newsminer.com

Gov. Sarah Palin just held a bill signing in Rep. Richard Foster's office. At least half a dozen lawmakers were there, along with the governor, some of her staff, and a gaggle of reporters -- about three dozen in all. Foster, who has kidney disease, was not. "It's kind of surreal that we're even here," Palin said. She was sitting at Foster's desk next to Sue Stancliff, an aide to Fairbanks Rep. Mike Kelly, and laughing a little. If you haven't heard, Foster needs a new kidney and Stancliff is willing to donate one of hers. Ethics legislation passed last year blocked the exchange, so lawmakers rushed through legislation this session to allow it, and Palin signed the legislation into law today. Compassionate gifts include body parts, Palin explained (adding to the surreal) and things like airline miles. She said she'd talked with Foster recently. "He sends his best to everyone." The walls in Foster's office are covered with bulletin boards filled with pictures of people -- lawmakers, friends, whoever else -- and business cards. There's a brown bear rug and moose antlers in another room. Stancliff got a little choked up when she talked about the "silly challenge" of getting the bill through. "It's just such a testimony to Richard's personality," she said. "We miss him terribly." Foster's son was there, too. Palin signed the bill, and people filed out slowly. In the hallway, the governor took questions from a TV station about the gas line.