Who's Who in the "Corrupt Bastards Club" ?? Nothing Fishy Here. MOVE ON

[L. Coyote]

Oh, the HUBRIS of the Corrupt Bastards; they printed Club tee shirts and hats!
"Corrupt Bastards Club" has more political appeal than the oxymoranic Culture of Corruption.
What we need now is the complete roster of the current and past membership, to
better paint the picture of who is destined for a jail cell and prisoner number.
Apparently, the Club has quite a few big name U. S. Senate Republican players too.

Spin-off from: Stevens, Corrupt VECO CEO Campaign Contributions. More R Senators Involved.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2062738



===================
From the AP article, specifically named for seizure in search warrants:

“Any physical garments (including hats) bearing any of the following logos or phrases: ‘CBC,’ ‘Corrupt Bastards Club,’ ‘Corrupt Bastards Caucus,’ ‘VECO.’”

From barroom joke to federal warrants
By MATT VOLZ, AP, Sep 1, 2006
http://www.adn.com/news/government/story/8144643p-8038526c.html

The Corrupt Bastards Club started as a barroom joke last spring among Alaska legislators whose names were linked to large campaign contributions from oil field services company VECO Corp.

“Somebody walked up and said, ‘You corrupt bastards,’ and that name stuck,” said House Finance Co-Chairman Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski.

Campaign contributions from VECO executives to 11 lawmakers, including Chenault, were detailed in a guest opinion article that ran in the state’s three largest newspapers in March. A 12th lawmaker, Senate President Ben Stevens, the son of U.S. Sen Ted Stevens, was also noted in the article as receiving generous consulting fees from VECO. Stevens has collected more than $240,000 from VECO since 2000.

All Alaska Alliance Executive Director Lori Backes wrote the column, questioning whether the financial linkages between VECO and lawmakers created “undue influence” ..........

==============================================
Mike McGavick (Michael S. McGavick) was the 2006 Republican candidate for the US Senate seat held by Maria Cantwell. Cantwell won by a 16% margin. This l;ist of his donors includes some of the people financing the Corrupt Bastards Club, and may prove useful to researchers of the complete roster.

Mike! Drunk on Alaskan Oil $: FBI Raids "Corrupt Bastards Club"
Noemie Maxwell, Sep 04, 2006
http://www.washblog.com/story/2006/9/4/31646/36894

Natasha Celine at Pacificviews.org uncovered a particularly slimy "Big Oil" donation to Mike! in the FEC database today, $2,000 from Alaska's Peter Leathard. In a post entitled, To Mike! From Leathard, she links this donation with a major scandal now unfolding in Alaska.

...............

I got curious and searched for Alaskan donations on McGavick's page. Below the fold is a list of maybe half of the Alaskan donations to Mike! These include over $12,000 from VECO employees, $3,750 from the employees of an oil and gas pipeline construction company named ASRC -- and over $50,000 from other Alaskan companies that looked to me to be associated with the fossil fuel industry. The database includes many donations from retiered individuals, lawyers, and others whose affiliations aren't evident without further research. The lesson? Well, we already knew it: Mike! can't be trusted to uphold the public trust. Creepy.

Selected donations from Alaskan residents to Mike! McGavick, 2006

    A
    Bill Allen, VECO CORP/CHAIRMAN & CEO, $2,000

    B
    Rocky Brew, INLER PETROLEUM/PRESIDENT, $1,000
    Daniel Brewster, BERING PACIFIC CONSTRUCTION  $1,000

    C
    Robby Caps, F & W CONSTRUCTION/VICE PRESIDENT, $500
    Roger Chan, VECO CORP/EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, $2,000
    Doug Chapados, PETROSTAR INV/CEO, $500
    Tom Corkran, VECO CORP/VP CORPORATE CONTROLLER, $2,000

    D
    Hal Dreyer, DEJON CORP/CONSULTANT, $1,000 (business management, process and logistics)

    F-J
    Craig Floerchinger, ASRC/VP, $500 (Oil and gas pipeline construction)
    Robert Gillam, $3,900, MCKINLEY CAPITAL/DIRECTOR
    David Guzy, $1,000, LONE WOLF ENTERPRISE, (waste management and snow removal services)
    Robert Halcro, $500, SELF EMPLOYED/INVESTOR
    Leonard Hyde, $3,000, JL PROPERTIES, INC./REAL ESTATE
    Jim Jansen, $2,000, LYNDEN/PRESIDENT & CEO (Air cargo and logistics)
    Ron Jones, $500, ASRC/SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

    K

    Mark Kroloff, ARCTIC SLOPES REG. CORP./SENIOR VI, $500

    L
    Mark Langland, NORTHRIM BANK/BANKER, $500
    Peter Leathard, VECO CORP/PRESIDENT, $2,000
    Oliver Leavit, ARCTIC SLOPES REG. CORP., $500
    Melvin Lynch, CHUGACH ALASKA/ENGINEER, $500

    M
    Harry McDonald, CARLILE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS/PRE, $1,000
    Mathew Moon, ASRC/ENVIRONMENTAL, $250
    Ken Moss, ASRC/EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, $1,000

    P

    Thomas Packer, WED BUSH MORGAN SEC./INVESTMENT, $1,000
    Liane Pelletier, ACS/CEO, $1,000
    PJ Penney, PENCO PROPERTIES/REAL ESTATE, $1,000
    Robert Penney, PENCO PROPERTIES/REAL ESTATE, $1,000
    Sherron Perry, FAIRWEATHER INC/SERVICES, $2,200 (Oil and gas exploration and development)
    Mark Pfeffler, KODNCE PFEFFER BETTIS/ARCHITECT, $1,000
    John J. Powers, SELF EMPLOYED/ENTREPRENEUR, $1,000

    R
    Randy Ruedrich, ARCTIC E & P ADVISORS/ENGINEER, $800
    Joe Ralston, TCG/CONSULTANT, $500

