Sunday, April 26, 2009

News-Miner editorial likes Palin veto proposal

According to an editorial in Sunday's News-Miner, Gov. Palin's proposal to veto state spending for budget items which could be paid for with federal stimulus monies "might be the wisest path."

Citing low market prices for Alaska's oil and the need for the state to tap its budget reserve accounts, the editor sees this as a prudent compromise between rejecting a third of the stimulus funds outright, as the governor originally proposed, and taking all of the federal money, as the legislature wanted to do.

Meanwhile, through the legislature has adjourned, the Fairbanks newspaper reports that many lawmakers will be watching to see which bills or spending items they approved will be vetoed by Gov. Palin, but they'll have to wait until some time in May:
Office of Management and Budget Director Karen Rehfeld said Palin asked the Legislature to bring the public into the process of deciding which stimulus funds to accept.

“She will be evaluating that information and making decisions on the appropriation bills and the substantive legislation, including health records, unemployment insurance, and air quality grants,” Rehfeld stated in an e-mail. “And no, she has not said she would reject anything — she wants to make good decisions and she wants to make sure that these funds are used wisely and people understand they are one-time.”
- JP

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