News that Senator Ted Stevens, the Alaska Republican famed for his talent collecting earmarks and his "Incredible Hulk" tie, welcomed FBI and IRS agents into his Girdwood home yesterday is giving his constituents another reason to be less than pleased with Alaska politicians. In recent years, as will be repeated ad nauseum in the coming days, Stevens' son, Ben, and several other state legislators have been caught up in a scandal involving the Veco company. Veco, an oil construction and services company, lost their CEO this year when he pleaded guilty to bribing state officials.

Congressman Don Young, the state's lone member of the lower chamber, is said to be under scrutiny in the Veco matter as well.

Only Sen. Lisa Murkowski seems clear of wrongdoing in this investigation, though she had her own problems when her father appointed her to his old seat once he took over the governor's mansion. It's gotten so bad that the Anchorage Daily News has a sub-header on pages related to the scandal: "More Alaska political corruption stories."

Veco oversaw large renovations of Stevens' home, according to testimony from contractors to a federal grand jury. Stevens maintains he paid for every penny of the renovations out of his own pocket.

Alaska residents were not pleased with Frank Murkowski's nepotism on behalf of his daughter, though they re-elected the appointed Senator by a narrow 9,300 votes, about 3%. Stevens and Young both face voters next year, and Democrats are enthusiastic about the possibility of knocking off one or both. But the state hasn't elected a Democrat since Tony Knowles' 1998 re-election, and even then he only managed 51% of the vote (though the Republican pulled just 18% in a multi-candidate general election).

Roll Call recently reported that at least seven Alaska Republicans are considering a run for one of the two federal spots, while Democrats are encouraging Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich and former House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz to make bids. Yesterday, Alaska Democratic Party Chairman Jake Metcalfe announced he would run against Young.

Active investigations, by this reporter's count, now involve several members of Congress, including Reps. William Jefferson (D-LA), John Doolittle (R-CA) -- who got a primary challenger yesterday -- Rick Renzi (R-AZ), Alan Mollohan (D-WV), Young and Stevens.