    S
    Rick Smith, VECO VP, $2,000
    Walter Schlotfelt, DENALI GROUP COMPANY, INC/EXECUTIVE, (Transportation Consultants) $2,000
    Chuck Schumann, MICROCON/COMMUNICATIONS, $500
    William Scheffield, PORT OF ANCHORAGE/MANAGER, $250
    James Slack, VECO CORP/VICE PRESIDENT, $2,000
    Douglas L. Smith,  ASRC/HSET MANAGER, $500
    Mark Smith, CROWLEY/MANAGER, $500, 4/19/06
    Jeanine St.John, LYNDEN/VICE PRESIDENT, $500
    Robert Stinson, CONAM CONSTRUCTION CO/PRESIDENT, $500
    Mike Stophlet, ASRC/PRESIDENT & CEO, $500
    John Studderth, ASRC/SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, $500
    Peter Sorensen, WORLD WIDE MOVERS INC/EXECUTIVE, $500
    George Suddock, AK NATIONAL INSURANCE/PRESIDENT, $2,900

    T
    Cam Toohey, SHELL EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION/GOV, $500
    Mead Treadwell, VENTURE AD ASTRA, LLC/CEO, $1,000

    U
    Barney Uhart, CHUGACH ALASKA/PRESIDENT & CEO, $250
    Brad West, WEST CONSTRUCTION/CONTRACTOR, $1,500

[L. Coyote]

1. TPM: Posts on “Veco” = 20+ posts from June to present

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/cats/veco/

With 20+ posts from June to present, TPM has been on top of the Alaska MUCK

===========
More Reasons For A Far Away Stevens Investigation
By Laura McGann - June 26, 2007, 2:09PM

We noted last week that a Washington, DC grand jury -- rather than one in Anchorage --is investigating Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) shifty involvement with oil services company Veco Corp ......

Stevens has been in office since 1968 and is an Alaska icon, bringing his state millions in federal dollars. His re-election campaign has already raked in $1 million and no viable competitor has stepped up to the plate. But some in the state have called him less popular and more vulnerable than in past elections. However a jury might cut for Stevens, it's clear that a prosecutor won't find 12 Alaskans who've never heard of him.

[L. Coyote]

2. Roger J. Chan, VECO CORP/EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Besides VECO and its executives, agents were authorized to seize any documents related to The Petroleum Club, Republican pollster David Dittman or his company, Dittman Research and Communication Corp., pollster Marc Hellenthal or his company, Hellenthal and Associates, Roger Chan, VECO’s chief financial officer, and Olson Air Service, according to the warrant.

=====================
48 records - http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=gvqbe&txtName=Chan,%20Roger&txtState=(all%20states)&txtAll=Y&Order=A
Total for this search: $54,500 political donations by Roger Chan

$16,000 - Young, Don
$7,000 - Stevens, Ted
$6,000 - Murkowski, Lisa
$5,000 - Republican Party of Alaska
$4,000 - McGavick, Michael
$2,000 - Bush, George W
$2,000 - Pombo, Richard
$2,000 - Gorton, Slade
$2,000 - Murkowski, Frank H
$2,000 - Inouye, Daniel K
$1,000 - Vitter, David
$1,000 - Chenoweth, Helen
$1,000 - Coburn, Tom
$1,000 - Nethercutt, George R Jr
$1,000 - Burr, Richard
$1,000 - Talent, James M
$1,000 - Ganske, Greg
$1,000 - Coleman, Norm
$1,000 - Thune, John
$1,000 - Sununu, John E
$1,000 - Hutchinson, Tim
$1,000 - DeMint, James W
$500 - Voinovich, George V

=====================
The Corrupt Bastards Club
http://liepardestin.blogspot.com/2006/09/corrupt-bastards-club.html

Yesterday I posted about the FBI raids in Alaska. Today, I will expand on that and update with the newest information. Give this a read, and normally I dont ask, but a a recommend. This is the new Cunningham/MZM story, and another chance to highlight corruption before the elections.


But anyways, a quick review of what we learned yesterday, and then the new stuff. ....

Anchorage Daily News provides the following: (http://www.adn.com/news/government/story/8144643p-8038526c.html) .... " The warrant called for seizure of documents "concerning, reflecting or relating to any payment" to lawmakers by VECO executives Allen and Richard Smith. Agents also looked for documents about contracts, agreements or employment of legislators provided by VECO, Allen, Smith and company president Peter Leathard.

.....

Oil Groups, Pollsters, Politicans and Air Services involved in a scandal, so very original... Throw into the mix that VECO was a one-time owner of the now defunct Anchorage Times, and that VECO continues to pay for the production and publication of Voice of the Times, a half-page editorial section that runs in the Daily News, and you have quite the interesting read.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Actually the Voice of the Times

was banished to the internet version of the Anchorage Daily News after the corruption cases exploded on the scene. The Daily News itself is a fairly liberal newspaper featuring more left-leaning than conservative national columnists. Don Young calls it the Anchorage Daily Worker. :rofl:

Thank you for staying on this, L.Coyote. It's a fascinating and still unfolding story. Former state legislator Vic Kohring's trial begins tomorrow.

[L. Coyote]

4. Peter Leathard, VECO CORPORATION, PRESIDENT

LEATHARD, PETER, ANCHORAGE,AK 99504
VECO CORPORATION/PRESIDENT

62 records - http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=hpxuf&txtName=Leathard,%20peter&txtState=(all%20states)&txtAll=Y&Order=A
Total for this search: $114,940

5/31/2006 - $25,000 - National Republican Senatorial Cmte
6/6/2003 - $25,000 - National Republican Senatorial Cmte
$15,500 - Young, Don
$10,000 - Northern Lights PAC
$7,910 - Republican Party of Alaska
$4,000 - McGavick, Michael
$3,500 - Rich PAC
$3,000 - Bush, George W
$2,500 - Stevens, Ted
$2,000 - Inouye, Daniel K
$2,000 - Gorton, Slade
$2,000 - Murkowski, Frank
$1,500 - Bond, Christopher S
$1,000 - Specter, Arlen
$1,000 - Coburn, Tom
$1,000 - Nethercutt, George R Jr
$1,000 - Burr, Richard
$1,000 - DeMint, James W
$1,000 - Talent, James M
$1,000 - Sununu, John E
$1,000 - Thune, John
$1,000 - Hutchinson, Tim
$1,000 - Ganske, Greg
$1,000 - Coleman, Norm
$1,000 - Vitter, David
$1,000 - Stevens, Ted
$1,000 - Americans for Sound Energy Policy
$500 - Porter, Jon
$500 - Pearce, Steve
$500 - Beauprez, Bob
$500 - Burns, Max

