No Bridges for Old Money

CQ has a fascinating article about Sarah Palin's involvement in the proposal, modification, and eventual tanking of the "Bridge to Nowhere." The basic timeline:

1) Rep. Don Young (R) earmarks nearly half a billion dollars for two bridges to islands with tiny populations.

2) Congress decides that maybe the earmark isn't a great idea. The money will be given to Alaska's Transportation department, but to be used however they see fit.

3) Sarah Palin runs for governor in 2006 promising to defend the bridge project from federal intervention, though the money has long since been given over to the discretion of the state government. "“We need to come to the defense of Southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table like the bridge and not allow the spin-meisters to turn this project or any other into something that’s so negative."

4) Upon taking office, Palin decides that the bill is, in fact, as wasteful as everyone else has already said, and kills the project. Nevertheless, she keeps the money from the appropriation.

5) (and this part is not in the CQ article) In her Vice Presidential nomination speech, Palin claims to have created a budget surplus in Alaska, which she has returned to the people of Alaska in the form of tax breaks. These tax breaks, I'm sure, were not hurt by Rep. Don Young (R)(currently under investigation for taking bribes and other unreported "gifts") and Sen. Ted Stevens (R)(currently under indictment on seven counts of corruption) giving her $400+ million of money gathered from all 50 states to play with as she sees fit.

Conclusion: Palin can legitimately claim that she killed the project. However, she can also be taken to task for killing a project she campaigned to defend, although she faced no federal interference.

For further reading: Michael Kinsley on "Sarah Palin's Alaskonomics"