Courtesy of the amazing "Dr. Chill"
I knew when I got up this morning that today was going to be one busy day. I had to finish my "comments" and turn them in to the Personnel Board...the comments that are in response to the summary report by Investigator Thomas Daniel which dismissed the Arctic Cat Complaint for "no probable cause." I knew I had to finish them early in the afternoon because I had to write my public testimony for the Alaska Public Offices Commission meeting held today and tomorrow.
I felt especially moved to give public testimony because I received the following in my email the night before. It is a response from the Governor (OK, really from Van Flein) to the letter of inquiry sent by APOC back in March:
First...let's talk about the secrecy regarding this entire Arctic Cat process...stuff I didn't want to discuss until after I sent off my response to the Personnel Board.
The Investigator on the Arctic Cat complaint, Mr. Thomas Daniel, asked Gov. Palin nine questions and was permitted (by Van Flein...those Legal Defense Fund dollars at work) to look at the Arctic Cat Contract as long as he "kept it confidential." Once Palin "waived her confidentiality" and they released the report, I asked for all of that information SINCE IT WAS WHAT HE BASED HIS DECISION UPON.
Mr. Daniel states that he is getting an Attorney General opinion because he believes that they need to...get this...keep that information "confidential" because it is the "product of attorneys."
So, what he seems to be saying is that his dealings with Mr. Van Flein are "confidential" because they are both attorneys...You know, as if he were an attorney working FOR THE PALINS instead of the Investigator working for the State of Alaska...the job he was contracted to do.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? What part of "waiver of confidentiality" does Mr. Daniel not understand? Not to mention, almost EVERY legal document can be called a "product of lawyers!" The report itself is the product of a lawyer, yet he released it!
So, I'll let you know how THAT bit of attempted bullshit secrecy develops.
Back to the Governor's response to the APOC letter...let's discuss those "Alaska Statutes" they are trying to use to justify keeping Todd's discounts confidential. They are...I kid you not...part of the Alaska Statutes establishing Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA)!!!
No...I'm NOT kidding!
Title 43. Revenue and Taxation
Chapter 90. Alaska Gasline Inducement Act
AS 43.90.150. Proprietary Information and Trade Secrets.
AS 43.90.220. Records, Reports, Conditions, and Audit Requirements.
If you read these, there is absolutely NOTHING that applies to anything other than AGIA. To me, this looks like a "Hail Mary" pass by Mr. Van Flein and the Governor.
As Sean Cockerham reported, the APOC decided to investigate this at the meeting today. (They politely let me know right after my testimony...that was asking them to please investigate this!) We'll see what APOC finds. Also, for those of you who may not know, APOC generally DOES NOT do investigations unless there is a complaint involved. This is significant.
Of course, my day didn't end at the APOC Meeting. I testified at the Assembly Chambers tonight in favor of Ordinance 64...but THAT will have to wait until tomorrow.
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