Gov. Sarah Palin isn't giving in to Reps. Craig Johnson and Jay Ramras, and she certainly isn't conceding defeat to bestselling author Joe McGinniss, who penned a damning article for Condé Nast Portfolio on her efforts to land a natural-gas pipeline.

UPDATED: Palin held an 80-minute press conference Wednesday in response to Johnson and Ramras' suggestion that her administration should review the controversial $500 million in state subsidies that have been granted to TransCanada Corp. in exchange for it pursuing pipeline construction. (Read here for the background on the TransCanada deal.)

"We know this is in Alaska's best interests," she told reporters in Juneau, along with those listening in from around the country. A review of the so-called Alaska Gasline Inducement Act "is unnecessary," she added.

There were few surprises at the press conference, though the governor did say she would be open to discussions with Exxon, Conoco and BP about tax rates on the state's natural gas, should the companies develop the North Slope's massive reserves. The tax debate has long been a major hurdle to getting a pipeline project off the ground.

"We're not putting them off," Palin said of the companies.

And finally, Palin addressed Joe McGinniss' article about her efforts of landing the state a mega pipeline project, calling his story a "hit piece."

She was especially perturbed by the headline: "Pipe Dreams: Forget 'Drill, baby, drill.' Sarah Palin says she's building a $40 billion gas pipeline, which even President Obama wants. The only problem: It isn't there. And it's her fault."

"I won't call that reporter an idiot, because I don't know that reporter, but that headline was idiotic... We're not standing in the way," Palin said.

McGinniss told Alaska Dispatch that he made numerous attempts since November to interview Palin, but got nowhere with the governor's spokespersons.

On Wednesday, I had questions, too, but during the 80-minute press conference, only three reporters on the phone lines got to ask questions, and I wasn't one of them. Here are my questions (I expect to hear back from Palin's press secretary this afternoon):

1) Gov. Palin,  what did you discuss with Exxon the other week?

2) During the Oct. 2 Vice Presidential debate, you told Americans:  "We're building a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline -- which is North America's largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever -- to flow those sources of energy into hungry markets." Does this statement accurately reflect the status of the proposed project?

ORIGINAL STORY: As we first reported Monday, the governor's flack isn't happy with the author's critical article on Palin, which came out Wednesday and accuses her of being "the biggest obstacle" to landing the long-sought gas line for Alaska.

Meantime, in an exclusive column for Alaska Dispatch, Rep. Les Gara, an Anchorage Democrat, came out in defense of Palin's pipeline efforts Wednesday.

"Some of Gov. Palin's detractors see things the way the major oil companies see them," Gara said. "They've willingly joined the oil company cause to stop the TransCanada pipeline - Alaska's best chance at a gas pipeline project - in its tracks. Others have joined their cause unwittingly."