Introducinf Sarah Palin

Introducing Sarah Palin -  current Governor of Alaska, and the presumptive Republican vice presidential candidate for the November 2008 election.^[1] She is the second female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major American political party (the first was Geraldine Ferraro), first Republican.

Energy Issues

Palin’s tenure is noted for her independence from big oil companies, while still promoting resource development.^[10][9] Palin has announced plans to create a new sub-cabinet group of advisors, to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Alaska.^[19]

Social Issues

Palin is strongly pro-life and belongs to Feminists for Life.^[12] She opposes same-sex marriage, but she has stated that she has gay friends and is receptive to gay and lesbian concerns about discrimination.^[12] While the previous administration did not implement same-sex benefits, Palin complied with a state Supreme Court order and signed them into law.[32]

Budget

In the first days of her administration, Palin followed through on a campaign promise to sell the Westwind II jet purchased (on a state government credit account) by the Murkowski administration. The state placed the jet for sale on eBay three times. In August 2007, the jet was sold for $2.7 million.^[40]

Shortly after becoming governor, Palin canceled an 11-mile (18-kilometer) gravel road outside of Juneau to a mine. This reversed a decision made in the closing days or hours of the Murkowski Administration.^[41]

In June 2007, Palin signed into law the largest operating budget in Alaska’s history ($6.6 billion).^[42] At the same time, she used her veto power to make the second-largest cuts of the construction budget in state history. The US$237 million in cuts represented over 300 local projects, and reduced the construction budget to nearly US$1.6 billion.^[43]