Sarah Palin on Technology

	Sarah Palin on Technology Republican Governor (AK); 2008 nominee for Vice President

Supports $130M in research investment in U. Alaska

Research is a huge part of how a University can help pay its own way. The University of Alaska is currently leveraging federal dollars for research to the tune of $1 in state funds for every $7 in federal funds. The $130 million received annually in research dollars is an investment in our students and our U of A system. Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska , Nov 3, 2006

Efficient transportation system is vital to our economy

TRANSPORTATION: An efficient and functional transportation system is absolutely vital to our economy. Throughout history, strong transportation systems have been the cornerstone of economic growth and success throughout the world. It is equally important in Alaska, where so much of our state is remote and still not connected by roads. Transportation infrastructure is a basic necessity that Alaska must have to succeed and prosper. Improvement and expansion to our aging network of public facilities, roads, harbors, airports, and rail is required for any development, and gas line construction success. A highly functional, well-maintained, statewide transportation network of public facilities, roads, ferries, trains, and airports is required, to improve Alaska's economy and the quality of life for ALL Alaskans. Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska , Nov 3, 2006

Alaska needs a state funded highway program

It is time for Alaska to develop a state funded highway program like most states in America. This will be a challenge for us, but it is necessary to reduce our current near total dependency on federal aid and ensure basic needs and maintenance are addressed.

Our Marine Highway is a critical service covering the largest area of any state coastline in America.
Alaska ferries are essential to link and connect our island & coastal communities to the rest of Alaska, Canada, and lower 48.

Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska , Nov 3, 2006

OpEd: Neglected Wasilla infrastructure; left with $22M debt

Q: What was the best thing she accomplished as Wasilla mayor?

A: She created a lovely ice rink on the lake for very little money by bringing water trucks onto the ice to spread water on the lake.

Q: What is the worst thing she did as Wasilla's mayor

A: She campaigned on a platform of improvement of Wasilla's infrastructure, and she came into a city that had very little debt. She left the city with $22 million of debt. Most of the debt was incurred for the sports complex, in competition with the private sector. The new venue is not paying for itself and most of the time, it's empty. In addition, because the sports complex was built on land that Wasilla didn't have clear title to, it cost even more money in litigation. Sarah supported the complex because she is a "hockey mom." As a result of taking on that debt, the city has been unable to borrow to build a sewage treatment plant or to replace the aging & inadequate library.

Source: Phone interview with Anne Kilkenny, resident of Wasilla AK , Sep 21, 2008

After selection, scant info on her life, even on Internet

Within minutes of John McCain's announcement, newscasters and pundits across the nation swung into action. In their droll and erudite way, they digested the scant information revealed about Palin in McCain's remarks. By the end of the first hour, their commentary had exhausted the sparse details of her life and had moved on to a discussion of the implications in the event the nation and the world had just witnessed. Awakened and roused like never before, the voters jammed websites and blogs to search for information about the new vice presidential candidate, the woman from Wasilla.

In Juneau, the State of Alaska's official website received so many hits it crashed as technicians struggled to keep it online. In tiny Wasilla, the mayor's office where Palin once had served was swamped with requests for news about her life and family. [OnTheIssues.org's Sarah Palin page received a record 850,000 viewers that day].

Source: Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader, by Joe Hilley, chapter 1 , Oct 13, 2008

As mayor in 1990s, got Wasilla roads paved

In the mid-1990s, many of the city's main roads were still made of dirt. Even the runway at the municipal airport was gravel. I knew businesses--and thus jobs--wouldn't locate in Wasilla if the tools weren't there for the private sector to grow & thrive. So, in an effort to attract businesses, we built and paved roads, and extended water and sewer lines. Within a few years, established mom-and-pops were growing, new ones sprang up, and stores like Fred Meyer, a Wal-Mart Superstore, and other national chains opened their doors in our city.

In 2002, we put a city bond measure before the voters that would fund construction of a multiuse sports center. Voters approved it and the half-cent sales tax to pay for it, and we broke ground on this project.

As a result of our common sense conservative efforts, Wasilla became a booming, bustling town--the fastest-growing area in the state.

Source: Going Rogue, by Sarah Palin, p. 78 , Nov 17, 2009

Established office for oil pipeline maintenance

Prior to the election it had been revealed that BP had been trying to save money for years by cutting corners on oil pipeline maintenance on the North Slope. This was very serious: leaks and spills from corroded pipelines were all too common and harmed the environment plus led to production slowdowns. So one of my first priorities was to establish the Petroleum Systems Integrity Office (PSIO). With the creation of the PSIO, Alaska became the first state to require industry operators to document their compliance with maintenance and quality assurance standards, and to share that information with the state. Unfortunately the next year the House Finance subcommittee gutted more than a third of the PSIO budget. I fought to get it restored and finally succeeded. Source: Going Rogue, by Sarah Palin, p.153 , Nov 17, 2009

USSR won 1960s space race, but its debt led to USSR collapse

Palin noted, "Obama's theme in the State of the Union was the WTF--winning the future. I thought, That acronym? Spot on. There were a lot of WTF moments throughout that speech." Palin identified what the president had to say about the "Sputnik moment" as one of those "WTF" instances. "He needs to remember that what happened back then with the former communist USSR and their victory in that race to space, yeah, they won, but they also incurred so much debt that it led to their inevitable collapse." Source: 2011 State of the Union: Republican Response , Jan 25, 2011

Tighten security urgently against WikiLeaks

Sarah Palin asked why the White House had not issued orders to tighten security back in July, when WikiLeaks released thousands of classified military documents on Afghanistan. "What explains this strange lack of urgency on their part?"

Palin concluded: "We are at war. American soldiers are in Afghanistan fighting to protect our freedoms. They are serious about keeping America safe. It would be great if they could count on their government being equally serious about that vital task."

The Obama administration has said that it "deeply regrets" the leaking of the embarrassing cables that have disclosed exactly what American diplomats think of foreign leaders and promised to take "aggressive steps" against those who "stole" them.

Source: Martin Beckford in The Telegraph (U.K.), "Hunt WikiLeaks" , Nov 30, 2010

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