From C4P - Palin is the only person who vetoed energy portion of Obama's stimulus

I read this on Conservatives4Palin. If Rick Perry decides not to run, then:

Governor Palin will be the only one in the field who can say that she vetoed some of Obama’s stimulus package. In the unlikely event that Rick Perry enters the contest, Governor Palin will still be the only person on stage who can say that she vetoed the energy portion of Obama’s stimulus package. She didn’t just oppose Obama’s stimulus package through her words, nor did she just cast the same vote that every other moderate or conservative Republican member of Congress cast. She is the only person in America who can say that she vetoed the energy portion of Obama’s stimulus package. She doesn’t talk about this very much and the “conservative” media won’t bring this up because it’ll help her. Let’s make sure we remind GOP and GOP-leaning indies who really opposed Obama’s stimulus package and who was the only one to back up his or her opposition with deeds and not just words.

This is a fact that needs to be immediately known by anyone thinking about voting. That's why I linked it from C4P. I remembered it when I read there, but it wasn't a fact that was at the top of my brain. This is an important policy decision by Palin that appeals to everyone in this country. I need to spread the word.

As the book release date gets closer, expect the Left to ramp up Palin bashing

I saw this blog article published by Zennie Abraham in the San Francisco Chronicle online edition titled "Sarah Palin "Going Rogue" will keep her out of office." Abraham's bio says that he works in the sports business world and that he's a video blogger who gets picked up by CNN. It was a very long piece and I have to ask - why are they going to this much effort to try and discredit Palin if her career is so over? That's what I keep hearing from the Left and the RINOs, that she's un-electable, a carciacture, career dead in the water, quitter, etc. Yet they keep coming out with these editorials, blog posts, articles and news stories about her.

In his post, Abraham tries to make the case for elites being the best politicians and why Palin will always fail as a politician because she is not an elite (?). Or at least I think that's what his point is.

Her new book "Going Rogue" is proof of what I've expected all along: that Governor Palin didn't want to learn how to be an effective politician at the highest levels of office. Like any member of the masses who obtains a little power and attention, it overcame the larger responsibility of governing and so she jettisoned being Alaska's leader.

What? That paragraph makes no sense. What is the "it" he's referring to? She was elected Governor of Alaska - since when is that "a little power and attention." It's the executive position of the largest state in the country. She ran it and was the first woman and youngest ever to do so. I don't understand when he says she didn't want to learn how to be an effective politician at the highest level. She was already there; she was already effective. Alaskans elected her. And how does he know what she wrote in Going Rogue - so how can it be "proof" of anything?

He tries to explain himself in the following paragraph:

By contrast, elite elected officials rise to power because they have an overarching sense of purpose that involves true social change focused more on helping people than a party or a group. The lynchpin idea of Ronald Reagan's assent to power was that government had become too large and inefficient at a time that America didn't need government spending to supercharge the economy.

So "elite elected officials" have a sense of purpose that involves true social change - not fake social change. And Palin has no sense of purpose, because she is not an elite. Got it. /sarc

He also throws Reagan in there and it doesn't make sense at all because Reagan was not an elite, but maybe that's the point he's trying to make - that Reagan is the exception to the rule because of the chance possibility that America didn't need government spending at that time (?) but Reagan outspent a lot of Presidents and increased debt so I don't understand how this fits with his argument but whatever.

Here are some more of Abraham's great ideas (all in this same post):

I fully expected Palin to resign from the GOP in the middle of the presidential campaign

...now we're in a position where without government spending the country's financial system would have collapsed.

No Republican or Democrat in power will tell you that we don't need the stimulus program, but will tell you that money's not getting our fast enough for their areas.

That's where we are today and why so many Alaskans thought Governor Palin lost her mind when she threw back part of the economic stimulus money.

Gov. Palin has become a kind of repository for the hopes and fears of the undereducated mostly white American masses.

Palin's message is outside of that of the power elite because it doesn't help solve the problems they're dealing with.

