newsminer.com

This just in from R.A. Dillon in Washington, D.C. --

Gov. Sarah Palin met with Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne this week about Alaska energy issues. Kempthorne said he would support legislation being considered that would share a portion of the federal royalties from oil and gas development off Alaska's coast with the state. Kempthorne said the money should be used as a way to mitigate the impact of development on coastal communities. (Alaska Sen. Bill Wielechowski just introduced a resolution urging Congress to support such a measure.)

Palin also spoke with Vice President Dick Cheney about the AGIA process. Palin, however, did not say what his reaction was.

In a meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Jim Peterson the matter of congressional earmarks came up. The secretary said he does not support earmarks. Palin has called for the state to reduce the number of earmark requests it submits to the state and has clashed repeatedly with the state's congressional delegation on the issue.