Money for Nothing: AK Lawmakers Vote to Override

Meeting in a one-day special session, the Alaska Legislature acted Monday, without a vote to spare, to override former Governor Sarah Palin's veto of federal energy stimulus funds.

The legislators got an Obama offer they couldn't refuse -- "money for nothing, checks for free":



Our own lyrics to "Money for Nothing"
(with sincerest apologies to Mark Knopfler)

Now look at them yo-yos thats the way you do it
You take the money that comes from D.C.
That aint workin thats the way you do it
Money for nothin and checks for free
Now that aint workin thats the way you do it
Lemme tell ya them guys aint dumb
Maybe get a blister on their sorry backsides
Maybe get a blister on their bums

We gotta install brand new insulation
Custom building deliveries
We gotta meet fed'ral regulations
We gotta meet those IECCs

See the little maggot there in Obama's pocket
Don't matter if he's R or D
That little maggot works ninety days a year
That little maggot makes fifty Gs

We gotta install brand new insulation
Custom building deliveries
We gotta meet fed'ral regulations
We gotta meet those IECCs

I shoulda learned to be a legislator
I shoulda learned to play both sides
Look at Jay Ramras, deep in the tank for BP
Man we could take some bribes
Stay down in Juneau, for what? about 90 days?
All it's gonna cost you is your sovereignty
That aint workin thats the way you do it
Get your money for nothin get your checks for free

We gotta install brand new insulation
Custom building deliveries
We gotta meet fed'ral regulations
We gotta meet those IECCs, lord

Now that aint workin thats the way you do it
You take the money that comes from D.C.
That aint workin thats the way you do it
Money for nothin and your checks for free
Money for nothin and checks for free

I want my
I want my
I want my
authority

- JP

Will AK legislature override Gov's stimulus veto?

This McCalatchy report by the ADN's Sean Cockerham says they do:

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.

"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."

What Hawker means by "rare and difficult" means that Alaska state law it requires a 75 percent vote of the Legislature in joint session.

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