tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283971172024-03-05T07:24:34.307-09:00Corruption News CentralThe Corruption News Central reports on the ongoing efforts to eradicate corruption from Alaskan Politics and Public Service.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-90831146145932777962016-09-22T18:03:00.001-08:002016-09-22T18:03:01.174-08:00Clean Elections: Ray Metcalfe<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JzaThofSzgk" width="459"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-69469349702373284272014-09-05T17:20:00.001-08:002014-09-05T17:22:52.544-08:00<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thebriberystopshere">https://www.facebook.com/thebriberystopshere</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thebriberystopshere.com/" target="_blank">http://thebriberystopshere.com/</a> </li>
</ul>
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-91546461250242905442012-04-19T08:28:00.002-08:002012-04-19T08:35:12.204-08:00Federal study says Alaska's tax on oil profits below international averages!<h3>
Because Advertising
Revenues Have Bought Their Silence </h3>
<h3>
The
Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA) has a TV ad running that says “<i>Alaska has the highest oil tax in North
America.”</i> — To see the ad, Google: AOGA - Latest News
and click on the guy with the white hard hat. According
to the U.S. Department of Interior, AOGA’s
statement is false!
For confirmation, see the Department of Interior’s publication attached below or
Google: Average
Government Take, PI, and IRR Indicator .
Facts are, Louisiana’s tax on oil is 9% higher than Alaska’s.</h3>
<h3>
ConocoPhillips’
VP of Finance falsely stated, “the tax on North Slope oil production is one of
the highest in the world.” (KTUU News March 29, 2012 ) (To confirmation the statement: Google:
A
Tale of 2 Taxes - KTUU.com )
According
to the U.S. Department of Interior, the Conoco VP’s statement is False! The U.S.
Department of Interior says several oil exporters tax oil profits at 90% to 95%
and the international average tax on oil profits is 79%. The U.S. government
says Alaska’s North Slope oil profits are taxed at 76%, or 3% below the
international Average. See excerpt from federal report below, or to see full
federal report Google: Average
Government Take, PI, and IRR Indicator
</h3>
<h3>
According
to Mexico’s Government owned oil company PEMEX, Mexico’s tax on oil is 94%. See
PEMEX’s published announcement of its last three bid awards and mathematical
analysis attached below. Mexico was omitted from the U.S. Government’s study of
oil tax systems but its tax rate leaves Alaska and Texas tied for third and
fourth place out of North America’s eight oil exporters studied here. For more
information on Mexico’s last bids Google: Mexico
Pemex Aug 18, 2011 bid awards.</h3>
<h3>
According
to AOGA, the oil business is booming in Texas thanks to good tax policies and
dying in Alaska due to bad tax policies. (See Attached) According to the U.S.
Department of Interior, the tax rates in Alaska and Texas are the same. (<a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bc4d90a14c20d904&resid=BC4D90A14C20D904%21116&parid=BC4D90A14C20D904%21115&authkey=%21ABZlUiYEVCGpzpg" target="_blank">See Attached</a>) </h3>
<h3>
AOGA
says local, state, and federal taxes on profits from North Slope oil equal 76%.
The Department of Interior agrees and points out that a 76% tax on oil is below
the worldwide average. (See Attached) </h3>
<h3>
In
a comparative attempt to make Alaska’s tax on oil profits look excessive, AOGA
says that the U.S. Governments tax rates on oil in federal waters in the Gulf of
Mexico are only 43%. According to the U.S. Government, AOGA’s statement is
false. The U.S. government says its
tax on production coming from the Gulf of Mexico is 79% in shallow water, and
64% in deepwater. (See Attached) </h3>
<h3>
In
a comparative attempt to make Alaska look bad, AOGA says the Alberta taxes oil
at 55%. The Federal study on international oil tax policies says Alberta taxes
at 64%. (Note: Alberta oil is not drilled and pumped, it is dug up from tar pits
and heated to separate it from sands. It is a very low quality oil and
enormously more expensive to produce.) </h3>
<h3>
Thanks
to the integrity of a few reporters in Juneau and Fairbanks, few voters outside
of Anchorage are buying into oil company fairy tales. Unfortunately the Anchorage Daily News,
KTUU Television News, and several other news outlets in Alaska’s largest city
have chosen to leave their listeners and readers in the dark and like magic,
AOGA keeps sending them checks for advertising; – just not a
lot of difference between them and the legislators Bill Allen bribed.
</h3>
<h3>
The
Fairbanks News Minor, The Juneau Empire, and The Alaska Dispatch have all told
an entirely different story and they deserve recognition for being truthful with
their readers in this matter. </h3>
Sincerely, Ray Metcalfe <br />
Chairman of Citizens for Ethical Government, Inc. — Email
<a href="mailto:RayinAK@aol.com"> RayinAK@aol.com </a> Tel:
907-344-4514<br />
<br />
<b>http://tinyurl.com/cfeg-fed-rept</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-65260570023273213402012-04-13T15:45:00.000-08:002012-04-13T15:45:14.593-08:00KTUU in question?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">While airing "we have integrity" KTUU is knowingly broadcasting false claims of oil industry executives and advertisers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.7in 6pt 0.3in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">1. TV ad featuring Don Gray of ASRC Energy, said: <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Alaska has the highest oil taxes in North America.”</i></b> — <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">False!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 3pt 0.7in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">According to the Government owned oil company PEMEX, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mexico has North America’s highest tax on oil at 94 %</b>. To verify see calculations below and Google: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Mexico Pemex Aug 18, 2011 bid awards</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.7in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">According to the U.S. Department of Interior, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">second highest is Louisiana at 85%.</b> To verify Google: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Average Government Take, PI, and IRR Indicator</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> and drop down to page 62. And,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.7in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The U.S. Department of Interior says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Texas and Alaska are tied for third and fourth place at 76%</b>. To verify Google: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Average Government Take, PI, and IRR Indicator</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> and drop to page 60.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 3pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.7in 3pt 0.3in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">2. ConocoPhillips’ VP of Finance, television news talking point: <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Total ‘government take’ on North Slope oil production is already one of the highest in the world.”</i></b> — <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">False!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 3pt 0.7in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">a. According to the U.S. Department of Interior, the worldwide “Government Take” (meaning total local state and federal tax) varies from 57% to 99% and the worldwide average is 79%. Alaska’s total local, state, and federal tax or “government take” equals a below average of 76%. To verify, google; </span><u><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Average Government Take, PI, and IRR Indicator</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> and drop to page 62.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 3pt -0.05in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.7in 3pt 0.3in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">3. TV ad featuring Liz Galiunas of ConocoPhillips, said: <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“There is an oil boom going on but it’s not happening in Alaska”</i></b> — <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">False!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 3pt 0.7in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">a. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">According to Alaska’s Department of Labor, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and Petroleum News, North Slope Employment is at a record high. More exploration wells are planned for the coming year than at any time since the Prudhoe Bay oil discovery. To verify, Google; </span><u><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Petroleum News North Slope Booms</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">.</span><u><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Ray Metcalfe –– 907-344-4514 –– rayinak@aol.com</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-73986910156737824512011-10-21T00:12:00.001-08:002011-10-21T00:12:38.739-08:00The Gorilla in the room<span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">We will be hosting another protest, blowing up our
giant 26 foot tall inflatable rat for the second time, in front of the
Anchorage Daily News this Friday October 21st 1:00 to 3:00 PM for selling
out their readers in favor of to corporate interests.</span></strong>
</span><br />
<div>
<span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
<span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
<div>
Like it or not, ADN is still the media gorilla in Alaska. A little fact
checked front page news about oil taxes would discredit the claims of
Hawker and Parnell and bring an abrupt end to any significant measure
of support BP has for its campaign to avoid paying Alaskans a fair
price for the oil they take.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Whether through campaign funds, or other means, want of
money is the only logical rational for a fully informed
legislator, or governor, or newspaper for that matter, to turn a blind eye
and/or assist a resource extractor in a quest to take Alaska's resources
for less than other resource extractors would pay if they were
given the opportunity. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
KTUU News argues that ADN is a private company and has the right to print,
or not print as they wish. KTVA didn't see it that way and gave us good
coverage two weeks ago. Click here to see KTVS's coverage of our last protest in
front of the Anchorage Daily News. <a href="http://www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Protest-Over-Oil-Taxes-Coverage-131378053.html" title="http://www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Protest-Over-Oil-Taxes-Coverage-131378053.html">http://www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Protest-Over-Oil-Taxes-Coverage-131378053.html</a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"Sin of omission" is a term you've have learned in journalism. ADN's
readers have a right to trust in ADN's truthfulness, and ADN has violated its
moral obligation to be truthful with their readers. The degree to
which The Daily News has avoided factual reporting on oil tax issues is obvious
and money for silence is only one logical reason.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Getting a fair price for Alaska's oil effects your dividend, your teachers
salary, your tuition and just about every thing government service you
depend on. Join us and make an impact on a local institution that has
sold you out as it licks the boots of British Petroleum.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Ray Metcalfe 907-344-4514</div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-32907353579925399712011-10-12T18:03:00.001-08:002011-10-12T18:09:09.073-08:00Protesting the Anchorage Daily News CensorshipThree weeks ago I sent the following letter to the Daily News Room Boss:<br />
<br />
Attached is a fact filled sheet designed to provide interested Alaskan voters with the information they need to make informed decisions about oil taxes.<br />
