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Governor Sarah Palin is on the road again. This time the governor is spending her day in Georgia campaigning for a runoff election before heading to Philadelphia to possibly meet with President Elect Barack Obama.
Now, some are asking if this so called partisan travel is getting in the way of what Governor Palin should be doing in Alaska.
The Alaska Democratic Party says Governor Palin is neglecting our state. And as we face issues from energy to education and funding the state budget, officials say our governor should be doing the job, she is being paid to do.
“We really need our governor here,” said Patti Higgins, the Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party. “Alaska has some pretty serious challenges facing her right now.”
As Governor Palin spent the day in Georgia urging residents to support U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss in his runoff election, back here in Alaska, folks say she needs to be here addressing the challenges our state is facing.
“Our governor should remember that her primary job is to be the governor for Alaskans and not to engage in partisan party politics in other states,” said Higgins. “Governing is more than creating photo ops, we'd like
Working, according to the governor's office, is exactly what she has been doing since coming back from the election trails. “She has been working quite a lot, long hours on the budget, on a long range energy plan, on various legislation on the upcoming session,” said Bill McAllister, the governor's spokesperson.
McAllister says the state's business has not been affected but in dealing with vital issues with the high costs
“Its one thing to run the state from a blackberry when you are troubleshooting and helping to solve some problems, but where is she sitting down with her staff being proactive,” said Higgins.
“The governor is governor 24/7, so she is always available to do state business when it needs to be done,” said McAllister.
As the governor was getting some southern hospitality in Georgia, critics say her continued road trips are not part of her job description. “The governor is not here, she is not doing her job, she is not doing what we paid her for, she is not living up to her promise to be our governor,” said Higgins.
The governor's office says not true as Palin has been working round the clock preparing a health care initiative, a budget for next year, and an energy plan. All state business which hasn't been affected by her travels.
“I haven't heard any suggestion from anybody whatsoever that something did not get done in the state in Alaska these past few months in these days of blackberries and everything else, its very easy to stay in touch,” said McAllister.
Before she left, Palin defended her trip plans to us. “I am going to Georgia because I was invited also though,” said Governor Palin. “To go to Philadelphia with all the governors to talk to Obama, so going to Georgia is something that is good for Alaska.”
Palin says no apologies for what she sees as "good for Alaska" “Anything that is good for Alaska where I am invited to go in lower 48, if it is good for Alaska's agenda, I am going to go and I will take the criticism.”
The governor's office says Palin's half day trip to Georgia was not paid for by the state and was picked up by the Chambliss campaign.
Palin is scheduled to be in Philadelphia today along with other governors to meet with President Elect Obama on what is considered official paid state business.
In the next few weeks we will see what the governor's office is calling the fruits of the governor's work with next years budget and a long term energy plan in the next few weeks and a health plan which is supposed to be unveiled this Thursday.
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