Posts

Alaska to Sue Interior Department for Road to Reach Medical Aid

Photo Credit: Anonymous

Photo Credit: Anonymous

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell announced Monday that the state will sue the Obama administration to allow construction of a 10-mile road to give residents of a remote fishing village access to emergency medical flights at an all-weather airport.

Residents of King Cove, Alaska, were outraged in December when Interior Secretary Sally Jewell nixed a plan for a land swap that would have allowed the building of an unpaved road between the small town and the airport at Cold Bay.

Environmentalists had lobbied the Interior Department to stop the proposal, arguing that a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge could jeopardize the world’s largest known bed of eelgrass, which is used as fodder by migratory birds.

“In just the last several weeks, serious health-related evacuations have shown just how critical a road for medical evacuations is for residents,” the Republican governor said in a statement.

“The State continues to explore all potential avenues to help the people of King Cove. The notice of intent to sue relates to one option the State is evaluating, but the fastest and surest way to provide emergency medical access for King Cove residents is for Secretary Jewell to reconsider her decision placing the possible temporary disturbance of birds above the health and safety of Alaskans.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Special Counsel to Investigate Armed EPA Mining Raid in Alaska

Photo Credit: jkbrooks85Alaska’s governor, Sean Parnell, announced Thursday that a special counsel has been named to investigate raids by conducted by federal and state authorities near the town of Chicken.

“Alaskans deserve to know all the facts in this case,” Parnell said in a Thursday press release. “While these facts are being gathered, I will continue to be vigilant in defense of Alaskans’ liberty and personal property.

Anchorage attorney Brent Cole will be asked to determine, among other things, whether any laws were violated and if different actions could have been taken. The report is due within 90 days.

A spokesman for the federal Environmental Protection Agency, at the time, did not deny that agents wore body armor and carried guns, but said it was not a “raid.” The task force included members from 10 state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Read more from this story HERE.

Months Later, Deafening Silence from Alaska State Government Regarding Investigation of Assault, Interference with Juneau Pro-Life Protest

photo compre“What does it mean to be illegal? When you go through these various scandals, you are told “this was illegal, that was illegal, the next thing’s illegal.” Nobody gets held accountable. Nobody gets fired. Nobody goes to jail. So what does it mean to say these things are illegal? It’s just part of the decay of bureaucratic big government that is across the board just beginning to fall apart.” —Newt Gingrich

The scandals of the Obama Administration are what Newt Gingrich was speaking of. But he might as well had been speaking of what has happened in the aftermath of events on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on April 2nd and 3rd of this year when a group of peaceful law-abiding citizens exercising their First Amendment Rights to free speech and assembly, were accosted, physically assaulted, and threatened by employees of the Department of Administration and the Legislative Branch. Using state vehicles and resources, state employees carried out illegal acts that also violated parking laws in an attempt to thwart a peaceful demonstration.

Governor Parnell’s office made a non binding, non committal statement that they would look into the matter when it first happened on April 2 and would make sure it didn’t happen again. Much to the shock, amazement, and frustration of the demonstrators, it did happen, even more strongly, the very next day. So much for Parnell’s standing up to defend Alaskans’ state and federal rights.

Senator Dunleavy was notified and on the Senate Floor spoke of these instances, calling them an outrage and asked that a Senate investigation be carried out.
Senator Huggins, as Senate President has stated in the interim, that a full investigation is underway and for people to allow time the process to work.

After waiting over two months for “the process to work,” I wrote Senator Huggins a letter by email, outlining my concerns [see letter below] on June 7, 2013. Well, it is now June 18th. I have yet to hear a single word from Senator Huggins, except for an automated response stating that his office had received my letter and that he would reply shortly. Apparently, Senator Huggins must use a different dictionary than me since “shortly” is long past and I fear as I said in my letter, it appears that Senator Huggins wants “this matter to be swept under the proverbial rug.”

“We need to fundamentally shake up the entire big government system. There has been a deep deep decay of the bureaucracy of this country—it’s out of control—it’s unaccountable—nobody manages it.—Newt Gingrich

So when people in high positions of leadership in our government, whether it be state or federal, violate and infringe on laws and fundamental GOD-given rights that are protected by the Constitution, both state and federal, and are not held accountable to those laws by others in government and the courts, what is the point first of all, of the laws, and secondly of all the money that is taken from hardworking Americans to pay these leaders whose job IS to uphold the Constitution?