<br />
After receiving a negative response to having brought similar articles to the attention of an ADN reporter on oil, I hand delivered two of the articles attached to Attention Patrick Doyle with the question:<br />
<br />
·<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0Ip8vRbLkEdte_H592_QfBpor1YnLgkQme1wvkIbMPA70hJ1voQHHQXUw6nWgqST0IkFjLKqUr0P3KHbD0LdK45qbvOILG4RJsCxj_ZYNB5dJ7rRqtYPmPozLvwRMqkyrJXc9w/s1600/ratkowski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0Ip8vRbLkEdte_H592_QfBpor1YnLgkQme1wvkIbMPA70hJ1voQHHQXUw6nWgqST0IkFjLKqUr0P3KHbD0LdK45qbvOILG4RJsCxj_ZYNB5dJ7rRqtYPmPozLvwRMqkyrJXc9w/s200/ratkowski.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><br />
“What would motivate the largest newspaper in an oil state to withhold widely published news stories containing readily available information about production costs and oil profits from its readers in the midst of a statewide debate about oil profits and production costs?”<br />
<br />
While I have confidence in the integrity of most ADN reporters, I have lost confidence in the integrity and motives of ADN’s management, publishers and owners.<br />
<br />
Oil producers and their supporters who claim they want to “make Alaska competitive again” have filled the airwaves and your pages with "facts" that have consistently proven to be fabrications. ADN has made no credible effort to retract, correct, or educate its readers on the world market norms for the taxation of oil.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBd_frPQMWZxZtFPKgdq3EUoJPJv-cwkbHM2bWvM4FGLHQOhnaCa81DP2QpalHLoQzeMZK1oGYlVppPp4L04FJ9WsYJ0_pamz931PZxjO8GgLnSfsaAo258AXhQOUK64n6nHzn1w/s1600/1010112251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBd_frPQMWZxZtFPKgdq3EUoJPJv-cwkbHM2bWvM4FGLHQOhnaCa81DP2QpalHLoQzeMZK1oGYlVppPp4L04FJ9WsYJ0_pamz931PZxjO8GgLnSfsaAo258AXhQOUK64n6nHzn1w/s200/1010112251.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Rather than provide its readers with readily available fact-filled articles, the ADN uses dueling editorialists to place Alaska’s oil tax issues into the context of a “he said she said domestic quarrel.”<br />
<br />
In his Sunday August 14th column Paul Jenkins said that Alaska's high taxes are "forcing the oil industry to go elsewhere, to places such as booming North Dakota.” Clearly knowing the statement is false, ADN demands no correction and continues his column.<br />
<br />
Not until after Petroleum News’ “North Slope Booming” article reached ADN’s readers did ADN bother to print anything contrary to Mark Hamilton’s “Starving North Slope Workers Moving to North Dakota Advertising Campaign.” Attached is a Juneau Empire article which explained the same issue eighteen months earlier. It was one of the articles delivered by me to the attention of Patrick Doyle. It preceded Mark Hamilton’s advertising campaign; but ADN's Anchorage readers had no way of knowing they were being misled.<br />
<br />
On Saturday August 20th, the ADN gave Representative Hawker a platform to tell Alaskans that "Alaska's Production taxes are the highest in North America." That is also not true and its falsity is easily verifiable.<br />
<br />
In a state that relies so heavily on getting world market values for its resources, few issues are more important. The ADN has a lengthy track record of keeping its readers in the dark on such issues. On Thursday of this week, at noon, I will be delivering a power point presentation to the Anchorage Democratic Bartlett Club's weekly forum at Denny's at 3950 DeBarr Rd., Anchorage, AK. My focus will include the ADN’s refusal to educate its readers on this issue.<br />
<br />
Please be assured that I do not believe the above sins of omission rest on your shoulders or those of your reporters. I believe its rests squarely on the shoulders of ADN's management.<br />
<br />
You are invited to come and listen on Thursday. The Bartlett Club has agreed to leave the following Thursday’s lunch speaker schedule open should ADN wish to respond.<br />
<br />
Ray Metcalfe 907-344-4514<br />
<br />
The Daily News did not show and has offered no meaningful response. If the Voters knew the facts about oil taxes; Parnell's push to roll them back Alaska's oil tax wouldn't have a snowballs chance in hell of going anywhere. In fact, some people might even begin to think he smelled a lot like Bill Allen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_MED_Content fsm fwn fcg"><div class="uiAttachmentTitle" data-ft="{"type":11}"><b><a href="http://community.adn.com/?q=adn%2Fnode%2F158242" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audio: Ray Metcalfe protest outside ADN | adn.com</a></b> </div><span class="caption">community.adn.com</span><br />
<div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage"><a class="uiVideoThumb UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_MED_Image" data-ft="{"type":42,"video_type":"share"}" href="http://www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Protest-Over-Oil-Taxes-Coverage-131378053.html" id="u3jceb_10" rel="nofollow" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" tabindex="-1" target="_blank"></a>Political activist Ray Metcalfe led a demonstration against the Anchorage Daily News along Bragaw Street that featured a 25-foot rat this afternoon. Metcalfe and his supporters said ADN refuses to publish the truth about oil taxes.</div><div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage"><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}"></span></h6><div class="mvm uiStreamAttachments clearfix fbMainStreamAttachment" data-ft="{"type":10}" style="text-align: center;"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix"><a class="external UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_MED_Image" data-ft="{"type":41}" href="http://community.adn.com/?q=adn%2Fnode%2F158242" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title=""><img alt="" class="img" height="130" src="https://s-external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQCSYsgV6s2nx08n&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.adn.com%2Fsmedia%2F2011%2F10%2F07%2F15%2F35%2FaMix6.St.7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100001554202341" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001554202341">Ray Metcalfe</a> and Citizens for ethical Government outside the ADN Offices</div></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}"> <a href="http://www.adn.com/2011/10/07/2109630/protesting-the-anchorage-daily.html#id=2109648&view=large_view" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.adn.com/2011/10/07/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>2109630/protesting-the-anchora<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>ge-daily.html#id=2109648&view=<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>large_view</a></span></h6><div class="mvm uiStreamAttachments clearfix fbMainStreamAttachment" data-ft="{"type":10}"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix"><a class="external UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_MED_Image" data-ft="{"type":41}" href="http://www.adn.com/2011/10/07/2109630/protesting-the-anchorage-daily.html#id=2109648&view=large_view" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title=""><img alt="" class="img" src="https://s-external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQAyh8XNZ7WOPrhu&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.adn.com%2Fsmedia%2F2011%2F10%2F07%2F15%2F07%2F1gnhcG.SmTh.7.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage">Political activist Ray Metcalfe led a demonstration against the Anchorage Daily News along Bragaw Street that featured a 25-foot rat on Friday, October 7, 2011. Metcalfe and his supporters said ADN refuses to publish the truth about oil taxes.<br />
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<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}">http://www.ktva.com/home/outbo<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>und-xml-feeds/Protest-Over-Oil<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>-Taxes-Coverage-131378053.html</span></h6><div class="mvm uiStreamAttachments clearfix fbMainStreamAttachment" data-ft="{"type":10}"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix"><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_MED_Content fsm fwn fcg"><div class="uiAttachmentTitle" data-ft="{"type":11}"><b><a href="http://www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Protest-Over-Oil-Taxes-Coverage-131378053.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Protest Over Oil Taxes Coverage</a></b> </div><span class="caption"><a href="http://www.ktva.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.ktva.com</a></span><br />
<div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage">Local political activist Ray Metcalfe is leading a protest against the Anchorage Daily News. Metcalfe says ADN is sandbagging its readers and withholding information about Alaska's oil tax facts.</div><div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage"></div><div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="uiVideoThumb UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_MED_Image" data-ft="{"type":42,"video_type":"share"}" href="http://www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Protest-Over-Oil-Taxes-Coverage-131378053.html" id="u3jceb_10" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" tabindex="-1" target="_blank"></a></div><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="240" id="bimvidplayer0" width="320"> <param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"/><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"/><param value="high" name="quality"/><param value="true" name="cachebusting"/><param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"/><param name="movie" value="http://swfs.bimvid.com/bimvid_player-3_2_7.swf?x-bim-callletters=KTVA" /><param value="config=http%3A//www.ktva.com/%3Fj%3D131378053%26ref%3Dhttp%3A//www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Protest-Over-Oil-Taxes-Coverage-131378053.html" name="flashvars"/><embed src="http://swfs.bimvid.com/bimvid_player-3_2_7.swf?x-bim-callletters=KTVA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="240" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" flashvars="config=http%3A//www.ktva.com/%3Fj%3D131378053%26ref%3Dhttp%3A//www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Protest-Over-Oil-Taxes-Coverage-131378053.html" bgcolor="#000000" quality="true"> </embed> </object></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-88330770714624499172010-02-19T16:29:00.000-09:002010-02-19T16:31:40.588-09:00"Faces of ACES” in the Shadows of VecoFormer BP spokesman Paul Laird is now doing through Alaska Support industry Alliance what he can no longer get Veco to do for BP. The Anchorage Daily News is rehabilitating Paul Jenkins, the author of Veco’s Daily News Column the FBI shamed them into removing. And the same bunch of Veco backed Alliance backed legislators are lining up to collect the rewards of pretending there is one scintilla of truth in Bill Allen’s “Paul Laird’s Faces of ACES” campaign.<br /><br />Fact: Every major oil producer in Alaska has bid for the right to take over production of Iraq’s poorly maintained and under-producing oilfields in exchange for payment of less than $2 per barrel for their services. Even after a big tax increase, Alaska’s largest producers still average about $20 per barrel for providing the same service.<br /><br />BP partnered with a Chinese oil company to win the bid to re-develop Iraq’s largest oilfield, the Rumaila field. BP will effectively be working under a service agreement that pays BP and its partner $2 per barrel for oil produced in excess of the Rumaila field’s current 960,000 barrels per day. BP will be penalized if it does not hit its 2.85 million-barrel per day target within six years. On closer scrutiny, Wood Mackenzie, the same oil consulting firm Ralph Samuels hired to advise Alaska’s Legislature in 2004, reviewed the contracts and estimated even lower returns for BP and partner. Wood Mackenzie suggests an ultimate net of approximately $3 billion for 16 billion barrels of production. (Source: Business Week July 24, 2009)<br /><br />Wood Mackenzie also told Business Week BP has admitted finalizing a similar contract in Abu Dhabi which would ultimately pay BP approximately $1 per barrel to produce their oil. (Source: Business Week July 24, 2009)<br /><br />John Mingé, President of BP Exploration, no doubt at least vaguely familiar with the above, when asked about proposals to roll back Alaska’s new tax on oil, told The Anchorage Press; “it’s a good start, but it’s not enough to sustain Alaska’s oil and gas industry.”