[L. Coyote]

5. corruptbastards.blogspot.com PLUS Whois corruptbastards.com

We do the same thing with political labels. Democrats become "Liberals" become "progressives" become "reality-based." Republicans have gone from calling themselves "Conservatives" to being members of the "GOP," the "Party of Lincoln," or more recently, the "Corrupt Bastards Club." This is not an epithet I am hurling around like "fascist" or "liar." I wish I had thought of it... but I didn't. This is a term Republicans used among themselves behind closed doors...

... It seems a particularly apt name for the Party that brought us no-bid contracts for political cronies, Abramoff, the K Street project, Paris Hilton tax relief, and widespread looting of the treasury.

I realize a little while back, Dailykos' very own Christoper suggested a more appropriate name for the Republicans should be the Crazy Motherf**ker Party. .... Why impose an epithet when someone embraces one of their own invention?

http://corruptbastards.blogspot.com/

=====================
Registrant:
Domains by Proxy, Inc.

Someone remaining anonymous registered the domain and parked it.

Domain Name: CORRUPTBASTARDS.COM
Registrar: GODADDY.COM, INC.
Whois Server: whois.godaddy.com
Referral URL: http://registrar.godaddy.com
Name Server: PARK25.SECURESERVER.NET
Name Server: PARK26.SECURESERVER.NET
Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Status: clientRenewProhibited
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Updated Date: 01-sep-2007
Creation Date: 01-sep-2006

[L. Coyote]

10. Retire Ted web site

Embattled and under ethical cloud, Ted no longer effective
http://www.retireted.com /
Paid for by the Alaska Democratic Party

Abuse of power = loss of power

It is sad for Alaska that Ted Stevens’ personal affairs have become improperly tangled with his public responsibilities, diminishing his stature and effectiveness in Congress.

When Alaskans elected Ted Stevens to represent us in Washington, we trusted him to act in our best interests.

When an elected official manipulates public laws or directs public funds to enrich himself or those close to him, he loses our trust – and the trust of other elected officials.

Embattled and under an ethical cloud, Ted can no longer be effective and Alaska suffers.

[L. Coyote]

19. WA POST: Alaska Democrats Try to 'Retire' Stevens and Young = Corrupt Bastards Heroic Duo

Alaska Democrats Try to 'Retire' Ted Stevens
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/10/alaska_democrats_aiming_to_ret.html

Alaska Democrats have turned up the volume in their attacks on the leading Republicans in their state, showing their intention to wage aggressive campaigns next fall against Sen. Ted Stevens (R) and Rep. Don Young (R).

Today the Alaska Democratic Party unveiled a new Web site, http://www.retireted.com, that chronicles the various corruption allegations surrounding Stevens, 83, who has served in the Senate since 1968 but now is under federal investigation for his ties to an energy services firm. The unveiling of retireted.com follows a similar site the state party created earlier this fall, http://www.dropdon.com, which details the various allegations against Young, who is under investigation for his ties to VECO, the oil and gas services company whose CEO pleaded guilty to bribery is a cooperating witness for the Justice Department.

The two lawmakers have denied any wrongdoing .....

But there's no question the allegations are creating mounting political problems for the duo, ............

Last month, at the trial of former state House Speaker Pete Kott (R)... prosecutors played hours and hours of secretly recorded conversations....

The Alaska Democrats have seized on those audiotapes and are now playing them in radio advertisements generically attacking the state's Republican Party for being too cozy with oil interests. ....

[L. Coyote]

22. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Democrats launch online offensive against Stevens

In a lenghtier and more detailed piece, Dillon covers the reactions and real issue, corporations going after the national resource base in Alaska.

======================
Democrats launch online offensive against Stevens
By R.A. Dillon, News-Miner, Oct 28, 2007
http://newsminer.com/2007/10/28/9591

WASHINGTON — First it was DropDon.com, now the Alaska Democratic Party has launched RetireTed.com, a Web site aimed at unseating Alaska’s senior senator.

The site argues that Ted Stevens, a Republican, has been corrupted ...

...........

Oil and gas leasing challenged

Environmental groups and Alaska Natives are challenging U.S. Interior Department efforts to open large swaths of Alaska’s Arctic to oil and natural gas development. ....

[L. Coyote]

6. Funneling $$$$ to Ted Stevens. What campaign limit? Just funnel the funds around it!

Here is how it works. The oil company CEOs in Alaska spread the money to a variety of Senators, and those Senators give it to Stevens. Simple enough.

==============
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004516.php

Senators Orin Hatch (R-UT), Trent Lott (R-MS), Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), and Kit Bond (R-MO) have all donated thousands of dollars from their political action committees to Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) despite the fact that Stevens faces a looming FBI corruption probe. According to AP, “the Stevens campaign raised more than $463,000 since July 1, making it one of the senator's most successful fundraising quarters.” (AP)

======================
Senators back Stevens despite FBI probe
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071019/ap_on_el_se/stevens_investigation

By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer Fri Oct 19, 5:50 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Make no mistake, Sen. Ted Stevens still has plenty of friends. Despite a looming FBI corruption probe, Republican colleagues opened their wallets for their longtime colleague in recent months to support his re-election campaign.
ADVERTISEMENT

The Alaska senator has more than $1 million in campaign cash and enjoyed tens of thousands of dollars in support from political action committees and campaign funds controlled by his fellow GOP lawmakers. This despite an FBI raid on his house and court testimony that an oil contractor paid employees to renovate the senator's home.

