Margaritaville

Margaritaville

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Does Palin once again think the rules don't apply to her?

Dan Fagan
The Alaska Standard
January 2, 2009

How is it possible that the Governor’s soon to be son-in-law is working as an apprentice on the North Slope?

The Governor, in trying to dispel rumors the father of her grandchild is a high school drop out, released this statement this week, “Levi is continuing his online high school work in addition to working as an electrical apprentice on the North Slope."

But federal regulations require any members of apprentice programs, union or otherwise, first obtain a high school diploma, something the Governor’s soon to be son-in-law, Levi Johnston does not have. Some apprentice programs even require the completion of high school level Algebra or the post secondary equivalent.

So how is it that the Governor’s soon to be son-in-law is working in an apprentice program? Is this another case of the Governor believing the law doesn’t apply to her?

Bo Underwood, who heads up ASRC’s electrical apprentice program, confirmed Johnston is indeed enrolled as an apprentice. Underwood claimed not to know whether a high school diploma is needed to be an ASRC apprentice and said he would check on it. But federal regulations clearly state a high school diploma is needed before entering an apprentice program. How is it the man who runs the program does not know that?

Underwood also claimed not to know whether there is a waiting list for the ASRC apprentice program he runs. Imagine that.

Rebecca Logan, executive director of Associated Builders and Contractors, an organization that also has an electrical workers apprentice program, says waiting lists almost always accompany apprenticeship programs. Her organization’s apprentice program has a waiting list  of at least 100 people.

Bo Underwood promised to get back with me on how the Governor’s soon to be son-in-law got into the apprentice program.

The Alaska Standard has a call into the Governor’s office as well. We’ll let you know when we hear back from them on this issue.

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