That’s right, Oink Report readers.  In 2006 Republican Alaska Senator Ted Stevens managed to secure more pork from the federal government than that same federal government paid for the state 141 years ago.

Back then Alaska was purchased with a $7.2 million check to the Russians.  That’s $104 million in today’s dollars when adjusted for inflation.  In 2006, Stevens managed to secure $325 million in pork for the state.

Now some of us here at the Oink Report are from Alaska, and the state holds something of a special place in our hearts.  We’ve always felt that America got quite a bargain on that original purchase.  But even so, is it right that one year of pork should be more than three times what the state was originally purchased for?

We don’t think it is.  Americans already paid to buy Alaska once.  They don’t need to be more than buying it again every single year.