Heard on MSNBC this evening (I think on the Ed Show) that the Alaska legislature has overrideen Sarah Palin's veto of over $28 million in federal stimulus funds.
AP is carrying the story, but a diary a couple of days ago said AP now demands to be paid by the word for copying any portion of its articles, so I'll just post this link. They said Gov. Parnell wrote to Energy Sec. Chu saying the "North to the Future!" state will accept the funds after all.
Below the fold, some details from HuffPo, including a demonstration of Palin's brand of compassionate conservatism. Also too, an interesting related note from a recent FP article by Jed. [wink]
From HuffPo:
In a final spat with former Gov. Sarah Palin, the Alaska Legislature voted Monday to override her veto of $28.6 million in federal stimulus funds intended for energy efficiency projects.
Palin . . . had vetoed the money that the state can use for almost anything that will reduce energy costs, from retrofitting public buildings and homes to energy efficiency audits, lighting upgrades and public transit.
Apparently Sarah doesn't care much more about the fate of Alaskans than she does about anyone else:
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, said residents of rural communities were crying out for relief. He heard from some of them in a trip to Tanana, a Yukon River town of 250, where high energy costs were exacerbated this spring by flooding that damaged homes and businesses.
"We heard tearful pleas for help in that community," he said.
Some in rural Alaska pay 10 times the cost of electricity in Anchorage, Wielechowski said. . . .
And just for yuks, in case you didn't see Jed's FP article a few days ago, Alaska received quite a bit more stimulus funds per capita than any other state - $1,024.28 per person. (Although it's not clear if that included the $28 million that Sarah declined.) D.C. was second with $878.02 per capita. According to Jed's source, only two other states - Rhode Island and Wyoming - were above $600, and most were in the $400-500 range.