<br /><br />Exxon and Shell have signed similar contracts with Iraq. According to The Wall Street Journal, Exxon and Shell signed a joint agreement to produce Iraq’s West Qurna oilfield. Exxon and Shell’s contract requires a $25 billion investment over the next seven years to ramp production up from 279,000 barrels to 2,250,000 barrels per day and another $25 billion for operating fees. They will be reimbursed for their pre-approved expenditures over the duration of their 20 year contract, not to exceed $50 billion. Exxon and Shell will operate the field on a break even (no profit) basis until the agreed increased production schedule of 2,250,000 barrels per day is reached. At that time, Exxon and Shell will be paid $1.90 for each barrel of daily production exceeding the original 279,000 barrels in production. (Source: Wall Street Journal JANUARY 18, 2010)<br /><br />Shell won an additional contract on similar terms by partnering with Malaysia's Petronas Oil. Together they offered to redevelop Iraq's Majnoon oil field for $1.39 for each extra barrel they can extract above its current 45,000 barrels per day. (Source Wall Street Journal December 11, 2009)<br /><br />In comparison, according to the Alaska’s Royalty Accounting Department, ConocoPhillips paid severance taxes to Alaska on 99,581,335 barrels of Alaskan oil in 2008. According to ConocoPhillips’ stated net earnings on their Alaskan investments, ConocoPhillips’ profited in the amount of $2.3 billion. Dividing ConocoPhillips stated net profit by the same number of barrels reveals ConocoPhillips’ net profit averaged $23.10 per barrel from its Alaskan interests in 2008.<br /><br />By applying the same calculations to 2009, and averaging them in with 2008, we can calculate that ConocoPhillips has averaged about $19.62 per barrel in the two years following the Legislature’s increase in Alaska’s oil tax.<br /><br />BP and Exxon refuse to disclose their profits from Alaskan oil, but a reasonably accurate estimation of their profit margin can be extrapolated by applying the same North Slope per-barrel profit margin to the number of barrels on which BP and Exxon paid taxes in 2008. BP paid taxes on 79,496,721 Barrels, placing their estimated profits for 2008 over $1.8 billion. Exxon paid taxes on 53,756,656 barrels, placing their estimated 2008 profits over $1.2 billion.<br /><br />Alaska’s oil makes Alaska’s Producers about ten times the per barrel profit they’re hoping to get from Iraq. Iraq doesn’t beg them to spend for more production, they tell them to do it or get out. Alaska’s oil fields have never been nationalized as Iraq’s were when taken from BP in the 1970’s, Alaska’s oil is not in a war zone, and isn’t likely to become the subject of a civil war between religious factions fighting over who owns the oil.<br /><br />Alaska’s three big oil producers spent between two and three billion dollars in 2008 and profited over $5 billion. If Exxon and Shell reach Iraq’s required production target, they will first spend and recover at least $25 billion for infrastructure and operating costs before receiving a dime of profit. Once their required production target is reached, they will be paid $1.90 per barrel on 1,971,000 Barrels per day for a total annual payment $1.3 billion. If they don’t meet their target, they may be sent packing.<br /><br />Hardball works far better than caving to demands. Every company mentioned above was demanding Iraq pay two to three times as much for their service until Iraq said get moving or get out. Exxon holding Point Thompson as a strategic reserve to develop if their refineries ran short of crude. When Alaska moved to take Point Thompson away Exxon finally started drilling.<br /><br />Perhaps the biggest story here is in why most of Alaska’s media has never provided their Alaskan readers and viewers with coverage of any of the above referenced widely publicized stories. In light of the advertising campaign by the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, such information would seem crucial to the decision making process of Alaskans. I hereby challenge Dan Fagan and the Industry Alliance sponsors of those “Faces of ACES” ads to debate the content of this article and their ads any time, any place, any audience.<br /><br />Ray MetcalfeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-16611189768233652342009-11-21T14:55:00.000-09:002009-11-21T14:55:13.377-09:00Corruption News Central: Replay Begich's Campaign Ad Claiming To Have Eliminated Anchorage’s Deficits.<a href="http://citizens4ethics.blogspot.com/2009/11/replay-begichs-campaign-ad-claiming-to.html">Corruption News Central: Replay Begich's Campaign Ad Claiming To Have Eliminated Anchorage’s Deficits.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-10449197076974501022009-11-21T14:30:00.002-09:002009-11-21T14:37:13.329-09:00Replay Begich's Campaign Ad Claiming To Have Eliminated Anchorage’s Deficits.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqSAFU6LKh4uJadrjmS6mt3qrDOGVIixNZojfzcW3kJUe_e_gjjGczOhvhA0NJ6jZqyJSM4GifBLU4dgARVUW9hR2duTBObwUk-rX1yr1nbxB40QNXMfdaU-C9msKNXLI_YYeiA/s1600/begich1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 88px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqSAFU6LKh4uJadrjmS6mt3qrDOGVIixNZojfzcW3kJUe_e_gjjGczOhvhA0NJ6jZqyJSM4GifBLU4dgARVUW9hR2duTBObwUk-rX1yr1nbxB40QNXMfdaU-C9msKNXLI_YYeiA/s200/begich1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406704938184838242" border="0" /></a><div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-unicode"><span id="role_document" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><div><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:black;" ><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >Begich claims he warned the Anchorage Assembly of looming deficits. If he did so at the time he said he did, he did so while simultaneously running campaign ads advising voters that he personally had eliminated </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >Anchorage</span></st1:place></st1:city></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >’s deficits.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >Click below to see Begich’s quote in today's Anchorage Daily News (</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><st1:date month="11" day="19" year="2009"><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >11/19/2009</span></st1:date></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >) referencing </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >Anchorage</span></st1:place></st1:city></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >’s $30 million deficit. Begich said he “fully apprised [the Assembly] of all financial information related to the Municipality throughout my terms as mayor."</span><span style=";font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >Then click below that to see Begich’s news release saying that he did inform the Assembly.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >Farther below, click to see the campaign ads he ran at the same time, claiming that </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >Anchorage</span></st1:place></st1:city></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >’s deficits had been eliminated by his leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >Clearly, either the claims Begich made in his campaign were false, or the claims Begich is making today are false. If Begich did advise the Assembly of looming deficits as claimed, then he was clearly lying to voters in his campaign ad. (View the ad)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >If, as the Municipal Attorney claims, Begich did not advise the Assembly then, he is lying to the Assembly today. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >By necessity, one or the other of Begich’s conflicting statements has to be false.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >Anchorage</span></st1:place></st1:city></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" > Daily News:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><a href="http://www.adn.com/">http://www.adn.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >The ADN story:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><a href="http://www.adn.com/mark_begich/story/1018683.html">http://www.adn.com/mark_begich/story/1018683.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >When the Municipal Attorney said Begich had failed to advise the Assembly of looming deficits, Begich responded by saying any suggestion that he had not informed the Assembly was “absurd” and claims to have provided proof through documents. (Click below to see Begich news release)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><a href="http://media.adn.com/smedia/2009/11/18/18/Wheeler_report_react.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf">http://media.adn.com/smedia/2009/11/18/18/Wheeler_report_react.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >Two campaign ads claiming to have eliminated the deficit:<o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr397LP9EH0"><br /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr397LP9EH0"><br /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr397LP9EH0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr397LP9EH0</a><o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWIkiG7CcOE&feature=channel"><br /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWIkiG7CcOE&feature=channel"><br /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWIkiG7CcOE&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWIkiG7CcOE&feature=channel</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWIkiG7CcOE&feature=channel"><br /></a></span></p> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;color:black;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >The above has been provided to you compliments of Ray Metcalfe.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;color:black;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;" ><br /></span></div></span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-51948684449038280802009-08-04T09:40:00.001-08:002009-08-04T09:40:59.979-08:00Open Letter to All Legislators Regarding Suspicions of Bribery<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong>Open Letter to All Legislators Regarding Suspicions of Bribery:</strong></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong>From Ray Metcalfe 08/04/2009</strong></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><strong> </strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong> </strong></span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Lesil McGuire signed a contractual agreement with one of </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Alaska</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-size: 11pt;">’s largest companies who agreed to pay her $10,500 for assisting them in securing seven million dollars in appropriations. You will find a copy of the contract attached.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The $10,500 was paid and the appropriations were made. Bribery by definition is when someone outside of government pays a legislator to assist them with an appropriation or other legislation. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Two years ago, I hand delivered copies of McGuire’s contract and her invoices for “services” to the office of </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Alaska</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-size: 11pt;">’s Attorney General and Senator Lyda Green. I also provided same to APOC in the form of a complaint. APOC chose only to pass the information to the Senate Subcommittee of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, who chose to do nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In their dismissal, Legislative Ethics referenced a two year statute of limitation for ethics complaints. They made no mention of the fact that the statute of limitation begins to run at the conclusion of the final related act. The final related appropriation, in the series of appropriations that McGuire contracted to help secure, passed the Legislature in May of 2006, one year and nine months before the commission received APOC’s referral. Well within the two years. Senate Ethics also made no reference of any referral of the matter to the office of the Attorney General nor did they mention that the statute of limitation for bribery is five years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">There are now, from the date of this letter, two years left for a grand jury to indict.