PALIN: “Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown.”
REALITY: UNDER PALIN, WASILLA GOVERNMENT SPENDING & DEBT SKYROCKETED.
- Total Government Expenditures Increased 63 Percent Under Palin. In fiscal 2003—the last fiscal year Palin approved the budget—the total government expenditures of Wasilla, excluding capital outlays, were $7,046,325. In fiscal 1996—the year before Palin took control of the budget—the expenditures were $4,317,947. The increase was 63 percent. [Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2003, Table 1]
- Palin Supported Increasing Wasilla Sales Tax From 2 to 2.5 Percent to Build $14.7 Million Sports Center. “Wasilla residents have given the go ahead to building a new multiuse sports center in town and to raising the city sales tax to pay for it. With the final votes counted Friday, residents voted 306 to 286 in favor of a measure to raise the city sales tax from 2 percent to 2.5 percent to pay the estimated $14.7 million cost of building the center…Mayor Sarah Palin, who supported the measure, said the tight vote will motivate city officials to keep a close eye on the budget for the center.” [Anchorage Daily News, 3/9/02]
- Palin Left Behind Almost $19 Million In Long-Term Debt, Compared to None Before She Was Mayor. In fiscal 2003—the last fiscal year Palin approved the budget—the bonded long-term debt was $18,635,000. In fiscal 1996—the year before Palin took control of the budget—there was no general obligation debt. [Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2003, Table 10]
FACT CHECK: Sarah Palin’s Speech
I just loves me those fiscal conservatives, don't you? As I pointed out before, this boondoggle came to about $3,000 per person in Wasilla.
Unfortunately, none of these sources appear to be online. The Anchorage Daily News seems to have only recently discovered the Internet. The city of Wasilla didn't start putting financial reports online until 2004. Little wonder.
UPDATE: Apparently, the rock group Heart is going to sue the GOP:
[T]he Heart women are upset that the GOP has used their classic "Barracuda" as a theme song for Sarah Palin. TMZ obtained a statement from Heart's rep, who says "The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission."
Republicans Lack Heart!
Ladies, I hate to tell you, but they can do this. They're Republicans, so it's OK. Only Democrats and little people aren't allowed to break the law these days.
(h/t Jane Hamsher)
4 comments:
I also love the fact that when I visited Newsweek's homepage, there were two Factcheck.org debunkings of McCain et al prominently displayed, and an expose on the campaign's attempt to shut down the Troopergate investigation of Palin. Add to this the fact that news outlets are enraged that the campaign's spirited Palin away and given them the finger in the process, the fact that even Faux News called McCain out on a lie, and outlets are gloating over the fact that so many artists are slapping the campaign with the cease-and-desist orders... well, I'm not sure what's giving me this impression, but methinks the honeymoon may be over.
We'll see if that skepticism lasts. My take on it at the moment is that the press just can't help themselves. McCain and Palin are so bad with the facts that it's scary. Why would someone capable of running the country need two weeks of tutoring before answering questions?
There may be some limit to how much incompetence even conservatives are willing to tolerate from their own. I certainly hope so.
I love me some Heart. Good on them to hold the GOP's collective feet to the fire!
I think this is a new low for the GOP. Reagan's campaign wanted to use "Little Pink Houses" as their theme song, but John Mellencamp said no. They obeyed his wishes. Now, thirty years later, these guys just do whatever they damn well please.
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