By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Writer Wed Sep 3, 11:48 PM ET
TALKING POINTS: MCCAIN-PALIN
McCain-Palin: Team Of Mavericks To Change Washington
Barack Obama has been running for president ever since he was elected to the Senate, but Sarah Palin is a governor with a record of achieving results for Alaska.
· Obama's "experience" is running for political office; Governor Palin's experience is bringing people together to get things done.
The Obama-Biden ticket is big on talk. The McCain-Palin ticket is big on results.
To change Washington, it's going to take a team of Mavericks who have a record of accomplishment in shaking up the status quo.
At the Democratic convetion, we heard a negative, partisan speech from Barack Obama. He made the argument that if we have Democratic one party rule, our problems will be solved.
· For those who think that the Democratic Congress has done a great job over the past two years, Barack Obama might be right.
· But John McCain has made the case that the problem isn't a Republican Administration or a Democratic Congress, the problem is Washington.
Governor Palin: A Tough Executive With Record Of Results
Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has seen approval ratings of over 80 percent.
· She has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources.
· She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.
· She is uniquely qualified to address the top national security interest of being energy independent. We send 0 billion overseas for fuel every year.
· She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. And she put a stop to the bridge to nowhere that would have cost taxpayers 0 million dollars.
· In Alaska, she challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill.
· As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops. She has also visited the troops overseas.
Governor Palin has a record of accomplishment that Barack Obama simply doesn't have. She has spent her time in office shaking up government in Alaska. Barack Obama has spent his time in office running for President.
Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington.
In choosing Governor Palin, John McCain put Washington on notice that he is serious about shaking up the status quo.
What we're seeing is a maverick who has shaken up Washington picking as his teammate a maverick governor who has shaken up her own state.
GOV. SARAH PALIN - TOP ACCOMPLISMENTS
The first female Governor of Alaska, Governor Sarah Palin is a maverick reformer who has taken on the status quo and put partisanship aside to solve problems. Governor Palin has run a principled administration putting the interests of Alaskans before her own self-interest and political interest.
Top Accomplishments:
· After Years Of Corruption In Alaska, Governor Palin Successfully Passed Landmark Comprehensive Ethics Reform.
· As Gas Prices Increased Over The Summer, Governor Palin Proposed And Signed Legislation Providing Alaskans With Energy Relief.
· Governor Palin Successfully Passed The Alaska Gasoline Inducement Act To Develop Alaska's Energy Supply For The Benefit Of All Americans.
· Governor Palin Has Taken On Wasteful Spending In Alaska - Using Her Veto Pen Often.
· Governor Palin "Ordered Her Administration To Seek Fewer Congressional Earmarks."
· Governor Palin Canceled The "Bridge To Nowhere" Earmark.
· Governor Palin "Immediately Took On The State's Most Lucrative Industry" - Oil Companies - And Won.
· In 2008, Governor Palin Signed Legislation Bringing Accountability And Predictability To Alaska's School Funding Mechanisms.
· In 2007, Governor Palin Created The Climate Change Subcabinet To Forge A Climate Change Strategy.
· Governor Palin Implemented The Senior Benefits Program To Support Low-Income Older Alaskans.
· In February 2008, Governor Palin Had Alaska Join The Multi-State Amicus Brief In Support Of The Second Amendment Right.
THE TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Accomplishment #1: After Years Of Corruption In Alaska, Governor Palin Successfully Passed Landmark Comprehensive Ethics Reform. "Governor Sarah Palin today signed House Bill 109 into law at the Alaska Public Offices Commission in Anchorage. The legislation improves Alaska's ethics and disclosure laws. 'It was so gratifying to be a part of a bipartisan effort, where the focus was on doing the right thing for the people of Alaska,' said Governor Palin." (Gov. Sarah Palin, "Gov. Palin Signs Comprehensive Ethics Bill," Press Release, 7/9/07)
Accomplishment #2: As Gas Prices Increased Over The Summer, Governor Palin Proposed And Signed Legislation Providing Alaskans With Energy Relief. "Gov. Sarah Palin signed legislation into law Monday to pay each qualified Alaska resident a ,200 'resource rebate,' or personal share of the state's multibillion-dollar oil revenue surplus. Legislators passed the payment during a special session that finished up Aug. 7. Palin signed the rebate bill and a related appropriations bill to fund the payment, which will be tacked onto Permanent Fund dividends. . Palin in June had proposed the ,200 rebate, suggesting Alaskans could use the money to help relieve the surging costs of fuel and heating." (Wesley Loy, "Energy Legislation, Rebates Signed Into Law," Anchorage Daily News, 8/26/08)
Accomplishment #3: Governor Palin Successfully Passed The Alaska Gasoline Inducement Act To Develop Alaska's Energy Supply For The Benefit Of All Americans. "Her first major achievement as governor was lopsided passage by the legislature of the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act, which is designed to attract pipeline proposals this summer. The state is offering 0 million in incentives, but the developer must meet strict requirements. The oil companies have said they won't join the competition." (Fred Barnes, "The Most Popular Governor," The Weekly Standard, 7/16/07)
