Legislative leaders say they appear to have enough votes to override Gov. Sarah Palin's veto of $28.6 million in federal stimulus money for energy cost relief. Alaska is the only state to have rejected these funds, and that's not sitting well.What Hawker means by "rare and difficult" means that Alaska state law it requires a 75 percent vote of the Legislature in joint session.
"I would be surprised if we didn't override her," North Pole Republican Rep. John Coghill said Thursday.
Rep. Mike Hawker, another member of the legislative leadership, said that's his count too.
"This is just one of those cases where there is such a profound difference of opinion between the legislative branch of government and the executive branch," the Anchorage Republican said. "We could have one of those rare and difficult instances where we are actually able to override a governor's veto of an appropriation item."
Fiscally responsible governors have had a hard time trying to persuade their states to reject even just a portion of the federal stimulus money. State lawmakers see it as "free money," while a few governors are worried about the additional debt the porkulust will burden future generations with.
In South Carolina, Gov. Mark Sanford's battle with his legislature over "free money" went all the way to the state's supreme court, which ruled against the governor. Thursday, the high court ordered Sanford to request $700 million in federal stimulus money earmarked primarily for education, ending a months-long battle with SC legislators.
Gov. Sanford said Thursday that he will not appeal the ruling and will sign the forms to request the funds Monday.
- JP
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