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch led the way, donating $10,000 from his political action committee and another $4,000 from his campaign fund. Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas and Kit Bond of Missouri each added $10,000 from their political action committees, according to campaign reports released Friday.

"Sen. Bond has supported his longtime friend and colleague Senator Stevens for many years," Bond spokeswoman Shana Marchio said Friday. .......

[L. Coyote]

7. FBI Tapes Stevens Calls As Part of Sting

FBI Tapes Stevens Calls As Part of Sting
By MATT APUZZO 09.20.07, 7:05 PM ET
WASHINGTON - http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/20/ap4141723.htm...

The FBI, working with an Alaska oil contractor, secretly taped telephone calls with Sen. Ted Stevens as part of a public corruption sting, according to people close to the investigation.

The secret recordings suggest the Justice Department was eyeing Stevens long before June, when the Republican senator first publicly acknowledged he was under scrutiny. At that time, it appeared Stevens was a new focus in a case that had already ensnared several state lawmakers.

The recorded calls between Stevens and businessman Bill Allen were confirmed by two people close to the case who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still under way. They declined to say how many calls were recorded or what was said.

Allen, a wealthy businessman and Stevens' political patron, agreed to the taping last year after authorities confronted him with evidence he had bribed Alaska lawmakers. ..........

============
FROM: Will Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) Resign This Week? He finally has his road to nowhere.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1816831

[lonestarnot]

8. campaign contribution laws? Who needs law in 2007?

[L. Coyote]

9. Let's Have a "SERIES OF TUBES" Party on DU = Ted Stevens VIDEOS

Here are links to a lot of videos on Stevens, including some really fun stuff on his "series of tubes" description of the Internet.

Let's Have a "SERIES OF TUBES" Party on DU. Bring HUMOR = Ted Stevens VIDEOS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1863092

[L. Coyote]

25. The Senate's Strange Double Standard = Ted Stevens versus Larry Craig ethics

The Senate's Strange Double Standard
Thu Oct 18 - http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20071018/cm_uc_crjcox/op_454127

For an object lesson in the distorted values of the United States Senate, consider how that august institution is handling the ethical embarrassments created by Republican Larry Craig of Idaho and Republican Ted Stevens of Alaska.

As everyone in America knows by now, Craig pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for an indiscretion in an airport men's room. Stevens, along with his son Ben and a number of other Alaska politicians and businessmen, is the subject of a corruption investigation that resulted in an FBI raid on his home last summer. Every day, the pressure mounts on Craig from his colleagues to resign — and every day, those same colleagues treat Stevens as if he remains above suspicion.

The Craig case is currently under investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee, yet no such probe of the Stevens matter has commenced. According to the prevailing morality in the Senate, a legislator who may or may not have signaled his prurient interest in another man demands the most searching scrutiny, but a legislator who quite plainly accepted financial favors from a contractor deserves none. ........

[L. Coyote]

11. Bill J. Allen, VECO CORPORATION, CEO - $186,700 political donations

ALLEN, BILL J., ANCHORAGE,AK 99503
111 records - http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=4hjxt&txtName=allen,%20bill&txtState=AK&txtAll=Y&Order=D
Total for this search: $186,700

Political "donations" (aka bribes):

5/30/2006 - $25,000 - National Republican Senatorial Cmte
10/7/2004 - $8,000 - Missouri Republican State Cmte
$37,650 - Midnight Sun
$20,000 - Northern Lights PAC (Sen. Stevens)
$20,300 - Young, Don
$15,000 - Republican Party of Alaska
$8,200 - Stevens, Ted
$5,000 - Americans for Sound Energy Policy
$4,000 - White, Rick
$4,000 - McGavick, Michael
$4,000 - Voinovich, George V
$4,000 - Murkowski, Lisa
$3,000 - Bush, George W
$3,000 - Gorton, Slade
$3,000 - Specter, Arlen
$2,500 - Rich PAC
$2,350 - Republican Party of Alaska
$2,050 - RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
$2,000 - Murkowski, Frank H
$2,000 - Bond, Christopher S 'Kit'
$2,000 - Ensign, John
$2,000 - Pombo, Richard
$2,000 - Burns, Conrad
$2,000 - Inouye, Daniel K
$1,000 - Chenoweth, Helen
$1,000 - Ganske, Greg
$1,000 - Coleman, Norm
$1,000 - Talent, James M
$1,000 - Coburn, Tom
$1,000 - Nethercutt, George R Jr
$1,000 - Burr, Richard
$1,000 - Vitter, David
$1,000 - Denali PAC
$1,000 - DeMint, James W
$1,000 - Rich PAC
$1,000 - Hutchinson, Tim
$1,000 - Thune, John
$1,000 - Sununu, John E
$1,000 - Rehberg, Dennis
$1,000 - Dunn, Jennifer
$1,000 - Chenoweth, Helen
$750 - Teamsters Local 959
$500 - Smith, Linda
$500 - Bunn, Jim
$500 - Cubin, Barbara
$500 - Hill, Rick
$500 - Cremeans, Frank A
$500 - Porter, Jon
$500 - Beauprez, Bob
$500 - Pearce, Steve
$500 - Longley, James B Jr
$500 - Tate, Randy
$500 - Hayworth, J D
$500 - Gibbons, Jim
$500 - Burns, Max
$500 - Alaska Democratic Party

[L. Coyote]

37. Veco CEO: My Nephew Blackmailed Me Over Stevens Remodeling

Veco CEO: My Nephew Blackmailed Me Over Stevens Remodeling
By Laura McGann - Oct 29, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004588.php

Here's some strange news coming out of the Alaska trial of former state Rep. Vic Kohring. It turns out that when former Veco CEO Bill Allen testified last month in a separate corruption trial about being blackmailed by his own nephew, the strong-arming was related to Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) suspect home renovation.

[L. Coyote]

38. Allen drops blackmail bombshell in Kohring trial testimony PLUS Secret video and "Red Carpet List"

Allen drops blackmail bombshell in Kohring trial testimony
HOME WORK: Secret video and "Red Carpet List" also come up as prosecution rests.
By LISA DEMER and KYLE HOPKINS - Anchorage Daily News - Oct 30, 2007
http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/kohring/story/9416788p-9329406c.html


Former Veco Corp. chief executive Bill Allen, on the witness stand for a second day Monday, revealed that his nephew tried to blackmail him over work done on U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens' home.

