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Alaska Politics, Corporate Contributions Under FireBut when it comes to corporate influence in Alaska, the record shows oil is just one part of the equation.Related Content
Anchorage Rep. Les Gara has a problem, and he’s not alone.
"People across the country know the influence of corporations in politics has been growing and growing and growing to a level that makes people very uncomfortable,” said the democratic lawmaker Monday at the Anchorage legislative offices. Just across the street in Town Square Park, members of the Occupy Anchorage Movement spoke out about the exact same thing. "The reality is, money is a lot more powerful than any one person's vote,” said protester Matt Moll. Here in Alaska, Gara said major oil companies are playing an increasingly larger role in state politics in a very specific way: the Alaska Business Report Card. The report is a ranking of state legislators conducted in part by the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, whose major sponsors include oil giants BP, Conoco Phillips and ExxonMobil. While chamber president Rachael Petro said Gara’s claims “couldn’t be further from the truth,” today Gara said he believes the report ranks legislators based on their allegiance to corporate interests. "Bill Allen wanted people to be able to donate larger amounts of money to candidates, and for PACs to be able to donate larger amounts of money to candidates,” Gara said, referencing the head of former oil support services company Veco convicted in a massive public corruption investigation several years ago. “If you opposed that effort and tried to maintain the integrity of the political process by limiting the amount of money in politics, you’ve got a mark against you," he said. There’s another side to the coin that Gara doesn’t mention: Alaska Native corporations. According to campaign finance reports, native corporations spent more than $1.8 million last year on the re-election campaign of Sen. Lisa Murkowski. "The problem is when corporations try to extend their influence into the political system,” Gara said. But when it comes to corporate influence in Alaska, the record shows oil is just one part of the equation. |
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Criminal Mind... said on Saturday, Feb 4 at 10:53 AM
Yes and word is the kid is studying law now in Fairbanks and all road blocks are getting put up and the Palin whinermobile is under way again...Just imagine what a presentation in federal court will do to poor Palin...you can get off Sean's lap now...or visa versa...and put away the baby oil...use it in the rear remember?
80888412Birthright to Trust Fund... said on Thursday, Dec 1 at 2:57 PM
Yes and when money is the reason of all evil then what? See some adoptions are ponzi schemes and when you are worth alot of money people will say and do ANYTHING to keep it! Ask Palin! What is the cash value now dear??? hahahaha... When it's in the system of justice and media? OUCH that protologist hurt your azzhole eh Sarah??? U can pay me back with interest!!! Oh you gave 500 million of it to Canada who gave it to England...how quaint...and faint... What Captain Zero say lately??? Darn those pesky feds asking me for that paperwork...who do they think they are...thought I drowned that so they cannot see it...what a baffoon!!
77755496Raven33 said on Friday, Oct 28 at 5:21 PM
While I agree that Corporations are definitely a problem... Unions are equally just as destructive to fair and honest elections. BOTH must be removed from the political process!
76024904Jeannie Lee said on Thursday, Oct 27 at 8:07 AM
Money equals POWER. Power usually bring corruption. Its by extending their infuence into politics.Money buys ANYTHING.Look at the LOBBIST in Washington, for crooked corporations and companies.The drug companies are the worst.They get laws passed, so the the FDA (which is a joke) won't require them to TEST all the worthless, bad drugs they flood on the market.People in American better wake up. We need to unit and protest these greedy Corporations and Lobbist and get LAWS passed that they CAN"T use Lobbist in Washington for their own personal gain.
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