(Alaska) Legislators want to accept stimulus funds

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Anchorage Daily News

JUNEAU -- Top Alaska legislators said Tuesday they're likely to accept at least most of the federal economic stimulus money that Gov. Sarah Palin did not.

"I think at the end of the day we will end up taking most of the funds," said Anchorage Republican Rep. Mike Hawker, who is leading the House effort on the stimulus as co-chairman of the finance committee.

Senate Majority Leader Johnny Ellis agreed. "I would be surprised if we give up much or any of the federal money," the Anchorage Democrat said.

Palin announced last week she was not accepting $288 million of the $930.7 million that the state is due in the federal stimulus. Palin aides have said in the days since that the governor did not reject any money, leading some state legislators to charge the governor with backpedaling as a result of furor over the announcement.


Read more: http://www.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/735110.html

[Tempest]

1. This was expected

Palin thought she'd score points by saying she won't take the money, but it backfired on her once the programs she was turning down was released.

Just like Jindal's "volcano monitoring" money backfired when Mt. Redoubt blew up.

[Igel]

5. I think the dems just made a mistake.

In two years, when the stimulus money runs out, they'll have two choices: They'll either let the beefed up programs expire or they'll have to raise revenues to cover the additional expenses.

Short term gain, probably. Possibly not: As a result of taking the money they'll have to amend some programs, and that will automatically trigger some higher business taxes. Whether it's a long-term gain is more of a mystery.

Most people assume the stimulus is free money and comes with no strings. For some states, this is true. For other states, acceptance will ultimately entail having the legislature rewrite some laws.

[Tempest]

6. The package allows state legislatures to change the law

If the recession is still going on in 2 years.

[Soylent Brice]

2. first she wanted the birdge to nowhere, then she didn't. then

she wanted no part of the stimulus, then parts of it, and now...

what a tool.

[4lbs]

3. Palin wants only what she wants until she doesn't want it but actually wants it.

:crazy:

[Dumak]

4. I thought it was already made clear

that states could not simply discard portions of the bill they didn't like?