Let's not forget this was in the San Francisco Chronicle online. They probably paid him to write this trash. This is an example of the corrupt media trying desperately to prime their audience, however shrinking it may be, for some major Palin-bashing once the book comes out. This blog post is a steaming pile of you know what and the SF Chronicle doesn't care if it's published as long as it bashes Palin. The fact that it's poorly written, contains factual errors and misrepresentations is of no importance to them. I expect nothing less from the corrupt media now and in the coming weeks.

Palin's warning validated by US Energy Dept

Palin warned for months about the strings attached to accepting federal stimulus money. None of the legislators listened to her, they openly criticized her and vehemently opposed her in the media. Not a single one, not even the Republicans, could turn down the money. They couldn't even muster the energy to think about their constituency and what those people would want - you know, the people who voted Republican and thought those views would be represented in the biggest US government power grab in history.

What are those legislators going to say now, now that the US Energy Department stated that there are strings attached. These strings attached are going to hurt the citizens of the states that accept the money. That's what Palin has been saying ever since the stimulus was passed. Thank goodness Palin vetoed the energy-related stimulus money. But it goes to show you how the rest of it will have strings, too.

US Energy Dept Reveals Strings Attached
Energy Department Reveals Strings Attached, Asks States to Comment
SarahPAC

June 5, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed today there are strings attached to stimulus package funds. DOE is now inviting states to comment on a draft document that they developed for measuring and demonstrating compliance with those strings attached to universal building code provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Last month, Governor Sarah Palin vetoed the $28.6 million in federal stimulus funds tied to adoption of building codes by municipalities.

DOE has repeatedly stated some energy funds are directly tied to the statewide adoption of new federal energy-efficiency codes. [Section 410(a)(2); March 12, 2009, DOE Guidance Manual, p.8, p.10, 25-26, p.33-34, Attachment 3; April 24, 2009, DOE Guidance Manual, p.8, p.10, p.25-26, p.33-34.] The codes in question are the 2009 International Conservation Code for residences and the 2007 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ code for commercial buildings throughout the state.

As there is no statewide energy code, compliance by all local jurisdictions would include even Alaska’s 114 second-class and mostly rural communities. Full compliance with the strict new codes, which regulate even the type of lighting that can be installed, would cost Alaskans thousands of dollars per new home or renovation.

"We took issue with Washington's universal building codes mandate and said they were unacceptable for Alaska," Governor Palin said. "Eventually, bureaucrats at DOE admitted the requirements were ‘not appropriate’ and offered funding if I would just push the codes on all our communities. I believe in local control, so I said no. Now, in the most recently issued statement on the subject by DOE, the requirements are back, clearer than ever."

continued...

Palin was right to reject energy stimulus funds

This surprised me. The ADN actually ran a positive story about Palin. They ran this piece by David Moore, who is an architect, according to the byline. So...none of their trained journalists on staff could bring themselves to report any type of positive or objective viewpoints. They decided to bring in a guest columnist, someone who lives and works in the real world, to write something that was apparently very painful to them - actually admitting Palin is doing something good for Alaska. Way to go, ADN! You're a shining example to newspapers everywhere. Keep up the good work and maybe you'll go bankrupt like the rest of them. David Moore, though, gets major props for this.

Palin right to reject energy stimulus funds
BY DAVID MOORE
Published: June 3rd, 2009 05:28 PM
Last Modified: June 3rd, 2009 05:29 PM

Governor Palin is right to reject energy stimulus funds with strings attached.

The federal stimulus act mandates state adoption of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or related ASHRAE standards and that the state verify 90% compliance statewide. This would expand the state fire marshal's plan review department to include residential construction.

It would require the fire marshal's office to expand its duties beyond issuing building permits to include inspections to verify compliance. Alaskans would pay for these added duties and authority. Over the next 10 years this would cost us much more than the $29 million available in stimulus money. MOA's plan review and inspection department budget alone is over $9 million. Expand this type of enforcement statewide, add travel cost for inspections, and imagine the total cost.