_____________________________________________________________

Senator Charlie Huggins
Senate President

June 7, 2013

Dear Senator Huggins,

I am writing you today regarding the incidents that occurred on or near the Alaska state capitol steps on April 2nd and 3rd of 2013, when the First Amendment rights of peaceful law abiding citizens were violated. [see link]

Many concerned Alaskans, including myself, contacted Senator Dunleavy and asked him to get to the bottom of the issue. He had told us the Senate was investigating this matter.

He has been asked on more than one occasion since then, what the status of that investigation was. His response has been that it is his understanding that it is being investigated and if we want more information we need to contact your office.

Therefore I am contacting you to ascertain what is the status of this investigation? Sen Dunleavy has asked us to give the Senate time to investigate—we have. However it is long past due for a response. Sen Dunleavy asked us to trust in the process—we have. But in the words of the great President Ronald Reagan, we trust but must verify. What is the status?

I hope to hear from you shortly, with a full explanation and straight answers. Given the recent failures of government on Washington D.C. we still want to believe that our rights in Alaska will be protected. However, should this not be the case, I and others are prepared to take this matter to a higher level such as going even further with the news media, ACLU, Liberty Counsel, Heritage Foundation, and any other organization interested in transparent government. We will not let this matter drop. We will not allow this matter to be swept under the proverbial rug. The actions that occurred were blatant violations of the First Amendment. The perpetrators, regardless of position—up to the highest level of government, who ordered Alaska State government employees, property, such as vehicles, and other state resources to carry out these illegal acts—must be held accountable and charged with penalties to the fullest extent of the law.

Thank you for your prompt reply.

Sincerely,
Amy Walker
Palmer, Alaska

Governor Blames the Court System For Violating Free Speech Rights; Senator says, 'This is an Outrage'

In what is shaping up to be a major embarrassment for all branches of Alaska’s state government, Governor Sean Parnell yesterday blamed the Alaska Court System for blocking pro-life protesters and impeding their free speech rights.

He stated that, on Tuesday, “the Court System requested the Department of Administration use state vehicles to park in front of the protesters.” The Governor’s statement on Wednesday about the Tuesday fiasco acknowledged just one Department of Administration vehicle and made no mention of the Alaska Court System’s involvement in its use to block the protesters.

The Governor’s statement yesterday not only blamed the Court System for Tuesday, but also noted that on both days in question, “employees of the Legislature parked vehicles in front of the protestors.”

Juneau has still made no comment on the alleged assault and other improper behavior, including the forced removal of a sign, that occurred on Wednesday (you can see of video of what happened HERE).

Interestingly, Alaska’s media did not report on what happened in Juneau until Friday, days after Restoring Liberty informed Alaskans about what happened. This is despite the fact that a reporter was present on Wednesday who observed the protest and questioned the participants after the alleged assault.

We have demanded an investigation into what happened on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Those who have committed unlawful and/or improper acts should be held accountable.

The Governor’s and/or Legislature’s investigation must also get to the bottom of why the Alaska Court System would direct state resources outside its jurisdiction to violate protesters’ First Amendment rights.

Here’s what one Senator said to his colleagues about this “outrage” yesterday:

Video: Alaska's Department of Administration Interferes With Pro-life Protest; Gov. Parnell Responds

Today, the Center for Bioethical Reform staged a demonstration in front of the Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. The event, intended to influence public policy by educating legislators about the horrors of abortion, started with little fanfare.

The activists erected large posters of aborted babies across from the capitol steps. At first, it didn’t seem their activities were attracting much attention. But that soon changed.

According to one participant we interviewed today, a line of trucks began to appear, some parking in the middle of the road, the others parking in the loading zone immediately in front of the capitol.

One driver exited his vehicle and apologized, stating he was just doing what he was told to do:

Several hours later, after a legislator’s staff was contacted, the vehicles were abruptly removed.

The governor should immediately investigate who gave the order to use state assets to interfere with this peaceful political protest. The use of state resources in this partisan and anti-First Amendment way is wrong and someone should be held accountable.

UPDATE: Governor Parnell’s office contacted Restoring Liberty today and emailed THIS RESPONSE.

Senate Expected To Take Up United Nations Treaty As Early As Tuesday

photo credit: cliff1066

The Senate is expected to vote on the pro-abortion CRPD treaty on Wednesday and pro-life groups are asking pro-life advocates to contact members of the Senate urging them to vote against it.

The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, after members voted 61-36 to move the treaty to the floor for debate.

The International Right to Life Federation says pro-life groups oppose this legislation because it leaves open the potential for the international community to permit sterilization or abortion for the disabled. The terminology, found in Article 25, requires, “free or affordable health care including the area of sexual and reproductive health and population-based health programs.”

