Something Fishy in Alaska
Something fishy is going on in Alaska, and no, it has nothing to do with the state's wild salmon supply.
Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the current longest-serving Republican Senator, has recently been under fire due to allegations regarding the reconstruction of his Alaskan home. In 2000, the Senator doubled the size of his Girdwood home with the assistance of a contractor from the VECO Corporation, who was hired by the company's top executive. VECO, an oil-field and construction corporation located in Anchorage, has been a significant recipient of Steven's earmarks, no doubt due to its strong lobbying presence in oil-rich Alaska. Now comes the news that Senator Stevens paid only a minimal construction bill for the work done on his property, far off from the actual value of the job.
This is quite the family affair, in regard to the fact that VECO has also conducted business with Senator Stevens' son Bill, who served on the Alaskan state senate. Bill Stevens has also been known to push the agenda of VECO, as well as other industries such as the Alaskan fisheries.
Not suprisingly, the FBI raided the offices of Bill Stevens and the VECO executives and placed the records of their business transactions under subpoena. Although Stevens escaped prosecution unscathed, this May VECO chief executive Bill Allen and vice president Rick Smith finally pled guilty to charges of conspiracy and bribery. Also under investigation is long-time friend of Ted Stevens, race-horse owner Bob Persons. Stevens and Allen in fact are co-owners of "So Long Birdie", one of Persons' many race-horses.
Stevens denies any wrongdoing, but he certainly won't be riding off into the sunset any time soon.
Tags: Ted Stevens, Bill Stevens, Ethics in Government, Alaska, in the states (all tags)
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