Adoption of this code for commercial construction would have very little effect toward reducing fuel consumption statewide. Anchorage and Fairbanks already have adopted this code. In commercial construction statewide, most buildings comply with this code and ASHRAE standards already. In residential construction, even in the bush, many of the requirements are exceeded simply because we live in a cold place. We've been building energy efficient buildings here for longer than rest of the country by necessity.

So what this amounts to is solely a new regulatory requirement to verify compliance. It does little beyond what we are already doing to save fuel, but does a lot to grow government. We each have an inherent benefit in reducing our utility bills. I doubt that a government mandate to do so is better motivation than our own pocketbooks.

continued...

Palin cuts state budget

Palin cut about $28 million of the federal stimulus money yesterday, stating that the strings attached would force too much federal government dependence and continued oversight. The legislature is screaming about it, including our favorite "Republican" Rep. Mike Hawker:

"If anything, it probably gives her a chance to save some face with her national constituency," Hawker said. "And that's probably good for her. Maybe not good for the state, but it certainly aids her."

I don't know what planet Mike Hawker is on, but someone needs to tell him that Republicans generally are for less government intrusion and lower taxes. For Hawker, this was just another opportunity to trot out his tired line that Palin is only focused on her national image. Let's try to walk through his logic - Obama won the presidential election running on a platform of more government spending and more taxation, among other things. The MSM has supported his ultra-left view. Palin has a history of being fiscally conservative. So it seems to me that if Palin wanted to "aid" her public image, then she would shed some of her fiscally conservative views and shift more center-right. But she's not. She still making the same types of decisions she did before the election - so how exactly is she "saving face with her national constituency?" Based on her (long) record, it is not out of character at all for her to decline federal money.

I wonder if Hawker ever thinks of the voters who elected a fiscally conservative Governor. I wonder if he wonders how they would feel if their Governor accepted ALL the money despite all the warnings and proven burden it would take on the citizens. I bet not at all. For some reason he takes every opportunity to trash Palin. I really don't understand his angst.

Palin signs budget, cuts $28M in federal stimulus
by Rhonda McBride
KTUU.com
Thursday, May 21, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin made big cuts to the state budget Thursday, including more than $28 million in federal stimulus money.

The money would have been used for projects to help the state become more energy efficient.

Many lawmakers, city governments and other groups were hoping the governor would have a change of heart on the energy stimulus money, which could have been used for alternative energy projects such as weatherization and other energy saving upgrades like LED lights.

But the governor has long said that the funding would force other changes on Alaska that could have some unintended consequences.

"I will not request federal stimulus funds that subject Alaskans to more federal control and ever increasing federal mandates," Palin said at a March 19 press conference in Juneau.

Palin has said all along that she would oppose stimulus funds that take away local control.

Her administration believes the energy stimulus money would do that because it would require the adoption of a statewide energy code.

"The governor believes these decisions are on developing local energy codes are best left to local governments," said Karen Rehfeld, the governor's budget director, at a press conference Thursday.

continued...

Update on federal stimulus: Palin accepts most and is bound by Legislators

When the Legislature voted unanimously to accept all of the federal stimulus money allocated for Alaska, it really backed Palin into a corner. She received no support from fellow Republicans. The elected officials for their constituency voted to accept and it wouldn't be good if Palin vetoed against their wishes, which are, in effect, the wishes of their constituency.

It was a lose-lose situation for Palin. The dangerous strings attached to the money and increased federal oversight on state projects will be bad for Alaskan growth, and when it does reveal itself to be a problem, they'll blame Palin for accepting the money. However, if she had vetoed it they would accuse her of being a power-mongering dictator who vetoes against the public will. It's just a lose-lose.

It's just like how the Alaska Legislators can take a week-long break from the legislative session without hesitation but point fingers at Palin when she took one day off to speak at a dinner. They have no problem throwing Palin under the bus time and again whenever they need a scapegoat.

But the bright spot is that Palin did try her best to do what was good for the state in her opinion. She warned of all the issues related to accepting the money. Hopefully the Legislature can "own" this and not blame Palin when things go South.

