that when she entered office Wasilla's debt was one million or less.

Some $14-15 million of the over $20 million in debt was due to a hockey rink she built while in office, land for which Wasilla originally negotiated the purchase of for $145,000. They eventually paid out nearly $1.5 million for the land, not counting legal fees, due to Palin moving forward on the project before the city had clear title to the land. This echoes in significant ways Palin’s later negotiations as governor on the Alaskan pipeline, where she committed $500 million in taxpayer money, without assurances that a Canadian company would even build the pipeline.

As the economy worsens in the United States, markets around the world are crashing and people are losing their homes and pensions, it’s irresponsible not to question the economic positions and records of the candidates. In the case of Palin, her record has been extremely troubling and reflects part of the reason that she has lost credibility with so many Alaskans in recent weeks.

In this video we interview:

  • Victoria Naegele – former editor of The Frontiersman, Wasilla’s hometown paper. Victoria is currently on the fence about Palin as governor today, but was sharply critical of her during her first few years as mayor. In her interview, she expressed hope that Palin had learned lessons while mayor that could make her a better leader.
  • Anne Kilkenny – longtime Wasilla resident and government observer.
  • Dianne Woodruff – Wasilla city councilwoman. Dianne is intimately involved in the current finances of the town and the efforts to improve the living conditions there.
  • Zane Henning – is a Wasilla resident, politically conservative, and active as a researcher and government watchdog.
  • Andree McCleod – is a government watchdog who has been investigating Palin’s use of Yahoo email while governor. Palin has used Yahoo mail for government business, which has been counter to her image as supporting open and transparent government. Palin's Yahoo email has remained hidden from investigators and doesn't enter into the state archives as her official governor's email address would.


Resources
Wall Street Journal on Hockey Rink Troubles
CNN on Trail of Bills as Mayor
Article in Salon about Palin’s Record as Mayor
Remodeling her Office
Village Voice article on Palin's history of fiscal management

Posted at 09:01 AM in Wasilla |

Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Shawn

Hey guys. Great, great, job pulling this together and getting it out there. In this crazy sea of misinformation, it's really good to see some in-depth, thoughtful coverage of what Sarah Pailin has actually done, apposed to what they obviously want us all to believe she has. I'm incredibly impressed, and will pass it on to everyone I know. Thank you, thank you!

Posted by: Shawn | October 16, 2008 at 09:53 AM

Kelly

My fellow Americans, we can not allow this woman to weasel her way into national office!

How in the hell did she become governor of Alaska? Someone tell me!

Posted by: Kelly | October 16, 2008 at 12:33 PM

L. Malonson

Thank you so much for sharing this information. It just shows how much of a "BS'er" Ms. Palin is and how she is distorting her own record. How on earth do you build a complex without securing title to the land? Oh I know, in her world it is a matter of form over substance. Wasilla's loss may be America's tragedy.

Keep sharing this information.

Posted by: L. Malonson | October 16, 2008 at 03:37 PM

dave

Palin on CNN: "that One" won! Watch full video: http://shrinkify.com/eql
She said that now it is obvious result of the company Mccain

Posted by: dave | October 17, 2008 at 06:25 AM

Sherry Whitstine

I thought I'd stop by. Always good to meet another blogger from Wasilla.

Posted by: Sherry Whitstine | October 18, 2008 at 11:51 PM

fran

I would like to thank you for producing such well researched and produced videos. I saw this one posted on AlterNet and followed the link. I wonder why your efforts and this site are not being reported on by CBS, ABC and the rest.

I can only hope they are defeated on election day.

Posted by: fran | October 26, 2008 at 06:43 PM

Gary

I have nothing but commendation for all the efforts the Wasilla Project team have put together; the research, the professionalism truly shines in videos the team has produced.

You've all demonstrate that, even though there are checks and balances in the government, it is the role of the citizen to provide oversight over the government.

Posted by: Gary | October 28, 2008 at 08:27 PM

The comments to this entry are closed.