Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), a giant of Senate politics and a legend in Alaska, has been guilty on seven criminal charges stemming from concealing more than $250,000 in gifts and renovations to his home in Alaska, primarily from wealthy friend Bill Allen, the former head of an Alaska oilfield services company - Veco. Stevens' son Ben has also been swept up in a corruption scandal. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Stevens becomes the becomes the fifth U.S. senator ever to be convicted of a crime. The 84-year old senator - the longest-serving Republican in Senate history, will continue to run re-election for his eighth term in Senate against Democratic challenger Mark Begich, which is virtually tied at this point. Why Alaskan's would continue to vote for a convicted criminal is beyond me, or why a criminals are not immediately banned from running from public office. I only hope that is benefits are stripped away.
Alaska Gov. and VP nominee Sarah Palin did not call on Steven's to resigns but added in a statement: "I'm confident Sen. Steven's will do what's right for the people of Alaska."
Hmm !!!. Not exactly sure what she's trying to say, but she has managed to make an important topic fuzzy as can be. Sarah - what exactly do you think needs to happen to this convicted criminal, and why aren't you saying it clear as a bell.
Stevens, the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriatio
ns Committee, which determines where and how to dole out federal dollars, the Alaskan has used his position to pour money into his home state, take care of his friends, and punish his enemies.
ns Committee, which determines where and how to dole out federal dollars, the Alaskan has used his position to pour money into his home state, take care of his friends, and punish his enemies.Between 1995 and 2008, Stevens directed more than $3.3 billion in pet projects, or "earmarks,'' toward his state, according to Citizens Against Government Waste, a Washington-based nonprofit advocacy group. The organization calculated that in 2006, the federal money amounted to almost $500 per person in Alaska, whose population is just 670,000.
Source: U.S. Office of Management and Budget
Vote for a Change on Nov. 4.
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