Governor accepts
Fairbanks Daily Newsminer
Federal stimulus dollars will add to state spending
Published Thursday, April 30, 2009

The plan to spend almost $1 billion federal stimulus funding in Alaska appears well set now, following Gov. Sarah Palin’s announcement Tuesday that she would not oppose the major elements of legislative action on the money.

This newspaper on Sunday suggested the governor veto a substantial portion of state funding and let the holes be backfilled with federal money. That seems a prudent course, given the need to conserve state savings for the day when those savings will be needed to avoid driving Alaska’s government off a fiscal cliff.

The Legislature and governor have agreed to some backfilling. About $128 million in federal money will replace, dollar-for-dollar, part of the state’s spending on Medicaid. Another few million will replace some state spending on child support enforcement.

More could have been done. For example, the governor proposed during the session that the Legislature use about $120 million, mostly in federal education funds, to replace some of money the state sends to Alaska’s school districts. The Legislature instead tacked the federal money on top of regular school expenditures — a choice that has some merit and obviously has pleased school officials. Those officials promise not to use the money to create an unsustainable increase in staffing.

The governor still could issue vetoes and then ask that the Legislature rearrange the federal money to backfill some of the cuts, but that appears unlikely now.

The governor has accepted most of the Legislature’s actions, according to her statement and news release Tuesday. The lead paragraph of the news release announced that she “acknowledged” the legislative decisions, but the details that followed indicate she has accepted them. If that’s the case, it should be stated more clearly in the future.

The governor would face a major procedural hurdle to any vetoes designed to force a reallocation of federal funds. Additional backfilling with federal money would not occur automatically if she vetoed the state money. To make the backfilling happen, the Legislature would need to reconvene and amend the spending bills to redirect the federal funds into any holes left by the vetoes.

That outcome seems unlikely. Given our legislators’ demonstrated enthusiasm for laying federal dollar on top of state dollar, they likely would override the vetoes and go home. The governor, in that case, would have accomplished nothing and suffered a second public defeat to boot.

No, the die has been set. The federal dollars will fall as the Legislature has decreed, mostly on top of the state’s own.

Moment of truth for Alaska federal stimulus money

The Legislature unanimously approved a bill to accept the federal stimulus money. Palin originally stated that she would reject 45% of it due to the strings attached and heavy burden it would be on future state funding and programs. Now we'll see if she vetoes any of it.

Lawmakers await possible Palin vetoes on bills from session
20 DAYS: Stimulus funds among 29 resolutions, 61 bills sent to the governor.
The Associated Press
Published: April 26th, 2009 09:41 PM
Last Modified: April 26th, 2009 10:22 PM

FAIRBANKS -- A week after the Alaska Legislature adjourned, lawmakers are waiting to find out if Gov. Sarah Palin will break out her veto pen.

Palin will have 20 days, not counting Sundays and holidays, to decide whether to use her veto power on spending and policy measures. As of Saturday, only 10 of the 61 bills and 29 resolutions approved by the Legislature had been sent to the governor.

Bills commonly wait a week or two before landing on the governor's desk, giving lawyers and accountants a chance to review the legislation.

continued...>

AK Legislature approves federal stimulus money unanimously

Now we wait to see if Palin will veto any of it. I hope she will. This vote actually gives us a better view of the "Republicans" in the legislature.

This is from "Republican" Rep. Mike Hawker:

"The federal economic stimulus package can do a lot of good for Alaskans without growing government," said House Finance Co-Chair Mike Hawker of Anchorage. "If we fail to accept these funds, they will largely be re-allocated to other states.

"After an extensive review and hours of public hearings, the House could not find any significant strings attached to the money -- other than that we carefully account for how we spend it and what we accomplish with it," Hawker said. "The strict accounting and reporting requirements of the federal aid are good things, not reasons to walk away from putting this money into Alaska's economy."

Mike Hawker needs to examine himself if he thinks those are Republican ideals. If my representative were saying those things I would definitely not vote for him next election. He needs to remember that his constituency voted for a Republican. MSM loves to quote him. He's quoted in almost every anti-Palin piece I read. He must think he's getting his name out there but he just looks like he's a jealous anti-Palin power freak.

