Mark Begich on Budget & Economy

Democratic Challenger

Closed $33M budget gap without using one-time reserves

When I became mayor in 2003, we inherited a $33 million budget gap. The state had eliminated community assistance and the city was dipping into one-time cash reserves to pay for on-going functions. To fill that gap, we cut services, asked city workers to forego already negotiated raises and banned the use of one-time reserves for routine operations.

Since 2004, Anchorage has received nearly $60 million in state community assistance. We've applied every penny for property tax relief.

Source: 2008 State of City Address Jul 28, 2008

No secret earmarks; full online disclosure

Recent ethics reform legislation doesn't do anything to shed light on what other special interest projects the senator may be seeking. The earmark requests made public are available only by going in person to the Appropriations Committees' offices in Washington, DC. Every earmark requested by a senator should be posted online so Alaskans know what & who their elected officials are fighting for. Senators should disclose on whose behalf the earmark was requested & how it will benefit their constituents Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

As mayor: bond rating up; jobs increased; taxes down

Under Mayor Begich, Anchorage's bond ratings have improved to among the top 5 percent in the country, some 9,200 new jobs have been created, the city enjoyed the second highest construction value in city history and property taxes dropped for the majority of Anchorage property owners between 2006-07. Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Bio" Apr 4, 2008

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*Other candidates on Budget & Economy:*		*Mark Begich on other issues:*
*AK Gubernatorial:* Sarah Palin *AK Senatorial:* Dave Cuddy Lisa Murkowski Ted Stevens Vic Vickers *2008 Senate retirements:* Wayne Allard(R,CO) Larry Craig(R,ID) Pete Domenici(R,NM) Chuck Hagel(R,NE) Trent Lott(R,MS) Craig Thomas(R,WY) John Warner(R,VA) *Incoming Obama Administration:* Pres.Barack Obama V.P.Joe Biden State:Hillary Clinton HHS:Tom Daschle Staff:Rahm Emanuel DHS:Janet Napolitano DOC:Bill Richardson DoD:Robert Gates A.G.:Eric Holder Treas.:Tim Geithner	*Winners of 2008 Senate Races:* ( * if new to the Senate) AK:Begich over Stevens AL:Sessions AR:Pryor CO:Udall DE:Biden and Kaufman GA:Chambliss v.Martin (Dec. 2 runoff) IA:Harkin ID:Risch IL:Durbin KS:Roberts KY:McConnell LA:Landrieu MA:Kerry ME:Collins MI:Levin MN:Coleman v.Franken (recounting as of Dec.1) MS4:Wicker MS6:Cochran MT:Baucus NC:Hagan over Dole NE:Johanns NH:Shaheen over Sununu NJ:Lautenberg NM:Udall OK:Inhofe OR:Merkley over Smith RI:Reed SC:Graham SD:Johnson TN:Alexander TX:Cornyn VA:*Warner WV:Rockefeller WY4:Barrasso WY6:Enzi	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare Other Senators House of Representatives SenateMatch (matching quiz) Senate Votes (analysis) House Votes Bill Sponsorships Affiliations Policy Reports Group Ratings

Page last updated: Dec 02, 2008