Gov. Bill Walker’s administration spent $50,000 on Washington, D.C., consultants to help prepare them for a visit by President Barack Obama.
The expenditures were revealed in public records requests by The Associated Press. They also came at a time when the state is struggling with a multibillion dollar deficit.
Perkins Coie was hired to work from July 8 to Aug. 31, when Obama arrived in Alaska. The contract was for up to $50,000 and a Walker spokeswoman said that was the amount paid.
Obama visited Alaska for three days on a trip aimed at highlighting climate change concerns.
The contract lists Peter Rouse and Mark Patterson as authorized representatives for Perkins Coie. Rouse was a long-time aide to Obama and Patterson, chief of staff to two Treasury secretaries under Obama.