ADN buries Palin's letter to the editor

I check Anchorage Daily News almost every day, along with other Alaska news sites, to see the latest news on Palin and what's going on in Alaska. Today I found a letter to the editor that Sarah wrote to the ADN but it was buried in their politics blog. I can't believe I didn't see it yesterday or over the weekend. I don't think her letter ever got top-billing on their site. What a surprise.

This letter is awesome. Palin articulates how dangerous it would be to accept federal stimulus money and spells out how it would only damage Alaska instead of helping it. No wonder ADN buried it. I can hear thunderous applause of support for Palin reading this letter. I'm sure they hate that.

Palin on stimulus: 'More dependence on Washington'
Posted by Alaska_Politics
Posted: March 27, 2009 - 4:29 pm

Here's an op-ed column from the governor to be published in print over the weekend:

“Shovel ready or digging a hole?”
By Gov. Sarah Palin

Some question my decision to accept job-ready stimulus funds, while leaving on the table for discussion other funds that grow government. Washington dollars are tempting, but we must consider whether they create sustainability, help develop our resources, reduce dependency on Washington, and all without mortgaging our kids’ futures.

Under federal law, I must certify that every stimulus dollar will create new jobs and stimulate the economy. I take that charge seriously. Accordingly, I’ve requested $514.4 million for capital projects that legitimately create new private sector jobs. Shovel-ready projects are certifiable because they put people to work and grow Alaska’s private-sector economy.

Unfortunately, a disproportionate percentage of the federal package available to Alaska would increase government operations. It’s a stretch to certify that more spending on more bureaucracy actually grows an economy.

When stimulus money runs out in two years, who will pay for the expanded government programs, when Alaska currently has a budget shortfall of over a billion dollars? My administration will not willingly and knowingly dig a hole for Alaskans to fill under this enormous, debt-ridden, Washington spending plan. That's why public discussion on budget increases must happen through open, transparent legislative hearings so everyone is aware of the cost.

I am deeply committed to quality public education, so I appreciate questions concerning my $20 million dollar request for certifiable funds. Regarding other available funds, I have sought public discussion on school district spending plans. Alaska’s children are my priority, as proven by my unprecedented increases to K-12 funding, including intensive needs programs, which we currently fund at historic levels.

I moved the education discussion to the legislative arena because the public, lawmakers, and our schools must consider what will happen in 24 months. The districts should present spending plans that don’t dig huge fiscal holes when temporary federal funds disappear. Will they wisely and prudently fund training for existing positions, or just create new positions, leaving Alaskans to foot the increased bills? When one-time funding ends, will they lay-off all those new teachers? Are Alaskans willing to shoulder the expanding programs in the education bucket, including questionable priorities, like proposed increases to the National Endowment for the Arts? Alaskans must have confidence the additional funds will produce actual results for our children and not simply increase bureaucracy. Remember, these dollars aren’t “replacement dollars,” they are “additional dollars,” and obviously increase budgets.

I’m approaching federal funds and mandates with caution, but won’t stand in the way of organizations or communities applying to the feds for funding their own expansions.

Some, enticed with as much Washington money as possible, assume this is free money. It is not. America is $11 trillion in debt. They also may fail to consider the level of federal intrusion. For example, Alaska’s communities would have to adopt building energy codes that compliment the most recent International Codes. These standards should be locally determined, not federally mandated. And, if we take additional unemployment compensation funds, Alaska would have to extend eligibility guidelines. This federal involvement locks us into government dependency for longer periods. Alaskans must read the fine print on these federal mandates, because certain allocations also require state-matching funds.

When Alaska was granted statehood, it was with the expectation that our independent, innovative spirit and rich resources would largely sustain us, rather than depending on federal government. Creating more dependence on Washington steers us away from Alaska’s magnificent potential and destiny, and that, to me, is a problem.