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As evidenced by eleven Federal convictions, </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Alaska</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> is an extremely corrupt state. However, State Prosecutors have yet to find a single cause for an indictment. Just as with Ben Stevens and Veco, State Prosecutors have demonstrated that they have no intention of investigating the evidence of McGuire’s bribery which I hand delivered to their desks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In 1982, Bethel Senator George Hohman was expelled from the Senate and sent to prison for simply suggesting that the backers of a project were likely contributors. Today, no one other than you has more responsibility to ask why such far more egregious acts are tolerated by our Legislators and ignored by our Prosecutors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Ray Metcalfe</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">907-344-4514</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><st1:date month="8" day="4" year="2009"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">08/04/2009</span></span></st1:date></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Please find a PDF at <a href="http://www.citizens4ethics.com/pdf/Evidence-File-15-meg.pdf">http://www.citizens4ethics.com/pdf/Evidence-File-15-meg.pdf</a> that includes:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">McGuire’s Contract, (See Exhibit A page 9 of the PDF, and the contract to which Exhibit A was an attachment, pages 10-16)<o:p></o:p></span></span> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">APOC’s dismissal, (See pages 33-34)<o:p></o:p></span></span> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Copy of three appropriations totaling $7,000,000 as referenced in McGuire’s letter, and (See pages 1-8)<o:p></o:p></span></span> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">See the Senate Ethics dismissal. (See pages 33-34)</span></span></li></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-58176291459985676702009-05-30T19:59:00.000-08:002009-05-30T20:03:30.169-08:00To those who care about ending corruption in Alaska<span><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="color: black;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;">The application to the Director of the <u1:state><u1:place>Alaska</u1:place></u1:state> Division of Elections requesting </span><span style="color: black;">certification of an initiative to outlaw one’s personal use of one’s public office to enrich one’s self has been approved by the Division of Elections and the Lieutenant Governor.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;">The proposal reads:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: black;">"Anyone found using their public office to enrich themselves, their relatives, close friends, business associates; past, present, or anticipated employers or contributors, is guilty of a class A felony. Anyone found securing enrichment by inducing public officials to violate this statute is guilty of bribery, a class A felony.”<o:p></o:p></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Believe it or not, what you just read is totally legal. It is only on rare occasions in which an agreement for a kickback can found that such actions are prosecuted. Even if the kickback is obvious, it is generally not prosecutable unless the prosecutor has possession of proof that the perpetrators agreed that the kickback was only to be delivered if the appropriations were made.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Unfortunately, such agreements are usually limited to nebulous winks and nods that have no admissibility in a court room. </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="color: black;">Alaska</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="color: black;"> has seen eleven political corruption convictions over the past two years. One thing I have learned from my involvement in the investigations of those convicted is that for every kickback that could be proved there were ten crooks that successfully covered their tracks.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;">This would change that by making the delivery of appropriations to family and contributors a serious crime regardless of whether a kickback is demonstrated. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We now need to organize volunteers and raise about $50,000 to gather signatures if this proposition is to become law. <a href="http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/petition-and-explination.doc">Download</a> a detailed explanation of the proposal and why it works.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ray Metcalfe</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">907-344-4514</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/petition-and-explination.doc"><br /></a></p><a href="http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/petition-and-explination.doc">http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/petition-and-explination.doc</a></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-86373880774204628592009-05-04T11:30:00.002-08:002009-05-04T11:34:00.131-08:00He's a real mudder that one!<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message">Mark Allen, owner of Mine that Bird, is the son of Bill Allen who used to run VECO Oilfield Services. The Anchorage Daily News reported that the $400,000 purchase price of the colt came from the sale of the now-defunct oil-field services business.</h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message">Bill Allen plea dealt his way into taking all the punishment, much of which should have landed on his Son's head as co-conspirator.</h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message">See kid's, The Oilmen bribed the Senator, the Senator walked away clean and the Oilmen won millions, crime does pay!</h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message"><br /></h3>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-11363019941993262152009-04-01T16:59:00.003-08:002009-04-01T17:09:07.410-08:00Ted Stevens' Charges Dropped<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3CaOwjvyIpUzF6yVVpPPnAQ8p4M3vVrZtwYZzKepx4B0rGykLBfagOFFX61aBrFYDjhf5E8MimSgGbDqgkTUJuwp-B2wLPO0NeaIkz02LARgxUbp4Nz0Df0aBHJOrW43Wlnoxw/s1600-h/ted_stevens_200x250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3CaOwjvyIpUzF6yVVpPPnAQ8p4M3vVrZtwYZzKepx4B0rGykLBfagOFFX61aBrFYDjhf5E8MimSgGbDqgkTUJuwp-B2wLPO0NeaIkz02LARgxUbp4Nz0Df0aBHJOrW43Wlnoxw/s320/ted_stevens_200x250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319894460023167074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">No, it's unfortunately not an April Fool's Joke.</span></span><br /> <p class="storybyline"><a href="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/134529/ted_stevens%27_charges_dropped:_a_tale_of_two_justice_systems/"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Ted Stevens' Charges Dropped: A Tale of Two Justice Systems</span><span style="font-size:78%;"><b><br /></b>Posted by Joshua Holland, <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >AlterNet</span> at 10:31 AM on April 1, 2009.</span></a></p><div style="padding-bottom: 4px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-04-01-stevens-charges-dropped_N.htm?csp=34"><span class="inside-head2">Corruption charges dropped against Stevens</span></a></span></div><!--endclickprintexclude--><script type="text/javascript"> var storyURL = "http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-04-01-stevens-charges-dropped_N.htm"; 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sclListTop +='<li id="sprite5"><span class="spriteImage sprite5"> </span><span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+storyURL+'&title='+storyTitle+'" onclick="window.open(\'\',\'facebook\',\'width=642,height=436,left=0,top=0,resizable,scrollbars=yes\');uoTrack(\'facebook\')" target="facebook">Facebook</a></span></li>'; sclListTop +='<li class="socialFoot"><a href="#open-share-help" onclick="document.getElementById(\'sclBtnInfo\').style.visibility=\'visible\';document.getElementById(\'Adv6\').style.display=\'none\';usatAj.ahah(\'sclBtnInfo\', null, \'http://www.usatoday.com/marketing/socialhelp-v1.htm\', null);" title="What\'s this">What\'s this?</a></li>'; sclListTop +='</ul>'; sclListTop +='</ul>'; sclListTop +='<div id="sclBtnInfo"></div>'; sclListTop +='</div>'; document.write(sclListTop);</script><script src="http://d.yimg.com/ds/badge.js"></script> <!--endclickprintexclude--><!-- /EdSysObj --> <div class="byLine" id="byLineTag"><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-04-01-stevens-charges-dropped_N.htm?csp=34"><span style="font-size:78%;">By <span class="linkedBylineName">Kevin Johnson</span> and <span class="linkedBylineName">Matt Kelley</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >USA TODAY</span></span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" done="done" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5302O820090401" class="l" onmousedown="return clk(this.href,'','','res','5','')">U.S. drops corruption case against ex-Sen. <em>Stevens</em> </a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />Apr 1, 2009 <b>...</b> court to set aside the jury verdict and throw out the <em>charges</em>.</span><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-50465246483832665342009-03-15T07:28:00.002-08:002009-03-15T07:35:06.727-08:00Outlawing Self-Enrichment Through Public Office<span style="font-weight: bold;">How Outlawing Self-Enrichment Through Public Office</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can Eliminate Most of Alaska’s Corruption</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">By Ray Metcalfe 03/15/20009</span><br /><br />Some reviewers of my proposal have raised the issue of vagueness. They are correct in that the first reaction from most attorneys is that my proposal to make self-enrichment through public office a felony is too vague to pass courtroom scrutiny. However, I disagree and I am prepared to argue the question in court if necessary.<br /><br />There is a method to the strategy behind the precise wording of this initiative. I played with the wording for several days to compact as much wallop into fifty words as possible. State statute limits the printed description of propositions placed before the voters on the official voter’s ballot to not more than fifty words. By limiting this proposition to fifty words, we will be in position to ask the Court to tell the Division of Elections to place the proposition on the ballot verbatim if the Division of Elections, at the direction of the Lieutenant Governor, tries to describe the proposed initiative as anything other than what it is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The petition would create a statute reading as follows:</span><br /><br />*<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> "Anyone found using their public office to enrich themselves, their relatives, close friends, business associates; past, present, or anticipated employers or contributors, is guilty of a class A felony. Anyone found securing enrichment by inducing public officials to violate this statute is guilty of bribery, a class A felony.”</span><br /><br />Believe it or not, what you just read is not illegal. The difficulty in prosecuting politicians like John Cowdery, who got six month home detention for offering a $25,000 bribe, is that much of what you would think is illegal is not. Politicians have exempted themselves from punishment through loopholes. Prosecutors find themselves relying on statutes made intentionally flimsy by the politicians they prosecute. Placing the above proposition on the ballot will bring an abrupt halt to the overwhelming majority of the corrupt practices that plague Alaska’s political system. A class A felony is punishable by up to 20 years in jail.