Alaska transparency headlines
From Sunshine Review
This article is a list of transparency related news from Alaska.
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| Report It • | The Good • | The Bad • | The Ugly | |
Prosecutor who oversaw Senator Steven's corruption case resigns
Last year, a jury found Alaska Senator Ted Stevens guilty for corruption. He was found to have failed to publicly disclose the over $250,000 dollars that he received from an Alaskan oil company C.E.O, Bill Allen, between 1999-2006. Bill Allen is currently being tried for bribing several Alaska politicians.[1]
In April, however, Attorney General Eric Holder dismissed Steven's case. The case was dismissed on grounds that the trial was unfair. The prosecution collected notes from a key witness before the testimony of the witness. The testimony ended up conflicting with the notes. This information would have helped the case of the defense. The prosecution, however, never handed over the notes to the defense.[2]
U.S. Representative from Alaska referenced in corruption investigation
The documents surfaced in the ongoing corruption case of Bill Allen. Allen was a CEO of the now-defunct oil service company V.E.C.O. While a C.E.O, Allen bribed state legislators and officials with the aim of garnering political support for his company in the legislature. The legislators were responsible passing or rejecting legislation that dealt with taxes for oil companies[3].
Some of the politicians who have been tried for their involvement with Allen include former state House Speaker Pete Kott and former Representative Vic Kohring. Also, Senator Ted Stevens was tried and found guilty for receiving gifts from Allen without reporting the gifts. Steven's case, however, was ultimately dimissed because the prosecution withheld evidence that was favorable to the defense[4].
Corrupted Alaska State Representative Receives Light Sentence
While serving as a legislature for the Willow area in the Alaska Legislature in 2003, Beverly Masek took bribes from an oil executive on multiple occasions. The oil executive, Bill Allen, was the the C.E.O. of an oil pipeline service and construction company called VECO. In addition to bribing Rep. Beverly Masek, he has since been linked to several different corruption scandals occurring around 2003, including that of Ted Stevens[5].".
In one case of bribery, Rep. Beverly Masek accepted a bribe after working to advance Bill Allen's agenda. In May of 2003, Bill Allen was concerned about a piece of legislation that had been drafted, which he predicated, if passed, would negatively impact his company. While the legislation was in consideration, Rep. Beverly was aware that Bill Allen was opposed to this legislation. Eventually Rep. Beverly withdrew the piece of legislation. The day after she withdrew, she was offered, and she accepted, a $2,000 dollar payment from Bill Allen.[6].
Alaska state campaign funding limits are sought
A Fairbanks group, Clean Team Alaska, is supporting a ballot initiative bill that would outlaw campaign donations from unions and other taxpayer-funded lobbying groups to take affect in 2010 in Alaska. The Anti-Corruption Act is an attempt to minimize conflicts of interest involved in spending public funds. The website promoting the bill says it would "clean up the backroom deals in government contracting and get the government out of the business of lobbying and funding of partisan activity."
Dick Randolph chairs Clean Team Alaska and Mike Prax is working on supporting the bill.
"We have got a challenge, I think," Prax said. "We seem to have corruption cases all the time. It just keeps coming back, coming back."
With regards to connecting union campaign donations and corruption, Prax said, "It’s a matter of opinion. Is that business as usual, or is it a system that’s broken?"[7]
Alaska lawmakers could be freed after review
The Alaska state lawmakers, former Representative Vic Kohring and former House Speaker Pete Kott, were convicted in 2007 of accepting bribes from former VECO CEO Bill Allen in return for votes in favor of an oil tax that would benefit the company, according to Allen's testimony.[8]
The prosecution team, led by assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Trusty and Public Integrity lawyer Peter Koski, handled former senator Ted Steven's case.
Alaska records request seeks insight, clarity
"Seldom does a request for public records result in a quick release of public documents. Always, it seems, there is room for argument about what is and is not in the public’s best interest.
A records request of any substance usually goes straight to a publicly employed attorney. Newspapers then pay private attorneys to argue for what is in the public’s best interest. Ironic but true."
Alaska records policy changes proposed
"Draconian measure or reasonable access? Depends on who you ask.
Should the city of Homer "provide full and free access of the public to municipal records and information?" Or, should it "provide prompt and reasonable public access to non confidential public records according to law?"
Former UAF coach tries to block records release
"Former University of Alaska Fairbanks hockey coach Doc DelCastillo has gone to court to block the university from releasing documents regarding his departure from the job.
The Daily News-Miner filed a public records request on April 14 for documents leading up to the coach’s resignation four days earlier. DelCastillo’s attorney, Jason Gazewood, filed a motion on Friday in Fairbanks Superior Court for a preliminary injunction to prohibit the release."
Mine foes hit Alaska for withholding public papers
Sponsors of an unsuccessful ballot measure that targeted toxic mine pollution are suing to force Alaska officials to release government records that might answer questions about Gov. Sarah Palin's efforts to nix it.
The group Alaskans For Clean Water asked Alaska Superior Court in Anchorage on Tuesday to order immediate release of documents that the state says it can't fully produce until mid-November.
That extension wouldn't allow access to the records until after the Nov. 4 election. Palin is Republican John McCain's vice presidential running mate. The lawsuit alleges illegal failure to meet required timetables, "for the purposes of delay."
Attorney general tightens grip on records
Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg is clamping down on how the state shares information with the public.
He's ordered state commissioners to get the approval of his agency, the Department of Law, before answering public records requests.
In a Sept. 26 letter from Colberg to various state commissioners, which was obtained Friday by the Empire, Colberg wrote that the large number of requests necessitated his office's intervention to make sure that any of the governor's privileges to withhold documents weren't being mistakenly waved."
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