That bombshell, a side issue to the main event, came as one of a number of developments Monday in the public corruption trial of former state Rep. Vic Kohring, a Wasilla Republican. Among tidbits presented to jurors:

• A video from February 2005 showed Kohring talking about the possibility of consulting for Veco. It was secretly recorded by Frank Prewitt, then a consultant for the private prison firm Cornell Cos. who was working undercover for the FBI, unknown to his employer.

• A document taken off Kohring's legislative computer titled "Red Carpet List" named his favored office visitors, in four categories: lobbyists, friends, supporters, other. Allen and former Veco vice president Rick Smith were included as "supporters" but not friends. That cuts into one of the main defense arguments, that money given to Kohring by Veco executives was just a gift from friends, not a calculated bribe as prosecutors assert.

• Kohring told FBI agents in a lengthy interview during the Aug. 31, 2006, search of his Wasilla legislative office that he had accepted money from Allen and Smith ...............

[L. Coyote]

12. Rick Smith, VECO CORPORATION, VICE PRESIDENT

SMITH, RICK, ANCHORAGE,AK 99503
VECO CORPORATION/VICE PRESIDENT

$5,000 - Northern Lights PAC
$4,000 - McGavick, Michael
$1,312 - Rich PAC
$1,116 -Chenoweth, Helen
$266 - Bond, Christopher S
$1,000 -Coburn, Tom
$1,000 - Ganske, Greg
$1000 - Teamsters Local 959
$500 - Stevens, Ted

13 records - http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=dbrym&txtName=Smith,%20Rick&txtState=AK&txtAll=Y&Order=A

[L. Coyote]

13. $50,000 = John Sununu 2002` = from Stevens and Stevens' strongest Alaska supporters

A breakdown of contributions received by Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire in 2002.
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/10/11/john_sununu_funds_breakdown

In 2002, John Sununu of New Hampshire received more than $50,000 from Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska and Stevens' strongest Alaska supporters, including VECO's Bill Allen. The money flowed to Sununu's Senate campaign from Stevens' PAC, his soft money committee, and in a bundle of donations directly from Stevens loyalists.

Six other Republicans in hotly contested races for the Senate received similar support - but none got quite as much cash as Sununu. The Sununu Senate Campaign received the Alaska contributions on these dates (all for 2002):

April 15
$5,000 -- Northern Lights (Sen. Stevens' Leadership PAC)

June 25
$5,000 -- Northern Lights
$1,000 -- Roger J. Chan, VECO Corporation

June 28
$1,000 -- Richard M. Hobbs II, Alutiiq Management Services
$2,000 -- Jim Jansen, Lynden Inc.

June 29
$1,000 -- Steven J. Leathard, VECO Corporation

June 30
$2,000 -- Carl H. Marrs, Cook Inlet Region Inc.
$1,000 -- Bill J. Allen, VECO Corporation
$1,000 -- Mark J. Allen, VECO Corporation
$1,000 -- Peter Leathard, VECO Corporation
$1,000 -- Richard L. Smith, VECO Corporation
$500 -- Ramona Barnes, retired
$250 -- Kevin O. Meyers, Phillips Corporation
$1,000 -- Robert L. Persons, Double Mosky Inn

July 3
$1,000 -- Robert Penney, Kenai River Sportfishing Association

Between mid October and late November of 2002 Northern Lights' non federal account received a $25,000 contribution from VECO. Northern Light sent the Sununu Victory Fund $25,000.

In 2004, Sen. Sununu attended the Kenai River Classic on a fishing trip organized by Sen. Stevens and Robert Penney. Bill Allen, Carl Marrs and Jim Jansen also attended.

[L. Coyote]

14. Stevens, Corrupt VECO CEO Allen Teamed Up on Campaign Contributions

When is a bribe a bribe? VECO's Allen paid out lots of money in bribes and political contributions.
How do we know Allen, et.al., were not bribing many Republican Senators in DC? WELL, we don't know that. YET!!!!!!

========================
Stevens, Corrupt CEO Teamed Up on Campaign Contributions
By Laura McGann - Oc 16, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004470.php

Marketplace radio's Steve Henn has a new angle (http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/10/11/bill_allen_illegal_funds_2) to the Veco-Stevens scandal: the two men quietly paired up in 2002 to support the campaign of seven other Republican senators. Politicians often use their political action committees to purchase influence with members of their caucus, but Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) appears to have gone one step further. Veco CEO Bill Allen served in his proxy, echoing Stevens' leadership PAC contributions, buying the senior Republican senator clout on Veco's dime.

Here at TPMmuckraker we've painted the Alaska tale as a series of various cash-for-political favors incidents. But Henn describes a more complicated -- and telling -- relationship between Allen and Stevens. He noticed that in the summer of 2002, Veco executives poured $70,000 into seven Republican Senate challengers' campaign funds. The donations "closely mirrored cash gifts" from Steven's PAC.

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) are two good examples. .....

