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  Congressional earmarks lose luster for Alaska
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Contributorparticleman 
Last Editedparticleman  Dec 11, 2007 06:10pm
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News DateWednesday, December 12, 2007 12:05:00 AM UTC0:0
DescriptionThe Palin administration, citing a need to improve the state's credibility, plans to ask Alaska's congressional delegation for far fewer earmarks in the coming year.

"We really want to skinny it down," said Karen Rehfeld, Gov. Sarah Palin's budget chief.

Rehfeld recently wrote a memo to all state commissioners telling them that to "enhance the state's credibility," federal earmark requests for money should be only for the most compelling needs.

They should have a strong national purpose, Rehfeld told the commissioners, not just to fill funding gaps in the state's budget.

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A favorite target is the so-called "bridges to nowhere" for Ketchikan and Knik Arm, inserted by Alaska Rep. Don Young into the five-year transportation bill in 2005. Congress later stripped the earmarks directing that spending, but let Alaska keep the money to use on the bridges if it wanted. Palin, to the delight of budget watchdog groups, earlier this year abandoned the Ketchikan bridge and said the bridge money would be spent elsewhere.

Palin has said Alaska needs to change its national image, change that includes trying to become less dependent on the federal government.
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