Bradley Mattes, president of the International Right to Life Federation, stated, “This is a misleading measure in that it does nothing to protect life. It is disguised as a way to ‘help’ the disabled. Instead it intentionally sacrifices the most vulnerable – the disabled and the unborn – all in the name of population control.”

He continued, “Many don’t realize that this international treaty could potentially supersede future attempts to overturn Roe v. Wade.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Alaska Plunging Full Speed Ahead Toward Internationalism (With the Help of its Political Establishment)

As we’ve reported over the last several months, almost the entirety of Alaska’s political establishment, including Governor Parnell, Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell, Senators Murkowski and Begich, and virtually the entirety of the state legislature, support adoption of the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST). This internationalist scheme to extend UN jurisdiction over two thirds of the earth’s surface should make any Constitution-loving Alaskan’s blood boil. To make matters worse, the political leadership attempts to justify LOST with the pathetic excuse that it would be “good for Alaska business.”

We’ll break down that Benedict Arnold-like excuse for selling sovereignty down the UN drain in a future article. But for now, it’s time to focus on another imminent threat to our national integrity: the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This treaty, criticized by Restoring Liberty in earlier posts here and here, also has support among Alaska’s political class. In fact, it is openly supported by Alaska Governor Parnell’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education:

Most Alaskans should be scratching their heads over this new effort to subjugate Alaska to the whimsical dictates of the United Nations.

Here’s what’s wrong with the treaty. In an article entitled “Back Door Globalism,” Senators DeMint and Inhofe criticize the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities warning that it “calls for government agents to supersede the authority of parents of disabled children and even covers abortion.”

ParentalRights.org further explains that the treaty “poses a serious threat to the right of parents with disabled children to make decisions on behalf of those children regarding their education, medical care, and other areas of life. By introducing the “best interest of the child” principle as a government obligation (Article 7.2), the CRPD places bureaucrats in the position to make the ultimate decisions regarding each child.”

Homeschool advocate HSLDA also sees real danger in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, claiming that it is a backdoor means of requiring compliance with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, a treaty that “enshrines abortion rights, homosexual rights, and demands the complete disarmament of all people.”

HSLDA also suggests that the treaty will mandate national spending priorities, require US funding for poorer countries’ disability programs, and require all persons to have handicap accessible residences. Also cited are infringement on autonomy of homeschooling by requiring government-directed disability programs to be administered, banning of corporal punishment, and other government-mandated intrusions into the family and home.

From the perspective of a states rights advocate, the treaty is very threatening. All American law on disabilities will be required to conform to the dictates and standards of the United Nations treaty. Obviously, this is a terrible infringement on a state’s right to legislate in this area. Under the Constitution, the federal government has no enumerated power giving it such authority. But now, under the treaty, the United States will be under one international standard – enforced by the federal government – further displacing state sovereignty.

In short, no Constitution-honoring political leader should offer even tacit support to this treaty. They must be held accountable.

Governor Parnell, Anchorage Mayor Sullivan Clash on South Central Energy Crisis

photo credit: jber

Where Southcentral will get its energy in the near future was up for debate between the Anchorage mayor and the governor at the Resource Development Council’s annual conference.

“Everyone needs affordable energy,” said Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan during his opening remarks Nov. 14, and added it was almost a given that Southcentral would be importing natural gas in the near future to bridge supply shortages projected for the 2014-15 winter.

Speaking a few minutes later during the same opening session, Gov. Sean Parnell disagreed.

“Mayor Sullivan, importing gas, I don’t think so,” Parnell said. “We have got to do better than that. And I will work my tail off, to make sure that we don’t have to do that. My hope is that these incentives will work in Cook Inlet so that’s not necessary. Not when our resources here are so vast.

“Importing has got to be a last option, or a last resort.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Alaska’s Governor & Delegation, Party to Empowering Tyrants & Terrorists

Do we want to redistribute America’s wealth to State sponsors of terrorism while hamstringing our defenses? Passing the Law of the Sea Treaty would do just that, enabling the United Nations to further raid America’s treasury, rob her sovereignty, and further empower the despots of the UN.

Here’s a question for the two Senators from Alaska: why would you be a party to empowering the tyrants and terrorists of the United Nations? Why would Alaska’s Governor Sean Parnell and Lt Governor Mead Treadwell also favor passing this treaty?

Our state’s leadership supports a treaty that would be catastrophic for America.

There have been three UN conventions on the Law of the Sea (LOST), the first in 1956, the second in 1960 (both held in Geneva, Switzerland), and the third in New York, 1973. The third convention finally concluded in 1982. The international treaty became enforceable in November, 1994, one year after the sixtieth state, Guyana, ratified the treaty. 162 countries have ratified LOST.