My job is to help Alaskans count the cost for the long term, not sell our birthright for short-term gain. Alaskans must acknowledge that if we dig a fiscal hole, it will be filled by our families and businesses. Reliance on Washington is not our only option. We could exercise fiscal responsibility and prudent planning, develop our resources, energize Alaskans, and revitalize our spirit. We are up to the challenge. This is the best lesson we can teach our children.

Legislators canceled meeting with Palin regarding stimulus

Photo of Alaska Legislators when they couldn't meet with mommy

As I wrote previously, the Alaska legislators want to accept more federal stimulus money despite Palin's warnings and concerns. She agreed to meet with them to discuss what would happen if they accepted all the federal stimulus money. Instead, they canceled the meeting and decided to waste more of the state's time in order to create a war with Palin over this.

Governor Comments on Stimulus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-66

Governor Comments on Stimulus

March 26, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin was scheduled to participate telephonically in a meeting with legislative leadership today when legislative leaders cancelled the meeting to host their own press conference.

Earlier, legislators had expressed concern over whether the governor might veto funds the legislature might add to the governor's request for federal stimulus funds. The governor has made her position clear on stimulus funds and would not speculate on what she might do with legislation that continues to change and has not passed. While legislative leadership might want to take all federal funds, the legislature would still have to pass an appropriations bill that they might choose to amend in the legislative process after hearing more public testimony.

“I can't predict how much or what funds legislators might add to my request, and we haven't heard all the public testimony yet,” Governor Palin said. “To say now what might happen with an unknown bill would be premature."

Governor Palin expressed her concerns about accepting federal dollars that come with strings attached and would require the state to provide additional oversight. The state has requested federal clarification on those funds.

The governor went on to note, "I have to certify that these funds will create jobs and stimulate the economy, and that's why I requested federal funds for job-ready projects. If the legislature wants to add funds to grow government, then I also want to hear how we will get out of the fiscal hole we'll be in just two years from now when those temporary stimulus funds are gone."

The legislators responded with this:

Legislative leaders blasted Gov. Sarah Palin this afternoon for issuing an "absolutely false" press release and denying lawmakers direct access to discuss the federal stimulus and the state's budget.

Palin and legislative leaders were to meet today. But, her legislative liaison, Gerry Gallagher, asked Senate Pres. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, if lawmakers would be willing to meet with staff instead.

"The decision was, there is really limited value in our meeting with the staff, when in fact we need to meet with the governor," Stevens said.

So allegedly Governor Palin said members of her staff would meet with the legislators and then they got pissy. They wanted face time with her. IF this is true, that Palin offered her staff instead of herself, then I say to the legislators "take it." Take what you can get and do everything you can to convince her you need the money. If you really cared about the money you would meet with her staff if necessary. They are abandoning their responsibilities to their constituency and instead playing games with Palin. These people are just political hacks. Suck it up and meet with her staff if you need to. Explain your case and don't whine and cry like a 2-year-old who wants mommy.

Lawmakers, Palin set to discuss stimulus funds on Thursday

As you know, Palin only accepted about two thirds of the federal stimulus for Alaska. But Alaska lawmakers could still apply and for and receive more stimulus money on their own. Palin says she wants them to decide and see for themselves how dangerous it could be to accept this money. She still has the option to veto anything they apply for, though. Palin is really committed to the legislature's purpose of serving the people. She knows they were elected to represent their constituency and that what she's allowing them to do. It's not a dictatorship. She's being very generous when others could have just said "my way or the highway." You know with Palin that is not the case.

In this article, you can see Republican Representative Mike Hawker going against the Governor as usual. He's one of the cronies of the "good ol' boy" Republican party in Alaska who hates Palin's policies of non-corruption. He goes against her on nearly every issue.

You can also see people laying the groundwork to falsely accuse Palin of not spending money for special needs education. Not accepting federal stimulus money for the cause gives that impression but it's not the truth. If they listened to Palin's arguments for not accepting the money instead of just creating strawmen they would know that plenty of state funding goes to special education. Palin's warning has always been the "strings attached" to this federal money and accepting it could actually do harm to the state programs they have in place. Hopefully they'll understand that.