[L. Coyote]

15. Veco gave $100,000 to RNC in a lump sum!

VECO CORPORATION, ANCHORAGE,AK 99503
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/index.asp

6/28/1996 - $20,000 - RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
10/15/1998 - $100,000 - RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
5/24/2001 - $25,000 - 2001 President's Dinner/Non-Fed Trust
5/14/2002 - $10,000 - Stevens Victory Cmte Non-Federal

[L. Coyote]

16. Robert C. Penney, $82,000 in political "donations"

PENNEY, ROBERT, ANCHORAGE,AK 99508

45 records - http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=babrq&txtName=penney,%20robert&txtState=AK&txtAll=Y&Order=A
Total for this search: $82,000

$40,000 - National Republican Senatorial Cmte
$8,600 - Murkowski, Lisa
$4,500 - Young, Don
$5,250 - Stevens, Ted
$4,000 - Alaska Democratic Party
$3,000 - Nethercutt, George R Jr
$2,500 - Republican Party of Alaska
$2,500 - Bond, Christopher S 'Kit'
$2,250 - Murkowski, Frank H
$2,000 - Burns, Conrad
$2,000 - Gorton, Slade
$1,000 - McGavick, Michael
$1,000 - Sununu, John E
$1,000 - Thune, John
$1,000 - Talent, James M
$1,000 - Bush, George W
$900 - Northern Lights PAC
$500 - Republican National Cmte

[Greeby]

17. Maybe it's what they drink........

[L. Coyote]

18. Stevens' Lawyer Makes List of Most Powerful DC Lawyers

Stevens' Lawyer Makes List of Most Powerful DC Lawyers
By Laura McGann - Oct 26, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004572.php


Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) superstar white collar defense lawyer Brendan Sullivan (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003580.php) made Washingtonian's list of most influential DC law and lobbying types.

Sullivan's other famous clients had included Oliver North and several Duke lacrosse players. And what drives this successful lawyer? He's pretty up front:

“By the time somebody comes to me, they are pretty far up the creek,”

..............

[Toots]

20. Heard Ben Stevens, Senator Stevens son was given a quarter million dollars

by VECO to do their bidding in the Legislature while he was President of the Senate. Wonder why he hasn't yet been indicted?

[L. Coyote]

34. Wonder why he hasn't yet been indicted? My guess, he is taping conversations with

his Dad for the FBI :rofl:

Seriously, he may be one of the people turning evidence, and I suspect the indictments will be handed down at the end of the current trial round. There may be a concern that indictments during the trial would taint the jury.

The next round of indictments will likely include both Sen. Ben Stevens and Sen. Ted Stevens, many Alaskan legislators, and possibly a group of Republican US senators. My sense is that this is only beginning to gain some traction as more testimony and cooperation is developing and the investigations and subpoenas continue.

[L. Coyote]

21. BEN STEVENS: 2nd Veco Exec Testifies to Paying $250K in " in bogus consulting fees"

2nd Veco Exec Testifies to Paying Ben Stevens $250K in "Fees"
By Laura McGann - Oct 26, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004569.php

Bad news for Ben Stevens. Another Veco executive testified in federal court to paying the one-time state Senate President, and son of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), $250,000 in bogus consulting fees.

Former Veco vice president Rick Smith's testimony came during the trial of state Rep. Vic Kohring (R-AK) .... Veco's Bill Allen previously testified (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004185.php) about the bogus consulting fees paid to Stevens ...

Kohring's lawyers have long argued that their client was unfairly netted in an investigation shooting for the two Stevenses. One even told investigators they "dun got the wrong man." (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004554.php) .... Kohring has been charged with accepting $2,600 in cash.

The FBI raided Ben Stevens' legislative office last year (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004053.php), but he has not been charged with a crime.

[L. Coyote]

23. ALASKA REPORT: Ben Stevens bribed by Rick Smith for $243,250 = "That's all illegal..."

Ben Stevens bribed by Rick Smith for $243,250
Oct27, 2007
http://alaskareport.com/news1007/z46850_ben_bribed_smith.htm

Anchorage, Alaska - Rick Smith testified Thursday in the Victor Kohring corruption trial that former Alaska Senate President Ben Stevens was paid $243,250 in bribes ... and that he worked "illegally" on legislative business on behalf of the company.

Smith ... said the bribes were for giving advice, lobbying colleagues and official acts before the Legislature.

"That's all illegal, isn't it?" Kohring's attorney John Henry Browne asked.

"I think that's the gist of it," Rick Smith said.

.....

Further indictments are expected shortly after the Kohring trial ends.

[L. Coyote]

24. thenorthernlight.org: Convictions and accusations of corruption keep coming

Convictions and accusations of corruption keep coming
Derek Chivers - 10/9/07
http://media.www.thenorthernlight.org/media/storage/paper960/news/2007/10/09/TheHoiPolloi/Convictions.And.Accusations.Of.Corruption.Keep.Coming-3021660.shtml


Alaskans received news Aug. 31, 2006, that statewide FBI raids had been conducted on some Alaska legislators. A copy of one of the 20 search warrants issued, obtained by The Associated Press, seemed to link the investigation to then-Gov. Frank Murkowski's newly signed Petroleum Profits Tax. Along with stacks of documents seized, FBI investigators were looking for clothing bearing the initials "CBC," which stood for "Corrupt Bastards Club."

... an interesting moment in the courtroom, a box of red baseball caps was produced as evidence. The hats bore the VECO logo and were monogrammed CBC.... not very compelling in court but is fairly condemning in the eyes of Alaskans.

.....

It's now been over a year since the FBI raids, and we've just begun to scratch the surface of the CBC's corruption.

At least four current and former Alaska legislators were charged with felonies following the raids. Those under investigation but not charged include current U.S. Rep. Don Young, current U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, and former Alaska state Senate President Ben Stevens.

At this point it seems easier to ask which of our legislators weren't on the take.

FBI probes into the depth of corruption have seemingly not hit bottom

.........
Go online to http://www.thenorthernlight.org for more information about convictions and accusations of corruption in Alaska.

[L. Coyote]

26. horsesass.org: Mike McGavick joins the Corrupt Bastards Club

NOTE: Candidate Mike McGavick started as a campaign aide to Sen. Slade Gorton, also a major recipient of the Corrupt Bastards Club's "financial largesse."

========================================
McGavick joins the Corrupt Bastards Club
by Goldy, 09/05/2006
http://www.horsesass.org/index.php?p=1964

There’s some good news and some bad news for Republican US Senate wannabe Mike McGavick. ... the DUI story could be replaced by a potentially bigger, badder and more damaging scandal.

Last Thursday the FBI raided the offices of six Alaska legislators, hauling out crates of documents ..... Turns out, one of those politicians is Mike McGavick.

