- U.S. Senator Arlen Specter
(R-PA)
"I'd remind the agribusinessman I was on the Agriculture Committee; I'd remind the banker I was on the Banking Committee. Most large contributors understand only two things: what you can do for them and what you can do to them. I always left that room feeling like a cheap prostitute who'd had a busy day."
-Former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller
(D-GA) describing the daily conversations from fundraising cubicles.
"Any voter with a healthy understanding of the flaws of human nature and who notices the vast amounts of money solicited and received by politicians cannot help but believe that we are unduly influenced by our benefactors' generosity."
- U.S. Senator
John McCain (R-AZ)
Cleanly financed elections that bring more citizens into the political process as candidates, donors, and organizers are vital to maintaining the health of American democracy. Over the long run, such a system will produce better choices for all.
-New York Times editorial
Corruption in Alaska
Now, former Anchorage Representative Tom Anderson is serving time in a federal prison and Eagle River Representative and former Speaker of the State House Pete Kott will soon be joining him. Former Valley Representative Vic Kohring is convicted and appealing his sentence. Former Juneau Representative Bruce Weyrach is awaiting trial in a federal court. Former Murkowski Chief of Staff Jim Clark has pled guilty to commissioning an illegal poll for then governor Frank Murkowski's re-election campaign. Are more indictments on the way? Why are we facing this crisis? Alaska is embarrassed on a national scale by our own elected officials. What do we do now and who can we trust?
Whether you've known or suspected this situation for a long time or are just waking up to the repugnant reality, you've found the right place. If you're mad as hell and won't take it anymore, use our resources to learn more and help us change Alaska for the better!
In this page, we're offering you a sampling of the information, links and available resouces to give you the tools to conduct your own research and form your own opinion.
Whatever your political affiliation or personal philosophy, we can all agree that we must put an end to corruption by working together to bring Clean Elections to Alaska. Corruption happens in all political parties, therefore it falls upon we Alaskans to work together and restructure the system to ensure it doesn't happen again. Clean Elections is an alternative way to finance political campaigns and help ensure that good people have a fighting chance to run for office and work for the people of Alaska.
"The Alaska political corruption investigation"
Overview of the key figures Compiled by DAVID HULEN and RICHARD MAUER, Anchorage Daily News, 8/5/2007
Alaska Political Investigations
Compilation of information and articles by the Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska Public Offices Commission
Mission: To encourage the public's confidence in their elected and appointed officials by administering Alaska's disclosure statutes and publishing financial information regarding the activities of election campaigns, public officials, lobbyists and lobbyist employers.
Arizona Clean Elections Institute, Inc.
Educates the public about various campaign finance abuses and the possibilities for reform.
Corrupt Bastard Club Page
Alaska Report
Former Legislator Vic Kohring Assigned to Prison
A former Alaska lawmaker convicted of corruption charges has been assigned to a prison in California. 6/2/2008
Maine Citizens for Clean Elections
Maine Citizens for Clean Elections is an organization dedicated to the goal of reducing the influence of money in politics in Maine and around the United States
Open Secrets
Presenting political news, and the actual political positions of the parties and candidates, as well as disclosing how much campaign money they have raised.
Political Corruption & Bribery Timeline
KTUU Channel 2, NBC television affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska
The Center for Public Integrity
Nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization in Washington, DC, that concentrates on ethics and public service issues.