Alaska Airlines unvealed a new paintjob on a Beoing 737, making the plane look like a giant salmon. This paintjob took nearly a month to complete, and cost roughly $500,000. I laughed about it until I heard that this paintjob was paid for by the American taxpayer. This is pork barrel spending at it’s finest! The official excuse is to promote the Alaskan fishing industry.
This article posted 10 06 05
Weary Hag | 07-Oct-05 at 4:39 am | Permalink
This is incredible. I knew nothing about this whatsoever. Thanks for getting the word out!
Clearly I made it over here Brad … felt like a bit of work to get signed in but other than that, I’m glad you forwarded the link.
I’ll be sure to update my blogroll and hopefully others will take part in this fine and informative blog!
Brad | 07-Oct-05 at 6:20 am | Permalink
Ths really got my blood flowing too!!!
Brad | 07-Oct-05 at 6:22 am | Permalink
I know it’s a bit of a chore to get signed in, but this is the only way to eliminate the blog spammers!!!!
Brad | 08-Oct-05 at 5:35 am | Permalink
Here is an anonomous comment that was left on my old blog last night:
I absolutely agree. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Board was created a few years ago at the behest of Senator Ted Stevens. Then his crony, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski, appointed Ben Stevens, who is Ted Steven’s son and a state legislator whom the people of his district are trying to impeach, to the Chair the Board.
The Seafood Marketing Board’s Executive Director has refused to release information to the press on how the Board has been spending the $20 million in federal funding that they received this year. Nor will he reveal how much his salary is, although this should be public. I’d bet my last dollar that he’s also an old friend of the Governor’s–probably from his home town of Ketchikan.
Further, there is already a seafood marketing agency in Alaska, which is the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. They receive some of the federal funds from the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board, I believe about 20%. But why do we need two agencies to market Alaska seafood? Especially using federal tax dollars? I would imagine that people in North Dakota probably don’t appreciate having their taxes used to market salmon to the country. Heck, they may not even like fish!
The current Republican administration in Alaska has to be the most corrupt and self-serving that I have witnessed in my almost 30 years as an Alaskan. I am so disgusted with all of them that I’m relocating. Although a few of the programs that Murkowski is spearheading will be good for the state and the country, the way he is going about it is so unethical and plain old slimy that I just can’t stand to watch it any more.
Americans should definitely protest the misuse of their funds to benefit Alaska Airlines. It’s especially ironic that Alaska Airlines has a monopoly in most of Alaska and has been ripping us off for the last 15 years.
Brad | 08-Oct-05 at 5:37 am | Permalink
I woud definately like to hear what other senators have to say about this!