As first uncovered by Natasha at Pacific Views (http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/002159.html), and then expanded on by Noemie over at WashBlog (http://www.washblog.com/story/2006/9/4/31646/36894), FEC reports show that McGavick has received contributions of at least $12,000 from VECO’s top six executives ....

Why? Why would an Alaska oil field services company have all its top executives contribute to a candidate seeking to represent the state of Washington? Because Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens told them to, that’s why. That’s why McGavick is the only federal candidate outside of Alaska to whom Leathard has contributed during the current election cycle… and I suppose it also explains why he and VECO Chairman & CEO Bill Allen have each contributed an additional $25,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Hmm. I wonder where that money is supposed to be spent? ...

[L. Coyote]

27. Alaska "Big Oil" donation to Mike McGavick = over $50,000

Mike! Drunk on Alaskan Oil $: FBI Raids "Corrupt Bastards Club"
By noemie maxwell
Mon Sep 04, 2006
http://www.washblog.com/story/2006/9/4/31646/36894

.... a particularly slimy "Big Oil" donation to Mike! in the FEC database today, $2,000 from Alaska's Peter Leathard. ....

....

I ... searched for Alaskan donations on McGavick's page. Below ... a list of maybe half of the Alaskan donations to Mike! These include over $12,000 from VECO employees, $3,750 from the employees of an oil and gas pipeline construction company named ASRC -- and over $50,000 from other Alaskan companies that looked to me to be associated with the fossil fuel industry. The database includes many donations from retired individuals, lawyers, and others whose affiliations aren't evident without further research. The lesson? Well, we already knew it: Mike! can't be trusted to uphold the public trust. Creepy.

Selected donations from Alaskan residents to Mike! McGavick, 2006

Bill Allen, VECO CORP/CHAIRMAN & CEO, $2,000
Rocky Brew, INLER PETROLEUM/PRESIDENT, $1,000
Daniel Brewster, BERING PACIFIC CONSTRUCTION $1,000
Robby Caps, F & W CONSTRUCTION/VICE PRESIDENT, $500
Roger Chan, VECO CORP/EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, $2,000
Doug Chapados, PETROSTAR INV/CEO, $500
Tom Corkran, VECO CORP/VP CORPORATE CONTROLLER, $2,000
Hal Dreyer, DEJON CORP/CONSULTANT, $1,000 (business management, process and logistics)
Craig Floerchinger, ASRC/VP, $500 (Oil and gas pipeline construction)
Robert Gillam, $3,900, MCKINLEY CAPITAL/DIRECTOR
David Guzy, $1,000, LONE WOLF ENTERPRISE, (waste management and snow removal services)
Robert Halcro, $500, SELF EMPLOYED/INVESTOR
Leonard Hyde, $3,000, JL PROPERTIES, INC./REAL ESTATE
Jim Jansen, $2,000, LYNDEN/PRESIDENT & CEO (Air cargo and logistics)
Ron Jones, $500, ASRC/SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Mark Kroloff, ARCTIC SLOPES REG. CORP./SENIOR VI, $500
Mark Langland, NORTHRIM BANK/BANKER, $500
Peter Leathard, VECO CORP/PRESIDENT, $2,000
Oliver Leavit, ARCTIC SLOPES REG. CORP., $500
Melvin Lynch, CHUGACH ALASKA/ENGINEER, $500
Harry McDonald, CARLILE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS/PRE, $1,000
Mathew Moon, ASRC/ENVIRONMENTAL, $250
Ken Moss, ASRC/EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, $1,000
Thomas Packer, WED BUSH MORGAN SEC./INVESTMENT, $1,000
Liane Pelletier, ACS/CEO, $1,000
PJ Penney, PENCO PROPERTIES/REAL ESTATE, $1,000
Robert Penney, PENCO PROPERTIES/REAL ESTATE, $1,000
Sherron Perry, FAIRWEATHER INC/SERVICES, $2,200 (Oil and gas exploration and development)
Mark Pfeffler, KODNCE PFEFFER BETTIS/ARCHITECT, $1,000
John J. Powers, SELF EMPLOYED/ENTREPRENEUR, $1,000
Randy Ruedrich, ARCTIC E & P ADVISORS/ENGINEER, $800
Joe Ralston, TCG/CONSULTANT, $500
Rick Smith, VECO VP, $2,000
Walter Schlotfelt, DENALI GROUP COMPANY, INC/EXECUTIVE, (Transportation Consultants) $2,000
Chuck Schumann, MICROCON/COMMUNICATIONS, $500
William Scheffield, PORT OF ANCHORAGE/MANAGER, $250
James Slack, VECO CORP/VICE PRESIDENT, $2,000
Douglas L. Smith, ASRC/HSET MANAGER, $500
Mark Smith, CROWLEY/MANAGER, $500, 4/19/06
Jeanine St.John, LYNDEN/VICE PRESIDENT, $500
Robert Stinson, CONAM CONSTRUCTION CO/PRESIDENT, $500
Mike Stophlet, ASRC/PRESIDENT & CEO, $500
John Studderth, ASRC/SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, $500
Peter Sorensen, WORLD WIDE MOVERS INC/EXECUTIVE, $500
George Suddock, AK NATIONAL INSURANCE/PRESIDENT, $2,900
Cam Toohey, SHELL EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION/GOV, $500
Mead Treadwell, VENTURE AD ASTRA, LLC/CEO, $1,000
Barney Uhart, CHUGACH ALASKA/PRESIDENT & CEO, $250
Brad West, WEST CONSTRUCTION/CONTRACTOR, $1,500

[L. Coyote]

30. FEC: Individuals Who Gave To: MCGAVICK, MICHAEL SEAN

Presented by the Federal Election Commission

Individuals Who Gave To: MCGAVICK, MICHAEL SEAN
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/S6WA00248/

CHALLENGER
Office Sought: Senate
State: Washington
Party: REP (Republican Party)

PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE: FRIENDS FOR MIKE MCGAVICK - ID: C00413559

Search For:
Contributions Made by This Candidate's Committees
Committees Who Gave to This Candidate

These Contributions are taken from the reports of those committees giving contributions.
As a result, they may cover different time periods depending on the reporting schedules of various committees.