<br /><br />Under no stretch of the imagination is anyone going to mount a campaign that would successfully persuade a majority of voters to vote against something that effectively says: "If you use your public office to enrich your self, you go to jail." It will need no advertising to gain voter approval and no amount of advertising in opposition can stop it.<br /><br />The Legislature will have the option of passing a substantially similar statute with more words to clarify what the statute means. In the absence of an agreement as to what constitutes “substantially similar” the proposal would remain on the ballot for the voters to decide.<br /><br />The Legislature would have to negotiate the language with me and gain my concurrence or face the high probability that I would sue them and the probability that the Alaska Supreme Court would rule that their replacement statute was not "substantially similar." In such an event, the Court would order the proposition back on the ballot.<br /><br />It will only require $100 and 100 signatures to see if the Lieutenant Governor is going to defend or oppose the proposal. If the Lieutenant Governor defends the proposal, it is smooth sailing. The state will then print and deliver the signature gathering petition booklets and defend against any other challenges.<br /><br />If the Lieutenant Governor rules that it is too vague to meet constitutional muster and therefore refuses to print the signature gathering petitions, I will sue and show the Court that several Federal Circuit Courts have already upheld "Honest Services," a federal statute that is far less precise than my proposal, and the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review their rulings on grounds of vagueness.<br /><br />About twenty years ago, Congress passed a federal statute for fighting corruption that is far more vague than my proposal. Known as the “Honest Services Act.” The statute for all practical purposes says public figures are obligated to deliver “honest services” to the public. It has been upheld by the Ninth Circuit and several other jurisdictions. In comparison to the “Honest Services” statute, my proposal is as clear as a bell. That is the reason I believe we can win in court on the issue of vagueness.<br /><br />You will find three files attached to this email that can bring you up to speed on honest services, plus a fourth file, the actual petition.<br /><br />Lobbyist Bill Bobrick and Governor Murkowski's chief of staff, Jim Clark, were both charged and convicted of violating the Honest Services statute. When Congress wrote the law Bobrick and Clark broke, Congress deliberately left it up to the Courts to define the fine points of what is meant by "Honest Services."<br /><br />Justice Antonin Scalia disagreed with the majority opinion in refusing to consider the vagueness of Honest Services. However his dissent made it clear that the decision was a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to allow Congress to pass vague laws, deliberately leaving it up to the Courts to clarify the fine points of the intent of the statute.<br /><br />Alaska is a comparative petri dish for initiative experiments. It costs millions in other states to do what can be done for $100,000 here. I believe that if we get this rolling here we will be able to get help from concerned deep-pockets around the nation with an interest in seeing if this can work. I believe that if we succeed, we will be able to export our idea to concerned citizens in every state that has an initiative process available to its voters.<br /><br />There are 24 states with some form of initiative process. If a significant number follow our lead, it is probable that Congress will eventually do the same. If it works, it will close the book on a history of buying favors that has plagued this country for 200 years.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Excuses & Answers</span><br /><br />What’s wrong with the concept that the only reason a person should contribute is because they actually believe that the person they are contributing to will deliver good honest open government? If this became law, those who sought to pass “Clean Elections” would achieve their goal. Those who have in the past given money with self enriching strings attached would face jail time if they continue the practice.<br /><br />With their primary source of funding gone “Clean Elections” would suddenly look far more palatable to those in the Legislature. Those who continue to contribute and do so expecting nothing of personal monetary value in return will be few and far between.<br /><br />One person asked; <span style="font-style: italic;">“what would happen if I were to give $25, then testify on environmental issues?”</span><br />Answer: Such scenarios would not adversely impact anyone if my proposed statute becomes law. Not unless the contributor also asked the politician to whom they had contributed to also give them something that contributed to their personal wealth and the politician delivered.<br /><br />Another asked; <span style="font-style: italic;">“what about legislators voting on their own pay?”</span><br />Answer: What’s wrong with the concept that legislators should raise pay only for future legislatures but not their own, requiring existing legislators to set out a term before taking advantage of the new pay scale?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"What about a legislator who is a Realtor, voting on real estate issues or an oil company employ voting on oil issues?"</span><br /> Answer: If it doesn’t clearly act to enrich yourself or your employer, don’t worry. If it does, don’t vote and don’t participate in the debate.<br /><br />People paying for favors has been so ingrained into our system that, even the good guys tend at first glance, think of it as a right and wonder how the wheels of government could turn without it.<br /><br />Paying for favors is a crime. It has just gotten really hard to prove, thanks to a little confusion that's been engineered into our statutes by the politicians it is meant to restrain.<br /><br />The first corporations in America were for the construction of canals for barges. At the time corporations could only be created for public purposes, much as we view public utilities today. Look at what we have forgotten and where we have come as a result. Corporations have become vehicles to shield people from responsibility from their acts (Think Exxon Valdez). They send people to Washington to ask for money that they distribute to those rich enough to have bought their stock. Think AIG, bank bailouts and golden parachutes made possible by your tax dollars.<br /><br />This petition doesn’t outlaw pleading poverty and asking for relief, it doesn’t outlaw lobbying, it just outlaws delivering contributions and then lobbying for governments delivery of cash, contracts, monopolies, or government assets or resources in return. Inventers of a better mouse trap would no longer be required to out-contribute entrenched owners of obsolete mouse traps to get Congress to consider their product. Corporations would be better advised to instruct their executives not to be donating to congressmen they expect to lobby and congressmen who had received donations would likely refer their contributors to other congressmen, when approached for favors. Corporate contributions to politicians would likely become a thing of the past. Huge speaking fees and book deals for seated members of Congress would also fall by the wayside, as would fat lobbying contracts and consulting fees for their spouses.<br /><br />Standard practice today is for Alaska’s legislators to announce their conflict of interest and then vote anyway. What’s wrong with the concept that when the Legislature is voting on something that has a direct impact on your employer, family or business, you should announce your conflict and refrain from voting. When in doubt, don’t vote.<br /><br />If you want to help clean up this states corruption problem, print out the attached petition, get a few signatures, scan them and email them to RayinAK@aol.com, or drop them in the snail mail.<br /><br /><a href="http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/Felon-Enrichment-Petition.doc"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felon-Enrichment-Petition.doc</span></a><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/Honest-Services-Definition.doc">Honest-Services-Definition.doc</a><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/Honest-Services-Supreme-Court.doc">Honest-Services-Supreme-Court.doc</a><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/Honest-services-cases.doc">Honest-services-cases.doc</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ray Metcalfe</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chairman of Citizens for Ethical Government</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">P.O. Box 233809, Anchorage Alaska, 99523</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">907-344-4514 –– RayinAK@aol.com</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-9765101513751501362009-03-12T08:23:00.000-08:002009-03-12T08:24:10.886-08:00Unhappy with Cowdery's light sentence? Sign our petition for change.The difficulty in prosecuting politicians is what you would think is illegal is not. Prosecutors rely on statutes made flimsy by the politicians they prosecute. To remedy this, Ray Metcalfe is collecting signatures to put the following proposition on the ballot.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*“Anyone found using their public office to enrich themselves, their relatives, close friends, business associates; past, present, or anticipated employers or contributors, is guilty of a class A felony. Anyone found securing enrichment by inducing public officials to violate this statute is guilty of bribery, a class A felony.”</span><br /><br />If you’re willing, He needs 100 sponsors to submit his proposal to the Lieutenant Governor’s office. <span style="font-weight: bold;">He will be at Café del Mundo 341 East Benson Blvd at noon Monday the 16th.</span><br /><br />Alternatively, print out one or more copies of the petition you can download here: <a href="http://www.citizens4ethics.com/docs/FelonyEnrichmentPetition.doc" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span>http://www.citizens4ethics</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>.com/docs/FelonyEnrichment</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span>Petition.doc</a><br />mail them to: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ray Metcalfe, PO Box 233809, Anchorage Alaska, 99523</span>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-65010921574125810432009-03-12T07:29:00.003-08:002009-03-12T07:33:52.559-08:00Beverly Masek to plead guilty to bribery<h2>Masek will be the 11th conviction for the FBI in their ongoing investigation of Alaska's corrupt politicians (All Republicans so far)</h2> <p>Yet another dirty Alaska Republican will plead guilty Thursday to bribery.</p> <img src="http://alaskareport.com/images39/beverly_masek.jpg" alt="Beverly Masek" align="right" border="0" height="200" hspace="7" vspace="7" width="143" /> <p>Beverly Masek, a former state Representative from Willow, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to receive a bribe.</p><p> Masek, accepted at least $4,000 from corrupt former VECO CEO Bill Allen in 2003, according to documents filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage.</p><p>Read bev's Plea here:<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://alaskareport.com/pdf/masek_plea.pdf">http://alaskareport.com/pdf/masek_plea.pdf</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Read this full article here:<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://alaskareport.com/news39/x71129_beverly_masek.htm"><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">http://alaskareport.com/news39/x71129_beverly_masek.htm</span></a></span></span></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Additional articles:</span></span></p><div class="story cid-1314179222 l-en headline-story thumbnail-false"> <h2 class="title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a target="_self" class="usg-AFQjCNHmKJKHjPbf32GYWPKbD0LA1jqCVg" href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/946002.html">Ex-Alaska state Rep. Masek to plead guilty</a></span> </h2> <div class="sub-title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="source">MiamiHerald.com</span> - <span class="date">1 hour ago</span></span></div> <div class="body"><div class="snippet"><span style="font-size:85%;">By Richard Mauer Former state Rep. Beverly Masek has agreed to plead guilty Thursday to conspiring to receive a bribe, according to documents filed <b>...