· Investor's Business Daily: "Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin Has Pushed Through A Gas Pipeline Project To Bring New Supply And Price Relief To The Lower 48." "As congressional Democrats dither on a vote for oil drilling, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has pushed through a gas pipeline project to bring new supply and price relief to the lower 48. On Aug. 1, the same day the call for a vote on drilling began on the House floor, the Alaska state Senate approved a package of measures to license a new natural gas pipeline. House Bill 3001 lets Palin award the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act license to TransCanada Alaska, a pipeline builder that cast a winning bid of five. The legislature had been trying for 30 years to authorize something like this and, up until now, had blown it. Palin got it through. Getting it off the ground, the state says, will be the biggest construction project in U.S. history. Palin considers the billion project her biggest accomplishment as governor." (Editorial, "Palin's Gas Pipeline Isn't Hot Air," Investor's Business Daily, 8/18/08)
Accomplishment #4: Governor Palin Has Taken On Wasteful Spending In Alaska - Using Her Veto Pen Often. "And by the way, Palin is a conservative who only last month vetoed 13 percent of the state's proposed budget for capital projects. The cuts, the Anchorage Daily News said, 'may be the biggest single-year line-item veto total in state history.' . Palin's tough spending cuts drew criticism from Republican legislators whose pet projects were vetoed." (Fred Barnes, "The Most Popular Governor," The Weekly Standard, 7/16/07)
· Governor Palin "Has Shown A Willingness To Veto Some Of The State's Large Capital Projects." "Palin, 44, would add youth to the GOP ticket. As governor she has shown a willingness to veto some of the state's large capital projects, no small plus for fiscal conservatives." (David Paul Kuhn, "Three Women Who Might Join The GOP Ticket," Politico, 6/22/08)
· In 2007, Governor Palin Vetoed 1 Million In Government Projects. "Gov. Sarah Palin vetoed nearly a quarter-billion dollars in projects from a proposed .8 billion state capital budget on Friday, a move that angered some lawmakers who hoped to fund hundreds of district projects with surplus revenue from high oil prices." (Sabra Ayres, "Palin Trims 1 Million From Budget," Anchorage Daily News, 6/30/07)
· Governor Palin: "We need to live within our means . Even though we have a surplus, that doesn't warrant a spending spree on an unlimited credit card. Now is the time to save for the future." (Steve Quinn, "Palin Cuts 1 Million From Capital Budget," The Associated Press, 6/30/07)
· Anchorage Daily News: "Palin's vetoes, about 1 million, may be the biggest single-year line-item veto total in state history." (Sabra Ayres, "Palin Trims 1 Million From Budget," Anchorage Daily News, 6/30/07)
· In 2008, Governor Palin Vetoed 8 Million In Government Spending - About 10 Percent of Spending For Hometown Projects. "Gov. Sarah Palin on Friday axed about 10 percent of the spending that state legislators approved for hometown projects. This is the second year in a row Palin vetoed projects dear to legislators. She said lawmakers stuffed the .7 billion state capital budget too full. . Palin's 8 million in vetoes hit dozens of projects across the state. She reduced funding for things like artificial turf at Service and Palmer high schools, expansion of Covenant House for homeless and runaway youths in Anchorage and support of the group Arctic Power's lobbying in Washington, D.C., to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development. Palin eliminated other projects entirely. That includes study of a second bridge between Juneau and Douglas Island, a Cook Inlet Housing Authority community center for seniors, Ketchikan Little League batting cages and big utility projects through the Railbelt Energy Funds." (Sean Cockerham, "Palin's Veto Ax Lops 8 Million From Budget," Anchorage Daily News, 5/24/08)
Accomplishment #5: Governor Palin "Ordered Her Administration To Seek Fewer Congressional Earmarks." "And she has ordered her administration to seek fewer congressional earmarks after Alaska's 'Bridge to Nowhere' became a national symbol of piggish pork-barrel spending." (Steve Quinn, "Alaska Governor Shows Fearlessness," The Associated Press, 12/26/07)
Accomplishment #6: Governor Palin Canceled The "Bridge To Nowhere" Earmark. "A common target for earmark snipers is the so-called 'bridge to nowhere' plugged by Alaska Rep. Don Young into the five-year transportation bill in 2005. Congress stripped the earmarks directing the spending but let the state keep the money to use on the bridges if it wanted. Palin ruffled feathers when she announced -- without giving the delegation advance notice -- that the state was killing the Ketchikan bridge to Gravina Island, site of the airport and a few dozen residents." ("Attitude On Earmarks Upsets Stevens," Anchorage Daily News, 3/13/08)
Accomplishment #7: Governor Palin "Immediately Took On The State's Most Lucrative Industry" - Oil Companies - And Won. "She immediately took on the state's most lucrative industry, questioning whether Alaska -- which gets about 85 percent of its revenue from big oil -- is getting its fair share of the oil companies' billions of dollars in quarterly profits. She got what she wanted from the GOP-controlled Legislature. Relying heavily on Democratic votes, she won approval last month to boost taxes on oil company profits from 22.5 percent to 25 percent. That could bring in an additional .6 billion annually for the state, depending on oil prices." (Steve Quinn, "Alaska Governor Bucks Party, Oil Industry; Makes Time To Pose For Vogue," The Associated Press, 12/26/07)
