ALASKA LAWMAKERS OVERRULE PALIN ENERGY VETO

Legislature overrides Palin veto of energy funds; Alaska to accept federal money after months of debate
Pat Forgey, August 11, 2009 (Juneau Empire)

"The Alaska Legislature narrowly voted [45-14, just meeting the 75% override threshold] to overturn former Gov. Sarah Palin's veto of $28.6 million in federal energy stimulus money, ensuring that Alaska will not become the only state in the nation to reject it.

"Juneau's legislative delegation joined with all others from Southeast to accept the energy money, despite the "strings" Palin claimed would be onerous…[P]rotesters took the unusual opportunity of an Anchorage legislative session to noisily make their views heard outside…After the successful override vote, about half the audience broke into cheers…"

From WhiteHouse.gov (click to enlarge)

"The vote was the final act in a long-running battle in Alaska over the federal stimulus money. Palin originally said she would reject about a third of the nearly $1 billion headed to Alaska…After that proved unpopular, she denied saying she intended to reject the money, and said she instead wanted to begin a discussion with the Legislature about it.

"She hung firm on the final $28.6 billion, however, maintaining that accepting it would require the state to impose mandatory, unwanted energy efficiency building codes on Alaskans…[L]eading legislators in the House and Senate…studied the issue and said the strings weren't there."

From WhiteHouse.gov (click to enlarge)

"Override opposition on Monday was led by the few remaining Palin supporters in the Legislature…Legislators spent months analyzing the requirements that came with the money, both during the session and after Palin's vetoes. The majority didn't see the onerous strings that Palin saw.

"Not everybody was convinced…A letter from the U.S. Department of Energy assured Alaska that the feared strings were not there, but the critics dismissed that statement…Those who backed Palin's veto, as well as many of the anti-override protesters, said the vote was a political message about the stimulus plan led by President Obama and other Democratic leaders…Immediately after the override vote…Gov. Sean Parnell sent a letter to Energy Secretary Stephen Chu providing the required assurances that the money would be accepted and spent on appropriate energy efficiency and renewable energy projects."