</b></span></div> <div class="sources"><span class="source-link"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="story cid-1314179222 l-en headline-story thumbnail-false"> <h2 class="title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a target="_self" class="usg-AFQjCNHWbtPnGis8Hak8QQvsfaRx3yaQCg" href="http://www.ktva.com/ci_11889325">Former Lawmaker To Plead Guilty</a></span> </h2> <div class="sub-title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="source">KTVA CBS 11 News Alaska</span> - <span class="date">14 hours ago</span></span></div> <div class="body"><div class="snippet"><span style="font-size:85%;">By Todd Walker, CBS 11 News The corruption scandals that have rocked Alaska's political system just expanded by one more person. Thursday, former Willow Rep <b>...</b></span></div> <div class="sources"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="source-link"></span></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="story cid-1314179222 l-en headline-story thumbnail-false"> <h2 class="title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a target="_self" class="usg-AFQjCNE7nrg9k_edlT8jRDHweP5TKVQPYg" href="http://newsminer.com/news/2009/mar/11/former-alaska-lawmaker-masek-plead-guilty-conspira/">Former Alaska lawmaker Masek to plead guilty to conspiracy in <b>...</b></a></span> </h2> <div class="sub-title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="source">Fairbanks Daily News-Miner</span> - <span class="date">15 hours ago</span></span></div> <div class="body"><div class="snippet"><span style="font-size:85%;">AP ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Another former Alaska lawmaker will plead guilty to a corruption charge tied to oil industry legislation. Former state Rep. <b>...</b></span></div> <div class="sources"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="source-link"></span></span> </div></div> </div> <h2 class="title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a target="_self" class="usg-AFQjCNGcKFT-nsC1ooWrfw99xnB4gBrV5A" href="http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=9990612">Corruption probe nets another former state representative</a></span> </h2> <div class="sub-title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="source">KTUU</span> - <span class="date">15 hours ago</span></span></div> <div class="snippet"><span style="font-size:85%;">by Rebecca Palsha ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Another former lawmaker is taking a plea deal after being accused of taking cash from VECO Corp. executives in <b>...</b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-83858932673488982442008-10-28T19:54:00.002-08:002008-10-28T20:14:56.119-08:00The company we keepThose that seek to serve in the public's interest should be held to certain standards. Their personnel lives should be looked at in some detail to gauge their honesty, lawfulness, integrity and other core values. His choice of Church, business relations, personnel friends and family should be looked at to gain an overall picture of him or her.<br />If it is found that they are questionable in any of these areas they should be investigated. If they are found to be drug users, sexual deviants, deadbeats, scofflaws, liars or equally abhorrent sorts they shouldn't hold public office. If they are found to associate with known criminal elements in business, public or private they should not be allowed to hold public office.<br />Of course in Alaska we would have to entirely clean house and start over, because so many of our elected or appointed officials have become convicted felons that their co workers, friends and families have been forced to associate with undesirable elements of society.<br /><br />Mark Begich was the best man at Bill Bobrick’s wedding in 1998, Bill Bobrick admitted in federal court that he conspired to bribe former state Rep. Tom Anderson.<br />We tend to make friends of those that share our basic values.<br /><br />Bill Fikes, Wasilla, AKUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-5963852601789908002008-07-31T21:15:00.001-08:002008-07-31T21:18:35.766-08:00Open Letter to the Anchorage AssemblyIs it your desire to live in a corrupt state? A state where the measure of your success is judged by how much you can steal rather than how much you can contribute? If so, all you have to do is stay the course because the FBI cannot clean up Alaska or its largest city, if Alaska’s community leaders dig in their heels to resist the cleanup.<br /><br />I spent several years forcing every member of the Alaska Legislature to look at the corruption in their midst. Most said they couldn’t see what I was talking about. Some said, “not my job” while others said, “There is nothing I can do.” Not one single Legislator was willing to stand against corruption.<br /><br />When our forefathers created three branches of government it was their expectation that when one of the three branches stepped out of line, the other two branches would take use their collective powers to restore the wayward branch’s compliance with a system of laws. It is a duty of the office you hold to take action.<br /><br />Had our state’s system of checks and balances functioned properly, had Murkowski’s Attorney General not attempted to obstruct justice, the FBI wouldn’t be in the middle of our state’s business, cleaning up the mess made possible by elected officials saying “not my job.” When the executive branch of government fails to clean its own house, there is no person with a greater obligation to confront corruption in the executive branch of government than you.<br /><br />When rational people appear to make irrational decisions, it's usually because they have a hidden incentive you didn't know about. For twenty five years, a majority of both houses of Alaska’s Legislature appeared to make an irrational decision to let oil companies take Alaska's oil for a tiny fraction of what it was really worth. However, their decision wasn’t irrational at all. A majority of Alaska’s Legislature justified that the gratuities they took from Veco were worth the tens of billions of dollars the state lost because they did.<br /><br />Now at seven convictions and counting, the cost of twenty five years of corruption is obvious. Alaska went from massive deficits to massive surpluses on the heels of Veco’s exposure. Those who attribute the surpluses to rising oil prices would be wrong as millions of barrels were leaving Alaska un-taxed. Zero tax equals zero income to Alaska regardless of the price of oil.<br /><br />About nine months ago, Mayor Begich gave away the city’s economic interest in a Municipal parking garage through a cleverly written lease. A gift worth about ten million dollars to the developers of a 22 story building next door. In the absence of intervention, Jerry Neeser and Mark Pfeffer will be in position to tell prospective tenants of their 22 story building that they control the parking, facing those prospective tenants with the prospect of riding bicycles to work or renting from the only landlords with parking.<br /><br />Ponder for a moment the reaction from Penny’s shoppers had the Mayor given all the parking within three blocks of the downtown mall to Nordstroms. Would other store owners sue the city? Of course they would.<br /><br />The days that a mayor can give away a parking garage with confidence jail time won’t follow are gone and it is time for you to decide which side your on. If you want a government run by white collar crime all you have to do is pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.<br /><br />Four years ago I wrote an article published in most Alaska newspapers suggesting that Veco was paying bribes to large numbers of legislators and that their bribery was costing this state tens of billions of dollars. The name calling from the rich and powerful throughout the state started before the ink was dry on the newsprint. Since that day you have seen five confessions and three convictions by jury, all from within the ranks of those who said I was dead wrong.<br /><br />Three years ago I accused Ben Stevens of taking bribes from Veco. His protests were quite similar to Mark Begich’s protests today. Had I not done so, neither Mark nor I would be running for the US Senate because Ben would have already filled his daddy’s shoes in Washington.<br /><br />Two years ago I wrote an article detailing how Ted Stevens was laundering federal money into the pockets of his boy and his boy’s business partner Trevor McCabe, by funneling the money through a handful of Seattle based fish processing companies, who were funneling money back to Trevor McCabe and Ben Stevens through consulting fees. Six months later the offices of the processors were raided by the FBI and Trevor McCabe is now cooperating with the FBI’s ongoing investigation with hopes of shortening his jail time. ----(Anchorage Daily News, Feb. 10, 2008, McCabe 's attorney, Michael White of Seattle, said, " Trevor has been instructed by his lawyer to continue to cooperate with investigators and make no public comments.")<br /><br />Over the past year, I have written extensively about John Rubini and the several real estate investments he has made with Mark Begich and Ted Stevens. Through the hand in hand cooperation of Rubini’s carefully selected business partners, Rubini has secured hundreds of millions of dollars worth of real estate that once belonged to the federal government and tens of millions in tax breaks through the passage of special legislation Ben Stevens pushed through the Legislature and a companion ordinance pushed through by Mark Begich.<br /><br />Begich said the tax breaks were for the troops living in the base housing Ted Stevens had earmarked into the hands of Jon Rubini and Ted Stevens’ brother-in-law for free. However, the only thing Mark’s Tax breaks achieved, was an increase to the bottom line for his business partner Jon Rubini and the brother-in-law of Ted Steven’s, while they raised the rents on the troops.<br /><br />The other excuse Begich used was that he wasn’t sure if the Municipality could tax Rubini’s privately owned military housing setting on ground Rubini leases from the federal government for one dollar per year. Before you buy into that argument, read the clip below on taxation, directly from Alaska’s constitution:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Article 9</span> - Finance and Taxation § 5. Interests in Government Property: Private leaseholds, contracts, or interests in land or property owned or held by the United States, the State, or its political subdivisions, shall be taxable to the extent of the interests.<br /><br />Rubini’s rewards were well worth the $52,000 Rubini dressed up as real estate deals to pay Mark Begich. He gave Begich a small interest in two high-rise office buildings so he could buy him out when he needed a favor, much like he did with Ted Stevens when he bought Ted out of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation building for $1,050,000. (All public record).<br /><br />I highly doubt that there is anyone left on the Assembly who isn’t aware that the National Archives purchased Jon Rubini’s eight acres between your chambers and Lowe’s Hardware, believing it was zoned B-3. They paid him $3,525,000 for property he had picked up one year earlier for $1,550,000. They based their purchase price on the belief that the property was zoned B-3 and had been appraised at $4,495,000. The property was R-3 not B-3 and it was not appraised anywhere near $4,495,000.<br /><br />When was the last time you saw a real estate professional, a mayor, or private investor get caught perpetrating or assisting in the sale of property to the federal government under fraudulent pretenses and not go to jail? – Are you willing to risk the possible consequences of helping Mark sweep this one under the rug?<br />(For any assembly member who will take the time to look, I will be happy to review documentation that demonstrates decision makers at the National Archives had been advised that the property they purchased was zoned B-3. They were advised of that before they started looking, and during their comparative evaluations, and after the purchase was complete.)