Rumor Watch: Governor Sarah Palin

CBS News Chased Down Rumors In Wasilla

(CBS)  CBS News Investigative Producer Laura Strickler reported and wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

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Last week CBS News chased down rumors in Wasilla, Alaska. We’re listing a few of them here to set the record straight.

Rumor: Governor Sarah Palin cut funding for special needs children.

False: Palin did not cut special needs funding. In fact, special needs budgets obtained by CBS News show her administration increased funding for special education by $599,000 between 2007 and 2008 according to the Alaska Department of Education. And the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services told CBS News that Palin increased state investment for programs for emotionally disturbed children and those dealing with fetal alcohol syndrome from $3.6 million to $10.7 million between fiscal years 2006 and 2009.

Rumor: A list of books that Mayor Palin sought to ban is being circulated on the internet.

False: No books were ever banned from the Wasilla Library. A 1996 local newspaper article quotes the local librarian Mary Ellen Baker (former name Emmons) with saying Palin inquired twice about how the librarian would respond to banning books. Emmons is quoted saying she made it clear to Palin that if asked, she would refuse to do so. In the story, Palin characterizes her inquiries as “rhetorical” in nature. However, as of this writing, Emmons is not talking and wants to stay out of the fray, so no one can confirm the story independently. But one thing is for sure: the list circulating on the internet is fake, it includes books like the Harry Potter series that were not even published in 1996.

Rumor: When Palin was mayor she hired a lobbyist to get more federal earmarks.

True: CBS News has obtained the lobbying contracts (link to docs here) that Palin signed to get the lobbyist - a former Senator Ted Stevens’ staffer Steve Silvers. Documents show she sought money for the following:

$6.6 million for Wasilla water utility improvements
$3.2 million for urban storm water retention and lake water quality improvements
$90,000 for Wasilla Police Department safety equipment, communication needs and weapons

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Wasilla City Council Action Memorandum On Federal Lobbyist Services

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At the July 23, 2001 city council meeting, minutes obtained by CBS News indicate then Mayor Palin announced that the city would be getting federal grant funding for $1.5 million for water and sewer, $2.5 million for railroad relocation and $1.6 million for a police regional dispatch center.

In 2001, Palin personally appears to have reduced the size of the annual lobbying contract from $45,000 to $38,000 but no explanation is given. By 2002, the contract went back up to $42,000.

Rumor: Sarah and Todd Palin’s business partner Scott Richter sought to have his divorce records sealed because he had something to hide.

False: Richter did appeal to a judge in Palmer, Alaska to seal his records citing concern for his own privacy since his phone number appeared in the documents and he wanted to avoid unnecessary phone calls from reporters. His request was denied but the rumor sent at least a dozen national reporters, including CBS News, to the courthouse. What did we turn up? Nothing.

[seattlite4]

Watch the Sarah Palin Revealed special that CNN is running tonight. It is excellent with good facts and good interviews. It shows Palin in an excellent light simply because she has nothing to hide and is transparent. Give her a chance people instead of just trashing her and name calling.

[homespunlady]

Speaking of Palin''s "ETHICS PROBLEMS"
Here are SOME more EXAMPLES of GOP NEO-CON ETHICS:

***, Drug Use and Graft Cited in Interior Department

By CHARLIE SAVAGE
Published: September 10, 2008

WASHINGTON %u2014 As Congress prepares to debate expansion of drilling in taxpayer-owned coastal waters, the Interior Department agency that collects oil and gas royalties has been caught up in a wide-ranging ethics scandal %u2014 including allegations of financial self-dealing, accepting gifts from energy companies, cocaine use and sexual misconduct.

In three reports delivered to Congress on Wednesday, the department%u2019s inspector general, Earl E. Devaney, found wrongdoing by a dozen current and former employees of the Minerals Management Service, which collects about $10 billion in royalties annually and is one of the government%u2019s largest sources of revenue other than taxes.

%u201CA culture of ethical failure%u201D pervades the agency, Mr. Devaney wrote in a cover memo.

The reports portray a dysfunctional organization that has been riddled with conflicts of interest, unprofessional behavior and a free-for-all atmosphere for much of the Bush administration%u2019s watch.

[oneamerican4]

See the Democrat''s secret campaign strategy revealed in YouTube video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWP5ljQV79s

[homespunlady]

DEJA VU - "DAD''''S KEATING all over again. HOW do these guys GET AWAY with NOT being HELD RESPONSIBLE????

Silver State Bank in Nevada is shut
Sep 6, 1:29 AM (ET)
By MARCY GORDON

WASHINGTON (AP) - Regulators on Friday shut down Silver State Bank, saying the Nevada bank failed because of losses on soured loans, mainly in commercial real estate and land development.

Nevada regulators closed Silver State and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was appointed receiver of the bank, based in Henderson, Nev. It had $2 billion in assets and $1.7 billion in deposits as of June 30.

Andrew K. MCCAIN, a SON of Republican presidential nominee John McCain, SAT ON THE BOARDS of Silver State Bank and of its parent, Silver State Bancorp (SSBX) (SSBX), starting in February but resigned in July citing "personal reasons," corporate filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show.

Andrew McCain ALSO was a member of the bank''s AUDIT COMMITTEE, responsible for oversight of the company''s accounting.

The younger McCain, who is the chief financial officer of Hensley & Co., the beer distributorship of which Cindy McCain is chairwoman, is the Arizona senator''s adopted son from his first marriage.

Silver State Bank ran into difficulty because of a substantial amount of "poor-quality loans primarily related to real estate development"

[mccurrym4]

"I worry too my friend, hence i won''''t vote. Send a message to politicians and don''''t vote"
That is the WORST recommendation to make for any election. The only message politicians get from non-voters is that you don''t care and they are not accountable to you. Elected officials are accountable to the people who voted for them and the people who voted for their opponents. Those who don''t vote don''t count. Let all politicians know you are watching by VOTING!!

[co40co]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/13/AR2008091302596.html

[co40co]

It has been accurately reported that Palin did in fact ask Emmons multiple times if she (Emmons) would AGREE to remove "controversial" books within the first weeks of Palin taking office. Further more Palin also FIRED Emmons but was reinstated only after an uproar. ONE MORE FACT - the police department under the control of the CHIEF Palin HIRED - required WOMEN WHO SAID THEY HAD BEEN RAPED TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN EXAMINATION KITS. A policy "NOW" Palin says she rejects!

[mydiatribe]

AT LAST! CBS admits HERE it reports RUMORS as hard NEWS! Oy Vey -- Now there is a Disgrace! And it isn''t a rumor.

[techhere]

None of them worths a notice!
Election, evil action!

[bogatiriov]

It''''s a shame to see such bickering and comments here. Why can''''t it be about the issues? We are truly a country divided. I still remember that being one of the promises George Bush made. To bring the country together, Democrats and Republicans, but with new terms such a ''''Karl Rove politics'''' and ''''Swiftboating'''' we have changed the face of politics. The ends justify the means and any negative political ad, no matter how distorted or false can be rationalized for the greater good. What has our democracy become?

Posted by johnfed at 01:52 AM : Sep 13, 2008
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I worry too my friend, hence i won''t vote. Send a message to politicians and don''t vote