Lawmakers prepare to seek stimulus money

March 20, 2009

The Palin administration insists that it's not rejecting the education stimulus money. (Jason Kohler/KTUU-TV)

by Rhonda McBride
Friday, March 20, 2009

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Many people who are upset over Gov. Sarah Palin's decision to not ask for $170 million in federal stimulus money are protesting against her decision.

"The stimulus package for education is really a stimulus of the mind," said protestor Mary Hakala. "Without a decisive strong reaction, we will lose that opportunity."

"She didn't admit that she rejected the funds, which is how things were worded yesterday. The funds were rejected," said Ryan Conarro, another protestor.

The governor's exact words from Thursday were, "We are not requesting funds intended to just grow government."

The Palin administration insists that it's not rejecting the education stimulus money, and that it's simply not requesting the money by deferring that decision to the Legislature.

"We have to be careful, thoughtful, and have a deliberative process," said Education Commissioner Larry Ledoux. "I guarantee if you inject $170 million in K-12 education, there's going to be a reckoning two years from now if people don't use that money wisely."

So the ball's in the Legislature's court, and they're ready to run with it.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, has already introduced a resolution requesting any funds available from the federal stimulus program.

The House Education Committee will hold a hearing next Wednesday to look at the stimulus money the governor recommended that the state not accept.

"I'm expecting the Legislature to be protecting all the state's options next week," Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage said.

"I'm going home this weekend, and I'm going to speak with constituents and everybody alike saying that we need to be concerned about that, and everybody needs to be voicing their opinion," Sen. Bettye Davis, D-Anchorage said.

From the capital steps to across the state, many are questioning the governor's decision to accept $515 million in capitol projects, while passing on $170 million in education funds.

"It's important to build roads and all those things, but it's even more important to build human capacity for the future," Hakala said.

But the trade-off, the governor says, is growing government and sacrificing state control.

Contact Rhonda McBride at rmcbride@ktuu.com

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