<br /><br />I recently asked assembly chair Matt Claman to review the agreement to eliminate Jon Rubini’s taxes. Claman couldn’t have ran any faster from the subject. That’s exactly what I meant by community leaders digging in their heels to resist the cleanup. When honest people compromise their principles in favor of victory or unity, they have also lost sight of their reason for having cared in the first place.<br /><br />Turning back to Municipal gifts of parking garages, I am going to sue the Municipality for the illegal appropriation of public assets into the hands of a private person, If the assembly fails to intervene in Mark Begich’s gifts of the Sixth and Seventh Avenue parking garages to Mark Pfeffer and Jerry Neeser.<br /><br />The appropriation lacks public purpose, was not voted on by the body with the authority to appropriate, and even if the assembly had done so, the assembly would have violated Alaska’s constitutional prohibition barring grants and special privileges of special appropriations to individuals without a public purpose. See clips from Alaska’s constitution below. For details on the gift of the parking garage, go to:<br /><a href="http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/Gift%20of%20Parking%20Garage%20Explained.doc">http://citizens4ethics.com/docs/Gift of Parking Garage Explained.doc</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Article 1</span> - Declaration of Rights § 15. Prohibited State Action:<br />No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. No law impairing the obligation of contracts, and no law making any irrevocable “grant of special privileges” or immunities shall be passed. No conviction shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Article 9</span> - Finance and Taxation § 6. Public Purpose:<br />No tax shall be levied, or appropriation of public money made, or “public property transferred,” nor shall the public credit be used, except for a public purpose.<br /><br />Before Begich gave Mark Pfeffer and Jerry Neeser a parking garage, he required the parking authority to lease 67 parking spaces from them at $432 per space, ($29,000 per month) while arranging to rent parking spaces to Mark Pfeffer and Jerry Neeser on the other side of the street at $75 per space.<br /><br />Before that Mark Begich attempted to persuade the Municipal Assembly to purchase City Hall from Jerry Neeser for about ten million dollars more than it was really worth.<br /><br />After Jerry Neeser, Mark Pfeffer, and John Rubini landed the contract to build the new convention center, Mark Begich fattened their bottom line by waving dozens of inspection and code compliance requirements that any other developers in town would have been forced to comply with. Begich also gave Jerry Neeser free access to fifteen acres in the heart of downtown to store equipment and construction materials. I highly doubt that Mark Begich would have arranged wavers or free storage for any other developers.<br /><br />If Mark Begich’s appetite for doing favors for Jerry Neeser, Mark Pfeffer, and John Rubini doesn’t raise every red flag for corruption in your body, there is something dreadfully wrong with your moral compass. <br /><br />As you may recall, in the case of Ben Stevens, I first tried to recall him for doing Legislative favors for Veco. The Division of Elections, APOC, several Legislators, the Attorney General, and Alaska’s Superior Court, all said he had broken no laws and no crime had been committed. Now even former Governor Murkowski’s chief of staff has pleaded guilty to participating with Veco’s criminal activities and it’s a good bet he won’t be the last.<br /><br />It would be disingenuous to pretend you don’t sense corruption. And I can only think of one reason why you would say you didn’t. The buck stops with you. Should you fail to act, I will take the city to court and be as relentless at uncovering who is doing what for whom and why as I was with Ben Stevens and Veco.<br /><br /><br />Ray MetcalfeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-20913278446719695542008-07-29T10:34:00.002-08:002008-07-30T01:56:22.078-08:00Sen. Ted Stevens Indicted, Charged With Making False Statements in Corruption Probe<p><img src="http://www.foxnews.com/images/foxnews_story.gif" alt="FC1" /> Tuesday , July 29, 2008</p><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong></strong></span> <p>WASHINGTON — </p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.foxnews.com/images/407381/3_21_Stevens_Ted01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.foxnews.com/images/407381/3_21_Stevens_Ted01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens allegedly made false statements to cover up gifts given to him by an oil contractor seeking his help on Capitol Hill, according to a seven-count federal indictment unveiled Tuesday. <p>Stevens, 84, is the longest-serving Republican in the Senate and has been under investigation for more than a year, with a heavy focus on work done to his Girdwood, Alaska, ski-community home.</p> <p>"We are at the very beginning of the criminal process," said Matthew <span style="font-size:85%;">Friedrich, acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department Criminal Division. "Like any other criminal defendant, Senator Stevens is presumed innocent."</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Talking to reporters, Friedrich said that while the charges alleged making false statements, Stevens is not charged with bribery.</span></p> <p>The indictment alleges that Stevens made false representations in his Senate financial disclosure forms and to federal investigators in an effort to cover up his receiving significant construction services.</p> <p>Those services came from Bill Allen and the company he founded, VECO Corp, an influential Alaska oil services firm that has been the focus of federal investigators in an ongoing public corruption probe spanning since 2004. The probe has ensnared more than a half dozen public officials, lobbyists and business leaders.</p> <p>In 2000, Allen oversaw construction on Stevens' house, although Stevens has claimed he paid for all the construction.</p> <p>In the indictment, officials said VECO built Stevens, among other things, a new first floor to the house, a new garage, a new first- and second-floor wraparound deck, and new plumbing and wiring. VECO also provided him with expensive new vehicles in exchange for his used cars, furniture, household goods, a new tool chest stocked with tools, a brand new gas grill, and other items.</p> <p>Investigators estimate the value of the material provided to Stevens to be $250,000.</p> <p>Officials also allege he falsified his disclosure statements between 1999 and 2006, and possibly longer, to cover up his gains.</p> <p>Prosecutors also said Stevens "took multiple steps to continue" receiving things from VECO and Allen. At the time of the construction, the indictment says, Allen and other VECO employees were soliciting Stevens for "multiple official actions .... knowing that Stevens could and did use his official position and his office on behalf of VECO during that same time period."</p> <p>VECO's requests included funding and other aid for the oil services company's projects and partnerships in Pakistan and Russia. It also included federal grants from several agencies — as well as help in building a national gas pipeline in Alaska's North Slope Region, according to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Washington.</p> <p>Nearly one year ago to the day, federal investigators raided Stevens' Alaska home. Investigators also secretly taped conversations between Allen and Stevens.</p> <p><em>FOX News' Ian McCaleb and The Associated Press contributed to this report.</em></p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,393562,00.html">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,393562,00.html</a></span><br /><br><br /><object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sclznkMhozM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sclznkMhozM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-74930520957212069722008-07-22T02:22:00.001-08:002008-07-22T02:24:20.137-08:00Gift of Parking Garage ExplainedOn the September 9, 2007 editorial page of the Anchorage Daily News, a staff reporter wrote “When the Begich administration leased a downtown parking site from influential developer Mark Pfeffer, the city overpaid -- by a lot.”<br /><br />The Daily News concluded its editorial saying:<br />“Without subpoena power or wiretap authority, it's impossible to know if the mayor's defense is just a smokescreen. But whether it was favoritism or just an honestly overpriced contract, it turned out to be an embarrassingly bad deal for a mayor who prides himself on his business acumen.”<br /><br />The editorial was in response to an appraisal I (Ray Metcalfe) wrote on the value of a 67 space parking lot located on the corner of 6th and G in downtown Anchorage. I had reviewed the lease executed between Augustine Development LLC (Owned by Jerry Neeser and Mark Pfeffer, partners with John Rubini in the construction of the new Convention Center two blocks away) and The Community Development Authority, formerly known as the Anchorage Parking Authority, who agreed to lease Mark Pfeffer’s property described as:<br /><br />Lots 9B and lot 12 of block 53 of the Original Townsite of Anchorage, according to the official plat: Plat number 81-124 of the Anchorage Recording District, and I have made the following observations, value estimations and conclusions.<br />The Community Development Authority is a quasi-privately operated subsidiary of the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA). Possession of the leased property has been delivered over to the Anchorage Parking Authority — ostensibly for the purpose of operating a 67-space public parking lot.<br />The closest comparable property is a seventeen space parking area in the same block, adjacent, and immediately west of the subject property. It shares a property line with the subject property; and there are no obstructions to prevent drivers from driving between the two adjacent parking areas.<br />Augustine Development, LLC owns both the subject property and the 17 space comparable property next door, which is within the same ½ block as the subject property and was part of the property he acquired with the purchase of the Inlet Inn.<br />At the time Augustine Development, LLC, owned by Mark Pfeffer, purchased the Inlet Inn, February 2nd, 2007. At the time, Diamond Parking, a privately owned parking lot operator, was leasing the 17-spaces of paved parking area on the 6th Avenue side of the Inlet Inn, (approximately 5,700 square foot and part of the Inlet Inn’s property) paying approximately $47 per parking space per month, to the owners of the Inlet Inn. Diamond Parking then retailed the spaces, which it acquired at wholesale prices, to the general public, retailing it for a profit, averaging around $150 per month in gross retail revenues per space.<br /><br />The Anchorage Parking Authority, owned by the Municipality of Anchorage, now also known as the Community Development Authority, initially leased the 67-space (24,511 square foot of property adjacent to the above referenced 17 spaces,) from Mark Pfeffer’s Augustine Development, paying Mark $29,000 per month, or $432 per space. <br />The City of Anchorage agreed to pay Mark Pfeffer’s Augustine Development over nine times as much as an adjacent private lessor agreed to pay to a private lessee in an arm’s length fair market transaction. There is no question that Mr. Pfeffer was aware of the wholesale and retail values attributable to the adjacent property because Pfeffer had purchased the Inlet Inn’s interest in the lease agreement between the Inlet Inn and Diamond Parking. Pfeffer had also been negotiating with Diamond parking prior to Mark Begich’s instruction to the Anchorage Parking Authority, to make what turned out to be a vastly superior offer. The Parking Authority needed look no further than across the street to see that Diamond Parking’s parking lot adjacent to Mr. Pfeffer was 80% vacant almost every day of the week. <br /><br />Parking facility operators will generally offer private land owners a fixed monthly payment equaling approximately 1/3 of whatever they determine to be the projected likely gross income they could expect to derive from the property, or alternatively, for those land owners willing to share the risk of unexpected shortfalls in income, parking operators will generally offer a fluctuating ½ of whatever the actual parking space rents turn out to be.