I might have been wrong about being wrong on Gov. Palin. This story from the Washington Post makes me think McCain might have jumped into this choice a little premature.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog group. There was $500,000 for a youth shelter, $1.9 million for a transportation hub, $900,000 for sewer repairs, and $15 million for a rail project -- all intended to benefit Palin's town, Wasilla, located about 45 miles north of Anchorage.
In fiscal year 2002, Wasilla took in $6.1 million in earmarks -- about $1,000 in federal money for every resident. By contrast, Boise, Idaho -- which has more than 190,000 residents -- received $6.9 million in earmarks in fiscal 2008. All told, Wasilla benefited from $26.9 million in earmarks in Palin's final four years in office.
In February, Palin's office sent Sen. Stevens a 70-page memo outlining almost $200 million worth of new funding requests for Alaska.
So the hand outs do not end with Rep. Young and Sen. Stevens. This kind of ear mark abuse is what McCain is trying to end. Now his running mate appears to be one of the abusers.
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