Accomplishment #8: In March 2008, Governor Palin Signed Legislation Bringing Accountability And Predictability To Alaska's School Funding Mechanisms. "Governor Sarah Palin today signed three bills into law: House Bill 273, House Bill 197 and House Bill 321. 'I applaud the good work of the legislators who worked hard on these bills,' Governor Palin said. House Bill 273 makes several changes to the education funding formula statutes based on work of the Joint Education Task Force. In particular, the bill will phase in increases to the Base Student Allocation, increases for intensive needs funding, and adjustments to the district cost factors. The bill also recalibrates the amount of pupil transportation grants. HB 273 is a significant step forward in modernizing the funding statutes to provide state support for Alaska's schools. The administration strongly believes school districts will ultimately be more successful when given the ability to plan through more predictable and stable state funding. 'This legislation will help achieve a level of predictability for local school districts,' Governor Palin said. 'Our focus now shifts from "How much are we going to spend on education?" to "How can we be innovative and work to improve the outcome of our education system?" We now must concentrate on accountability for every dollar spent.'" (Office Of Governor Sarah Palin, "Gov. Signs Education Funding Bill," Press Release, 3/27/08)
Accomplishment #9: In 2007, Governor Palin Created The Climate Change Subcabinet To Forge A Climate Change Strategy. "On September 14, 2007, Governor Sarah Palin signed Administrative Order No. 238, officially forming the Alaska Climate Change Sub-Cabinet. The Sub-Cabinet is charged with preparing and implementing an Alaska Climate Change Strategy. This will be a transparent document which deals with state policies for anticipated climate change." (State Of Alaska Website, http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/, Accessed 8/28/08)
Accomplishment #10: Governor Palin Implemented The Senior Benefits Program To Support Low-Income Older Alaskans. "Governor Sarah Palin today signed Senate Bill 4 to continue support for low-income older Alaskans by adopting the Senior Benefits Program. 'This program continues important assistance to Alaska seniors,' Governor Palin said. 'I promised that seniors would not go hungry, and we worked with the Alaska Legislature to address this critical need.' In a special session June 26, 2007, legislators passed the Senior Benefits Program, which begins August 1, 2007, with payments ranging from 5 to 0 a month, depending on a senior's income level. Because of the short turnaround time required for implementing the program, current beneficiaries will continue to receive 5 a month, followed by supplemental payments to those seniors eligible for higher benefit levels under the new program as soon as applications can be processed." (Office Of Governor Sarah Palin, "Senior Benefits Program To Take Effect Aug. 1," Press Release, 7/28/07)
Accomplishment #11: In February 2008, Governor Palin Had Alaska Join The Multi-State Amicus Brief In Support Of The Second Amendment Right. "Governor Sarah Palin announced the State of Alaska will join the multi-state amicus brief authored by the State of Texas in support of the Second Amendment right of individual Americans to bear arms. On Tuesday, February 5, 2008, Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg notified Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott that Alaska would sign on to the brief. The Texas amicus brief in the case Washington, D.C. v. Heller will be filed by February 11, 2008. Governor Palin, a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, has long been a champion of the constitutional right to bear arms, as well as a proponent of gun safety programs for Alaska's youth." (Office Of Governor Sarah Palin, "State Of Alaska Joins Texas Amicus Brief," Press Release, 2/8/08)
By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Writer Wed Sep 3, 11:48 PM ET
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PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."
THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to
PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate."
THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of
PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."
THE FACTS: The
Obama would provide billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.
He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above 0,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than 0,000 a year would see taxes rise.
MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of
THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where
MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.
THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to
FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of
THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the
FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal
THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.
Cindy; I'd just like to thank you for joining us today. How on earth have you been able to hold your tonge so long when you are in possession of all these "facts"?
I think the Associated Press is a pretty reliable source for "facts". Just because someone says something doesnt make it true. If it did I would be shouting "I dont have RA" from the rooftops!
CINDY,Just making an observation Cindy. Rarely do I get involved in the political arguments that break out around here. Chances are I won't change your mind about my party and you won't change mine about yours.