In its current form, the Law of the Sea consists of 17 parts, containing 320 articles and 9 annexes, governing ocean space, boundaries, environmental control, marine research, economic and commercial activities, transfer of technology and royalties, and the settlement of disputes relating to ocean matters.

In past administrations, the main obstacles to US Senate ratification have been the provisions in Part XI, articles 133 through 191 of LOST defining the area subject to international jurisdiction, and part VI, article 82, describing royalty distribution. All disputes would be resolved at an international tribunal headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.

The US Senate has never ratified the treaty. The Obama administration recently revived it and, although the Senate didn’t actually vote on it, LOST supporters were only one vote short of the 67 needed to ratify it (in the US, treaty ratification requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate and the President’s signature). LOST is sometimes called the ‘Zombie treaty’ because it keeps resurfacing after being rejected by the US Senate.

From my perspective, one of the biggest problems with the treaty is its re-distributive policies. America’s generosity has always been superior to that of any other country. Americans have freely given untold sums of aid to those in need. But now the US is supposed to sign a treaty mandating that Americans must give more, potentially sending trillions of dollars to ‘less developed’ countries, some of whom are known state sponsors of terrorism!

Resource exploration and development in effect becomes distribution of wealth to an ‘international authority.’ Of course, the resource extraction itself can only be done after receiving permission from that ‘authority’ to do so. Beyond our Continental shelf or ‘exclusive economic zone’, a percentage of revenue from resource production such as oil, would be distributed to the UN.

Resource development thus becomes the fuel for global power, a power that will further raid America’s wealth, redistributing it as well as the LOST resource revenues, to our enemies across the world.

I am also very concerned that ratifying LOST would greatly degrade America’s defense capability. The security of our allies throughout the world would be compromised. Access to ocean or maritime areas presently used and protected by the US Navy could be lost as sovereignty is lost to the UN. At risk is peace and liberty for many countries. America must not submit to the power of despots within the United Nations.

As noted above, not only does Governor Parnell and Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell strongly favor LOST, both of our US Senators do as well. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., is pushing for ratification of the treaty, with a vote planned for the lame-duck session after the November elections. Alaska’s two Senators have said they’ll vote for it.

When you analyze treaties such as the ‘Law of the Sea’, the ‘UN arms treaty’, or proposals and policies found in things like the UN’s ‘Agenda 21’, or Coastal zone management, you find a common thread binding them together: internationalism. Either our elected representatives are ignorant, corrupted by special interests that gain from the new regimes, or they are globalists. More likely, they’re a bit of each.

State of Alaska Ignores Voter Fraud…Again: Illegal Alien Cop Skates on 41 Felonies

Alaska No IDRecords from the Alaska Division of Elections reveal that a former Anchorage Police Officer convicted on federal charges for false claims of citizenship and passport fraud has voted repeatedly in federal, state, and local elections in Alaska dating back to 1991. Raphael Mora-Lopez – a.k.a. Raphael A. Espinoza – voted most recently in 2010, casting ballots in the local municipal elections as well as both primary and general state-wide elections. In all he voted no less than 41 times over a 20-year period.

Though the State pressed charges relating to $27,000 fraudulently obtained by Mora-Lopez from Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend payouts, he was sentenced to only 24 months in jail with all 24 months suspended. State prosecutors subsequently declined to press charges on at least 41 counts of voter misconduct in the first degree, a class C felony in the State of Alaska.

This new information raises grave concerns about elections integrity in Alaska, and about the level of seriousness among State officials with respect to voter fraud. One might view the State’s inaction as an oversight had the Associated Press not reported the fact as early as June 2011, ostensibly citing federal court records. But given that the Alaska Division of Elections has since purged Mora-Lopez from the voter rolls, it is certain that State officials were not in the dark.

The fact that State prosecutors would turn a blind eye to such an egregious case not only casts doubt upon the integrity of the Department of Law, but makes a mockery of Alaska’s election laws.

In 2010, US Senate candidate Joe Miller raised similar concerns only to have them summarily dismissed by State officials. The fact that the charges against Raphael Mora-Lopez in April 2011 came on the heels of the State’s internal investigation of the 2010 general election in which the State denied having a problem with illegal felon voters may account for the State’s reticence to raise the profile of this case by pressing charges.

However, such a scenario offers little comfort for concerned citizens. For if the State would sweep 41 felonies under the rug to protect a local police officer, or perhaps just to save face, what might it cover up to protect a United States Senator?

 

Photo credit:  Joe Miller, All Rights Reserved