[L. Coyote]

32. FEC: Committees Who Gave To This Candidate

Committees Who Gave To This Candidate
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/S6WA00248

ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS PAC 10/31/2006 30,000.00

...............

ALAMO PAC 10,00.00
ALLIANCE FOR THE WEST 10,00.00

...........

[LeftishBrit]

28. You mean they actually CALL themselves the Corrupt Bastards Club?

And still get elected????

[L. Coyote]

33. You have to admit, their hubris exceeds any known political examples.

I gotta have one of those tee-shits and caps :rofl:

AND< we should just call them by their chosen name!

[L. Coyote]

29. dKos: What You Need To Know About The Alaska F.B.I. Raids

What You Need To Know About The Alaska F.B.I Raids
by LieparDestin - Sep 03, 2006
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/3/113731/2116


As I stated in my last diary I will cover the Alaskan raids here on dkos day after day, in attempt to highlight the ongoing (but seemingly forgotten) culture of corruption.

Comments are urged, and researchers are desperately needed, as I'm just one person ...

Timeline ... The Warrants ... The Companies ... The People ...

=================
More That You Need To Know About The Alaska Raids
by LieparDestin - Sep 05, 2006
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/5/15056/10754

What Started It All? ... More tidbits on the Searches and various Corruption ...

Fish, Oil and Political Payoffs. This one has it all.

=================
Tag: Veco = http://www.dailykos.com/tag/Veco
Tag: Ted Stevens= http://www.dailykos.com/tag/Ted%20Stevens

[L. Coyote]

31. Wiki:" political campaign donations by the top seven VECO executives to Alaska lawmakers

Corrupt Bastards Club
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_political_corruption_probe

The name "Corrupt Bastards Club" (alternatively "Corrupt Bastards Caucus") has been widely, if with limited accuracy, used to designate Alaska legislators implicated in the federal corruption investigation. The nickname originated in the spring of 2006 as a barroom joke among Alaska legislators after a guest article by Lori Backes, executive director of All Alaska Alliance, that ran in Alaska's three largest newspapers named 11 lawmakers who had received large campaign contributions from executives of the oilfield services company VECO Corporation, which has a long history of making large campaign contributions to Alaska politicians. The article also named Senate President Ben Stevens as having received large consulting fees from VECO.<3><4>

In her article, Backes detailed the amount of political campaign donations contributed between 1998 and 2004 by the top seven VECO executives to Alaska lawmakers who were in office at the time her article was written. The figures were based on reports to the Alaska Public Offices Commission:<3>

* Sen. John Cowdery (R- Anchorage), Senate Rules Committee Chair: $24,550.
* Rep. Pete Kott (R- Eagle River), former speaker of the House: $21,300.
* Rep. Norman Rokeberg (R-Anchorage), House Rules Committee Chair: $18,000.
* Rep. Vic Kohring (R- Wasilla), House Oil and Gas Committee Chair : $14,708.
* Gov. Frank Murkowski: $6,500 (excluding donations to past U.S. Senate races)
* Rep. Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage), House Finance Committee Co-Chair: $12,300.
* Rep. Mike Chenault (R- Nikiski), House Finance Committee Co-Chair: $12,000.
* Rep. Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage), House Judiciary Committee Chair: $12,000.
* Sen. Con Bunde (R-Anchorage), Senate Labor and Commerce Committee Chair: $11,500.
* Sen. Lyda Green (R-Wasilla), Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair: $9,000.
* Rep. Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage): $8,050.
* Rep. Tom Anderson (R-Anchorage), House Labor and Commerce Chair: $8,000.

Additionally, Backes noted the consulting contract Senate President Ben Stevens (R-Anchorage) had with VECO Corporation and financial relationships other lawmakers had with other companies active in the oil and gas industry, including Conoco Phillips and ASCG Inc.<3>

[L. Coyote]

35. ALASKA Senate, under Ben Stevens' leadership, thwarted efforts for a higher tax.

Is oil-tax taint real, or did PPT pass fairly?
2006 SPECIAL SESSIONS: Senate, under Ben Stevens' leadership, thwarted efforts for a higher tax.
By TOM KIZZIA - Oct 28, 2007
http://www.adn.com/front/story/9413385p-9326046c.html

Was the oil tax passed by the Legislature last year really tainted by corruption, as Alaska's governor and other critics contend?

The question has no easy answer. A piece of law can rarely be traced to one person or event, and well-reasoned arguments were raised last year for keeping taxes low as well as for raising them.

But a review of court and legislative records, and interviews with key players, suggest Veco's influence in the state Senate may have effectively kept oil taxes from going higher than they did.

The Senate chamber is where Ben Stevens presided and fought, both publicly and behind the scenes, for a lower tax rate -- all while taking payments from Veco Corp. for services that company officials now say consisted of delivering on Veco priorities.

The tax on oil production finally approved last August after two special sessions was higher than the industry wanted. But the tax might have been even greater ...........

[L. Coyote]

36. Senate and House committees nix net tax increase, but it's not the final word

Legislature guts Palin's oil tax bill
Senate and House committees nix net tax increase, but it's not the final word
STEVE QUINN - AP - Oct 28, 2007
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/102807/sta_20071028021.shtml


This is not the final word. Two more committees each in the House and Senate will review the bill in this special legislative session that began Oct. 18 at Palin's behest and could last as many as 30 days.

The oil tax also has been at the heart of a federal corruption probe that started in Juneau with state lawmakers and has now stretched to Capitol Hill, where Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young, both from Alaska, are under scrutiny.

Palin called state lawmakers back to work because she believes last year's oil tax law was tainted by the corruption charges that has former Rep. Vic Kohring currently on trial. She is also concerned about a projected $800 million shortfall.

Palin told The Associated Press on Saturday she thought the heavy edit to the bill called Alaska's Fair and Equitable Share - or ACES - was premature in the 10th day of the session. Still she's heartened by a pledge from lawmakers to keep the fiscal issues on the table for discussion.

........................

[spanone]

39. how about 'the shameless criminals club'