Lawmakers, Palin set to discuss stimulus funds on Thursday
KTUU.com
by Rhonda McBride
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Senate and House leaders are scheduled to meet with Gov. Sarah Palin on Thursday to ask her a question that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the state:

If legislators choose to accept federal stimulus money Palin has left on the table, how much of it would she veto?

Alaska's share of the stimulus pie is about $900 million. Palin says she'll ask for two-thirds of it and leave it to lawmakers to decide on the rest.

"The strings attached to Washington's stimulus package are real and they're binding," Palin said at a press conference announcing her decision last week.

Lawmakers are now looking under the hood to see if the governor's budget mechanics are right.

"Once you dig into it, some of the concerns go away about the strings attached. That's overblown in my estimation," Senate Majority Leader Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, said.

"This issue here has a lot of moving parts that needed to be sorted out in a short timeframe," Sen. Burt Stedman, R-Ketchikan, said.

Weatherization is one of the moving parts that lawmakers are looking into. Rep. Mike Hawker took the Palin administration to task for its decision to leave $18 million in weatherization money on the table.

"We're a little concerned there that there has been a myth perpetrated on folks who are now using it," Hawker, R-Anchorage, said.

Hawker says the administration has given the impression that tapping these funds would require changes in building codes, which he says is not necessarily true.

One of the biggest slices of the uneaten pie is $170 million in education funds. Educators say a lot of this money could be used to develop training programs that will live on long after the money runs out.

And for special needs kids, it's worth it to get the money, even if it's only temporary.

"It's our most vulnerable kids that are going to be affected if we don't take this education money," said Babrbara Angaiak, president of the National Education Association Alaska, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

"It's a very important component in our budget this year. We're looking at losing 60 teaching positions and four nurses," said Jim Colver, president of the Mat-Su School Board.

Both the House and Senate will soon vote on resolutions asking Congress for the entire available stimulus funding.

"It's like making a reservation at a restaurant -- all it does is get you the table," legislative finance aide Larry Persily said. "You don't have to show up. If you show up you don't have to order any particular thing from the menu."

Lawmakers also know there are some things on the menu Palin could refuse to pay for.

"I want to make sure we're not spinning our wheels here, applying for funds the governor has no intention of accepting," Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said.

And that for lawmakers is the bottom line. Palin has not said what she would veto, nor is she necessarily opposed to accepting the money she left on the table.

Palin says she did this so the Legislature and the public will understand what's at stake before taking it.

Some areas of potential disagreement include $16 million in stimulus money to improve services for the unemployed. It would require the state to expand eligibility but would help the state to modernize its job centers and allow another 1,000 workers to receive benefits.

It would cost employers about $10 a year for each employee, or $2 million. Some lawmakers say it's worth the trade-off. Those against it say it requires permanent changes in state law.

Palin rejects nearly half of federal stimulus money

From KTUU.com

Palin rejects nearly half of federal stimulus money
by Rhonda McBride
Thursday, March 19, 2009

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin says she will accept only 55 percent of the federal stimulus money available to Alaska.

Palin says she's rejecting the other 45 percent because it would subject the state to more federal control and would force state government to grow its budget in the future.

The Palin administration's budget director, Karen Rehfeld, estimates federal stimulus funds available to Alaska at about $931 million. Of that, Palin is requesting $515 million for capital projects and turning away about $177 million in education funds.

Included in the money the governor is accepting is $262.6 million in transportation and aviation projects. She's also asking for $20.7 million for education and job training, $68.6 million for water and sewer projects and storage tank replacements, $3 million for the Alaska Vocational Training Center, $2.5 million for fire fuels and forest management and almost $40 million for public housing projects through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. There's also $116 million requested for a University of Alaska Fairbanks research vessel.

Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, says it's irresponsible for the Governor to reject Federal education funds, especially in a state with one the highest drop-out rates in the nation.

Contact Rhonda McBride at rmcbride@ktuu.com

This is a breaking news story. Return to KTUU.com for updates and watch the Channel 2 News evening broadcasts for a full report.