Examples of Alaska Earmarks

By The Associated Press

Some examples of special project appropriations going to Alaska, as compiled by the private group Taxpayers for Common Sense:

-Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board. From its federal funds, the board gave Alaska Airlines a $500,000 grant. It was used, in part, to paint a Boeing 737 to look like a Chinook Salmon to promote the state’s seafood.

-The Alyeska Roundhouse received $450,000. The building is at the Alyeska ski resort in Girdwood, where Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens has his home.

-Money for six “Alternative Salmon Products.” The University of Alaska received several of these earmarks, which included $450,000 for development of baby food containing salmon in 2006.

-Alaska Christian College received $435,000 in 2005. The school had several dozen students at the time.

-The National Archives and Records Administration received at least $2.25 million toward the purchase of an empty lot in Anchorage from two former Stevens business partners. The purchase cost was $3.5 million, allowing the former Stevens partners to more than double their investment.

-The Alaska Botanical Garden received $300,000 over three years for expansion and renovation.

-SpringBoard, an organization that helps Alaska businesses meet the needs of the Department of Defense, received $14 million the past two years.

-$250,000 was appropriated to plan for the Alaska Statehood celebration, set for 2009.

-$1 million in 2005 went for mobile computers for police cars in Wasilla, Alaska, population 6,700.