Alaska lawmakers have votes to override Palin's stimulus veto

[babylonsister]

Lawmakers muster votes to override governor

STIMULUS: Palin makes Alaska the sole state to reject energy cost relief.

By SEAN COCKERHAM
[e-mail]

Published: June 4th, 2009 08:49 PM
Last Modified: June 5th, 2009 03:51 AM


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."

It's so rare and difficult because it requires a 75 percent vote of the Legislature in joint session. But there's little support among lawmakers for Palin on this, and the debate is more about whether she could trump a veto override and manage to block the money.

more...

http://www.adn.com/palin/story/820095.html

[ejpoeta]

1. lawmakers in alaska know the people want that money.

they aren't idiots. try going around defending THAT vote... sure i voted against money for our state. I know we have seen folks trying to have it both ways who voted against it and then go around claiming it's passage somehow.

[mnmoderatedem]

2. the irony is

that rejecting the money does not save federal taxpayers one thin dime, as the stimulus money would simply be divvied up among other states anyway.

The only reason she wants to reject it is that she's bought and paid for by big oil.

[Sydnie]

3. She wants to reject it so she can tout that she rejected it

I wouldn't doubt for one minute that she is counting on a veto over ride so she can have the money and still say she didn't want it. Much like the money for the bridge to no where -- it's not like she didn't keep the money or anything, she just didn't match the funds to build the bridge.

[Stevenmarc]

4. Don't you think she knew her veto would be overridden ......

granted I doubt she's smart enough to think this up all by herself but she certainly has people who are advising her that know if she makes a big show of turning down the money it puts point in her "no big government" column that can be used for future political goals.

It's like going to a restaurant with a group and when the check comes someone sort of reaches for the check knowing that someone else will actually grab the check, it makes them look like they were going to pay when that was never their intention.