"With passage of several bills and resolutions before it adjourned, the legislature acted to accept the federal economic stimulus dollars that were slated for Alaska. I have been clear and consistent about my concerns with accepting these funds as our nation incurs tremendous debt. to accept the funds via passage of House Bills 81, 113, 199, Senate Bill 75, House Joint Resolution 11 and House Concurrent Resolution 13. The House and Senate finance committees held nearly 20 public hearings and worked closely with my administration to research aspects of the stimulus bill. The public had the opportunity to both weigh in and also learn more about the complicated and evolving requirements in this package. The legislature agreed with me that these funds should be used to generate new private sector jobs and not to create new services or programs and included intent language to that effect in HB 199. Because the legislature resolved to take the funds, it is the administration's job now to prudently and wisely administer them."The governor also discusses how her administration is dealing with the impact of declining oil and gas revenues and how fiscal changes have affected the budgeting process in Alaska:
"We must, of course, make the necessary improvements to programs, but we need to avoid major, new spending commitments that would create budget shortfalls in the future."Gov. Palin also discusses what the state's government is doing with regard to energy, transportation and infrastructure, education, health, public safety and other matters in the bi-monthly newsletter here.
- JP
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