<br />According to figures the Parking Authority released after this investigation began, the spaces Begich arranged for the city to rent for $29,000 per month were running about 80% empty and bringing in about $10,000 per month. As demonstrated by the 17 spaces next door, which also run about 80% empty, the industry standard that a private company would have paid Pfeffer for the same deal would have been 1/3 of the anticipatable gross monthly income, or about $3,300 per month. The remaining $25,700 in payments Mark Begich arranged for Mark Pfeffer to receive from the Anchorage Parking Authority was nothing less than a money laundering shell game neither of them thought anyone would notice.<br />Before the original Begich/Pfeffer fleecing agreement was replaced by the much more clever agreement outlined below, it had funneled seven payments of $29,000 per month, or $203,000 of your city’s dollars into the pockets of Mark Pfeffer and Jerry Neeser. <br /><br />In an understatement worthy of the Guinness Book of Records, Carma Reed, the former head of the City’s parking agency acknowledged to the Anchorage Daily News that the City was losing money on its $29,000 lease payments. She also said they planned to renegotiate the agreement.<br />Keep in mind that the City’s act of leasing spaces from Mark Pfeffer doesn’t add one single parking spot to available parking in Anchorage. Mark Pfeffer is perfectly capable of running his own parking lot and collecting the $10,000 it makes each month if Diamond Parking failed to make a management offer that pleased him. Either way, it would not add or subtract one more parking space for the parking public to choose from. However, the Parking Authority did renegotiate. They increased the number of spaces the City was leasing from Pfeffer to 87 spaces. And they reduced the rent per space to $166 per space per month, equaling three times what private industry had previously been paying next door. The net effect was to reduce the payment to Pfeffer from $29,000 to $14,500, thereby continuing to pay Pfeffer about $10,000 per month more than a private company like Diamond Parking would have been willing to pay.<br /><br />That’s not quite the way Begich described it when he announced his decision to get tough on negotiations, but that was the net effect.<br /><br />They also failed to highlight one more major addition to the new deal. The new deal gave Mark Pfeffer what, in real estate technical terms is called a leasehold interest. It conveys valuable leasehold interests in Anchorage’s parking facilities, worth tens of millions of dollars, to Mark Pfeffer and his partners over the next 22 years. Mark Pfeffer is effectively being given a City parking garage so he doesn’t have to spend his own money to build the parking he will need to make his building he is building across the street economically viable. <br />Mark Pfeffer is being given the right to lease 570 parking spaces in the parking garages of the City of Anchorage.<br />Rather than making parking available to individuals and letting those individuals choose which developer to lease office space from, Begich has chosen to hand over control of Anchorage’s public parking to one developer. A developer he hopes will remember his generosity for the rest of his political career.<br /><br />The Privately owned Dimond Parking Company leases parking permits in downtown Anchorage, to the public for $150 per month. The publicly owned Anchorage Parking Authority subsidizes the commercial rate by renting spaces to the public at about half the going commercial rate. In this case, the subsidy promised to Neeser and Pfeffer is about $75 per space per month. Begich’s contract with Neeser and Pfeffer allows Neeser and Pfeffer to re-rent their 570 spaces, at the commercial rate, to future tenants in the building they are building on the other side of the street, directly across Sixth Avenue from the parking garage above the bus depot. The net value of Mark Begich's gift to his friends Neeser and Pfeffer calculates to about $40,000 per month over the next 22 years, or a little over ten million dollars in ill-gotten profits cleverly lifted from the pockets of Anchorage taxpayers over time.<br /><br />The above described actions are what some politicians call “Salting the System.” Ted Stevens has been doing it for forty years. Ted has imbedded an army of beholding foot soldiers throughout the business community and inside of the bureaucracy that regulates it. It was fear of that army that caused so many people to run for cover when I asked for help in exposing the bribery schemes of Veco and Ted’s son, Ben Stevens. <br /><br />As for the favors Mark Begich is doing for Mark Pfeffer, future developers may not be so lucky. The individuals they hope to make their tenants will be faced with leasing from Pfeffer or doing without parking. Developers competing with Pfeffer will be faced with testing the waters of the bribability of future Mayors or going out of business and Alaska’s political arena will continue to be dominated by those willing to reap huge rewards at risk of jail time for decades to come. <br />Unlike the 80% empty parking lot the City took off of Mr. Pfeffer’s hands, the parking garage across the street above the downtown bus depot is about 80 % full from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM five days a week. <br />At $1 per hour for nine hours per day each space can bring in $9 every business day of the month. Twenty business days times $9 per day equals $180 per month. Subtract 20% to adjust for the fact that on average, each space is occupied only 80% of the time between 8 and 5, and each space has the potential to generate an average of $144 per month. Subtract $75 per space for the base lease that Mark Begich has decided to give Mr. Pfeffer, and, Mark Pfeffer prospectively may soon be collecting $69 per month times 570 spaces, or $39,330 per month. Prior to this agreement, Pfeffer’s booty would have gone straight into the city’s treasury. It is now destined for the pockets of a person Mark Begich hopes to draw from for the duration of his political career. <br /> <br />And just in case you missed it, the City is leasing spaces from Mr. Pfeffer on one side of the street for $166 per month, while agreeing to lease to Mr. Pfeffer on the other side of the street for $75 per month. Meanwhile, to cover the losses, Mark Begich authorized the parking authority to raise the charge for parking meters and double the size of your fines for parking overtime. Mayor Begich attempted to explain away this entire ruse by saying the City needed more parking. However as noted above, this scheme doesn’t add one space to the available parking spaces in Anchorage.<br />No doubt excuses will be made and the shell game will continue. There is a big difference between the city meeting its obligation to make sure parking is available to the general public and giving parking garages to developers. It makes little difference whether unscrupulous developers extract their ill-gotten booty through jacking up the City’s parking rents, or through stiff-arming competing developers who have no parking, while Pfeffer charges higher rents because he does.<br /><br />Ted Stevens is now considered vulnerable primarily because of similar corrupt little shell games that I exposed. His shell games are under investigation the U.S. Justice Department and my bet is several of the participants are going to jail before it is over. The only thing that will change if Alaska simply replaces old corrupt politicians with younger ones is who gets the graft. <br /><br />Last year, the U.S. Justice Department charged Pete Kott with four felonies. One of the charges he was convicted of was violating the federal statute requiring public officials to provide “Honest Services,” and another was conspiracy. Kott was convicted of both and I can’t think of a single reason why the same principles would not apply to the above.<br /><br />Ray Metcalfe<br /><br /><a href="http://metcalfe4senate.com"><span style="font-weight:bold;">metcalfe4senate.com</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-88515005147501079052008-07-11T23:40:00.001-08:002008-07-11T23:43:18.233-08:00John Cowdry, come on down! Your the next indictment!<script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com/mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=V2631600&m=543785&w=400&h=500"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-20005715552413536512008-07-11T23:37:00.000-08:002008-07-11T23:38:44.364-08:00Senator Cowdry Indicted<script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com/mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=T2627548&m=543770&w=410&h=750"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-87845280137475740362008-06-20T16:27:00.002-08:002008-06-20T16:36:49.610-08:00Follow the Money<h3 id="selectedcandidatename" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px;">Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK)</h3> Accepted <b>$177,890</b> from the oil and gas industry since 2000.<br />Supported the industry in <b>100%</b> of selected votes.<br /><br /><h3 id="selectedcandidatename" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px;">Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)</h3> Accepted <b>$209,913</b> from the oil and gas industry since 2000.<br />Supported the industry in <b>100%</b> of selected votes.<br /><br /><h3 id="selectedcandidatename" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px;">Representative Donald Young (R-AK)</h3> Accepted <b>$413,300</b> from the oil and gas industry since 2000.<br />Supported the industry in <b>89%</b> of selected votes.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Truemajority.org</span><br /><a href="http://www.truemajorityaction.com/oreos/"><img src="http://www.truemajorityaction.com/images/oreocartoon_234x60.gif" border="0"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-77406645990430758882008-04-19T02:34:00.001-08:002008-04-19T03:12:26.635-08:00<script language="javascript" src="http://thenewsroom.com/mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=T2090111&m=445310&w=728&h=680"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28397117.post-23238702030284748372008-02-18T02:29:00.001-09:002008-02-18T02:29:28.105-09:00Oil Company Bribery of Alaska's Public Officials 1981 to 2008 - Chapter One<span><span id="role_document" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"> <p><span class="black4">By </span> <span class="byline">Ray Metcalfe<br /></span><span class="byline"><span class="dateline">February 17, 2008</span> </span></p> <p>ConocoPhillips President Jim Bowles just can't seem to get Palin's attention. He said she just doesn't understand the economics of it all. Maybe he should just try the same old fashioned economics his predecessors at ARCO used with former Governor Tony Knowles. Just write her a big check. <a class="ar4" title="http://alaskareport.com/pdf/KnowlesFund.pdf" href="http://alaskareport.com/pdf/KnowlesFund.pdf">Click here (PDF)</a> to see what I mean.</p> <div><img alt="Corruption in Alaska involves more than just a few bad apples. It's as institutionalized as Jim Crow laws of the 1940's." src="http://alaskareport.com/images28/tony_knowles.jpg" align="right" border="0" height="220" hspace="7" vspace="7" width="220" /> </div> <p>Did you look? If you did, ask yourself three questions. Do you remember any time in state history when it was legal to contribute more than $1000 to an elected official or a committee formed for his election or other benefit? Do you remember a time at all when it was legal to write a check to an elected official even though all of his former campaign debts were paid and he or she wasn't running for office? Better yet, do you remember a time when it was legal for corporations to write $15,000, $20,000 and $30,000 in checks to an elected official for any reason?</p> <p>On second thought, I suspect that if Jim Bowles tried with Palin what worked so well with Knowles, she would soon take steps to provide him with a matched set of metal bracelets.</p><p>Read the complete article here...<a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://alaskareport.com/metcalfe/m91113_tony_knowles.php">http://alaskareport.com/metcalfe/m91113_tony_knowles.php</a><br /></p></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0