Palin Stimulus Rejection Stirs Bipartisan Anger In Alaska

Alaska legislators -- both Democrats and Republicans -- are unhappy with Governor Sarah Palin's choice to reject more than 30 percent of the federal stimulus funds being offered to the state.

Palin will turn down about $288 million of the estimated $930 the state is being offered, according to the Associated Press.

Palin said she would accept money that is "timely, targeted and temporary" and does not create strings that will bind the state in the future.

"I can't attest to every fund that's being offered the state in the stimulus package will be used to create jobs and stimulate the economy, so I'm requesting only those things that I know will," Palin said at a news conference at the Capitol. "Public discussion will have to ensue on all those other dollars that some will say 'you left on the table.'"

The Anchorage Daily News reports that Palin's decision is getting mixed reviews from other Alaskan legislators.

The news Thursday drew anger from those who accused Palin of putting her national political aspirations ahead of the state's interests, and admiration from others who say she has courage to turn down money that would expand government.

The state legislature will have the opportunity to debate and possibly overturn Palin's rejection of the stimulus fund. Both Democrats and Republicans have suggested Palin's decision could have something to do with her career aspirations.

"I'm worried the governor is taking this sort of national political stance, which is that she's going to be the opposite of Barack Obama on everything," Anchorage Democratic Rep. Les Gara said.

Republican State Sen. Bert Stedman was a little gentler. "I think the Legislature will take a good hard look at the impact on Alaska," he said. "The governor might have a broader view."

Palin's rejection of $160 million for education in particular drew a sharp rebuke from Anchorage Superintendent of Schools Carol Comeau. 'We believe that we can make very good use of the funds, not only in job preservation but also in adding new positions to ultimately use these funds to increase student achievement for our neediest children,' she said in a news release.

One Republican state representative has already put forth a bill that calls for Governor Palin to accept and distribute all the stimulus money, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports.

Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole, is chairman of the House Rules Committee, which is sponsoring a bill calling for acceptance of all of Alaska's share. The bill is scheduled to be heard by the Finance Committee early next week, pending introduction and referral. A similar bill is pending in the Senate.

Other Republican governors are divided on accepting stimulus funds, according to the AP.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry last week announced that he turned down $555 million of federal stimulus funding that would expand the state's unemployment benefits. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has said he would not accept nearly $100 million to expand unemployment benefits. And South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has said he only wants to use the federal money to pay down debt.

Other Republican governors including Charlie Crist of Florida and Arnold Schwarzenegger of California have welcomed the stimulus bounty.

Comments

[patilee]

She did not say she was refusing it altogether. She's taking 55% and is leaving it up to legislators to decide if they will request any of the rest. Now the state legislators don't like it that way because they don't want to have to ask for the money. However, no matter what she does she is accused of "playing politics" and the others are not??!!?? Another game of "when I do it it's the right thing, when you do it, it's politics"

[justoverit333]

ok read her quote. closely. it sounds as
though she is ignorant and trying to
sound intelligent. boggles my mind
and gives me a headache reading what
she says. she's posturing and readying
herself to run in 2012. plus the Repubs
are pressuring her.

[maxfax]

Constituents losing jobs, prospects of cutting school budgets and state services, brings reality forward, not too much for Palin though.

[justoverit333]

well if they need the money for education
for their neediest children, you cannot
count on a Repub to help with that. That's
their problem. Too bad for you. We only
help big oil, big banks and big corps.
Forget about those needy kids.

[kandlefly]

I can understand Palin not wanting money for education, ignorance fosters ignorance, so her plan is working uneducate Alaska.

Now if they had put Hunting in the stimulus bill that would have been soooooo nice, and Sarah would really, really happy.

[justoverit333]

hahahahahaha. exactly. to help
pay for a new moose lodge would
have been just fine. tax break on
ammunition, no problem

[notthistime]

"Palin's rejection of $160 million for education in particular drew a sharp rebuke from Anchorage Superintendent of Schools Carol Comeau."

Of course she doesn't understand the need to fund education. Why when she and her family turned out just fine?

[patilee]

And we all know all that money would have gone to education because.........

[blood1]

She fails to mention all the Earmarks she received via Stevens in 2008 for $86,575,000.00 last year. Before you balleyho me, there was a standout...one for $34.5 M for Native AK Indian Education, so don't think that she doesn't have funds to do with how she pleases. As long as ONE child in this group is Native Indian...and that leaves speculation as to whether they have to be full blooded, 1/2 or 1/32 then she can use that money

http://earmarkwatch.org/2008-senate-laborhhs/search/?sponsor=90for special ed classes.

So all the other state govenors will be rejoicing if those "rejected" funds can be shuttled to them. As some wise GOP govenors have stated: think of the people not politics. Obviously, point was not taken by these governors...if their state legislatures over ride them, then can they get "political cover" and still get the funds. HMM...we will just have to watch and see!

[ritenow]

Both Democrats and Republicans have suggested Palin's decision could have something to do with her career aspirations.

You Betcha!!!!!

[RileyMendez]

Take it all, or get nothing. Give it to a state that welcomes the help that most need to help their people.

[bluguy8]

give her some more bridge money--she take it--right into her pocket

[BartLA]

Hey Alaska, how about a recall vote? You can get rid of her that way.

[hopefulinpa]

What is the use of making a "principled stand" to her base when there isn't enough of them to win an election? She is cutting her own nose off by alienating both repulican, democratic, and independent voters in Alaska not to mention the other republican governors doing the same thing. So what if the legislatures will end run these governors. It is what the voters of these states see and know about their governors that is going to matter on election day. BYE BYE

[Grannysue]

But but she's their hero?? How can they be upset with the moosewoman? Maybe she's going to use part of that money to build a bridge to Russia, you betcha!

[KISHAGREEN]

What the heck is up with these governors from these poor, crime-ridden, low education ranking states turning down stimulus money? And no one is really calling them on the obvious ploy to tout their fiscal conservatism during their presidential runs.

Palin, Sanford, Jindal (throw in Romney, maybe Huckabee, and a wildcard and there's your Republican 2012 line-up). If Romney and Huckabee were still governors they'd be talking the same foolishness.

Someone please ask Sanford about this crazy notion of stimulus money paying down the state's debt and how would he feel about maybe changing the rules for the state's welfare recipients to use say, food stamp money to pay old phone bills or furniture lay-a-way. Because that's the equivalent of what he's suggesting.

[Hank10303]

Palin stated: I can't attest to every fund that's being offered the state in the stimulus package will be used to create jobs and stimulate the economy, so I'm requesting only those things that I know will..."

I wonder if she gained this knowledge from reading all the periodicals she could get her hands on. The women didn't know what countries composed North America and she expects us to believe she knows what will stimulate jobs.

[TinRoofRusted]

Not only was her statement a stupid thing to say, it was said stupidly. Lord, what a sentence.

And she majored in JOURNALISM?

[ThirdSection]

She plans to stimulate those jobs under the umbrella of job creation, because she is just ill about this. Ya bet'cha!

[cltclt]

And also, too, it has to be about the healthcare...

[philosopherkingtomas]

go away Sarah