It's summer in Alaska. Days are long and the fish are running. For most of us, it's the season for rain-gear and fleece, fishing tackle and clam shovels, not torches and pitchforks and recall petitions. That's lucky for Gov. Sean Parnell.
A few weeks ago, Attorney General John Burns addressed a federal ruling on roads in the Tongass by saying, "Today ... more so than at any time since statehood, Alaskans' ability to manage and to responsibly develop its state's resources is under an unprecedented and coordinated assault by federal regulatory agencies and environmental organizations."
We hear a lot of that kind of talk from the administration these days.
But less than two weeks later, Mr. Burns was happy to see the state's Coastal Zone Management Program fail. That program was the main way the state injected its views into federal decisions about coastal development throughout Alaska. But carrying the governor's water, Mr. Burns assured us we'll have the ear of the federal government even after surrendering our sovereignty.
What about the "unprecedented and coordinated assault," Mr. Burns?
I'm getting whiplash and losing count of how many times the Parnell administration has sued the federal government -- the same government he now trusts to hear and embrace our opinions on coastal development. That's quite a reconciliation. Did anyone see Dr. Phil on the third floor of the Capitol?
On Wednesday, it rained budget vetoes. Like most storms, it poured in some places and merely drizzled in others. Seems as though the darkest clouds gathered over districts represented by lawmakers who opposed the governor's proposal to cut oil taxes by $2 billion a year. I guess Parnell was telling the truth about cutting their appropriations before he said he wouldn't.
In explaining his approach to reducing state capital spending, the governor smiled and started talking about ice cream. It was Palinesque. "I love to have a bowl of it at night. And if you put half a gallon of ice cream in the freezer, you can go get the half-gallon and you can eat it all in one night, because you like it. Or you can save something for tomorrow," Parnell said. "That's what I've done."
Ice cream? His strategy for spending state dollars is like eating ice cream? Is that what the villagers in Emmonak and Marshall were trying to figure out a few years ago: What kind of ice cream to have and when to eat it? I don't think so. As I recall, they were choosing between food and heat. The governor vetoed weatherization and energy relief funds. No ice cream for those Alaskans.
On the other hand, because he failed to veto his own pay raise, the governor should be able to stash all the ice cream he wants in his freezer at home -- maybe he'll get all fancy and buy gelato.
As an Alaskan who prefers "us" to "them," Alaska over "Outside" and doesn't like to be bossed around by any government, it has been a rough week.
The same governor who failed in his quest to give back billions of dollars to some of the wealthiest corporations on Earth -- with no guarantees for additional oil in the pipeline -- is trying to claim a fiscal conservative badge. I'm not buying it.
If Sean Parnell believed in smaller government, he would have cut the operating budget -- that's what funds "big government." It's bigger now after his measly hacking than it has ever been. More government, fewer roads. More bureaucrats, fewer private sector jobs. More money in the governor's own pocket, but less in yours -- once the heating bill arrives.
Smaller government doesn't mean fewer jobs or projects for our communities. It doesn't mean Homer suffers through another winter without a gas pipeline, Ketchikan without hydro power, no drainage ditches for flooded apartments in East Anchorage, or Western Alaska without school and energy funding. Limited government doesn't mean picking Astroturf over repairing damaged roofs on schools.
Brothers and sisters, we Alaskans are faring better than many other Americans. We rest on trillions in resources and billions in stock portfolios, bonds and banks. But it isn't fiscally responsible or dutiful to the constitution to let Alaskans remained hijacked by skyrocketing energy costs. Alaska's resources are supposed to be used for the betterment of all Alaskans.
Instead we've all got whiplash and ice cream headaches.
Shannyn Moore is host of "The Shannyn Moore Show" on KOAN 1020 AM and 95.5 FM radio, and the television show "Moore Up North" on KYES Channel 5.
SHANNYN MOORE
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