Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced yesterday her intent to refuse nearly a third of the recently passed stimulus money allotted to the state of Alaska. The governor had said earlier she would refuse half the stimulus funding, but later admitted she would be more than willing to take the money allotted in the stimulus bill for Medicare, thus raising the total amount she would willingly take to about 70%.
Palin is not taking about $288 million of the $930.7 million that Alaska is due in the federal stimulus. Palin said she is accepting the federal stimulus money that would go for construction projects, but not funding directed at government operations.
"We are not requesting funds intended to just grow government," Palin said. "In essence we say no to operating funds for more positions in government." (Link)
And here's the kicker:
The biggest single chunk of money that Palin is turning down is about $170 million for education, including money that would go for programs to help economically disadvantaged and special needs students. Anchorage School Superintendent Carol Comeau said she is "shocked and very disappointed" that Palin would reject the schools money. She said it could be used for job preservation, teacher training, and helping kids who need it. (Link)
So, I wonder why, if the governor is so concerned about the size of government in Alaska, she would so eagerly accept the Medicare funds and refuse the funds for education. And particularly funds that would go to a cause Ms. Palin has expressed such passionate interest in; assisting special needs children. Perhaps the governor thinks the educational system in Alaska is just fine. Oh wait....it can't be that... From the Anchorage Daily News:
Here's another gloomy statistic at the other end of the public education system: Only about two-thirds of Alaska high school students graduate in four years, compared with the U.S. average of three-fourths graduating.
And of Alaska students who do graduate, only a third start college. Nationwide, nearly half of high school graduates are college-bound. So what's the plan to improve the odds for Alaska kids?
It's probably not a coincidence that each of the Republican governors who have showboated taken public stands on not accepting federal stimulus money are thought to be contenders for a future GOP presidential run. It's also true that the state legislatures in each of the states are able to overturn the governors decision.
Which, of course, would be the best of all worlds for these governors. They would get the Rush LImbaugh butt kissing bonus points for claiming they will refuse the funds and later be able to claim the state legislatures overruled them. And everything worked out happily ever after.
Comments
Right about now a great deal of Americans would throw Obumble under the bus and put Palin in office. Just 2 months in and look at the carnage, unbelievable.
Funny how Palin would throw poor and disadvantaged children under the bus to make a cheap political point. Her hypocrisy and betrayal of the public trust is a fine indication of her leadership.
What is funnier is that some Republicans look towards this smug, self-serving and irresponsible individual as the leader of their party.
Good news if your a Democrat, bad news for Republicans. As for Alaskans, they dropped the soap with Palin in the shower. They have my sympathy.
Please say it one more time, thanks but no thanks. I wish they recall you butt.
The government funds will run out and the state needs to be sure they can sustain that once the program is over. In addition, the federal monies come with conditions that really creates more government. I think the Alaska governor and others like her who are being selective about the types of money they take is smart and extremely American -- keep the power in the states - not the Feds. As a side note to all the naysayers - Alaska has had unprecedented growth in their education funds of late so people should be thankful for a governor who is stewarding funds appropriately rather than being an AIG or other big corp and taking it all.
From the Portland Progressive "Funny how Palin would throw poor and disadvantaged children under the bus to make a cheap political point."
You have got to be kidding. After what you've written about her and her kids during the campaign, you think SHE is using this as a political stunt? You are accusing her again of using disabled kids as a "PROP"? Again???
Thats despicable.
" Alaskans aren’t fazed much by the ongoing Sarah Palin-bashing taking place in the Lower 48 -- a new poll indicates the governor’s popularity remains sky high among voters in her home state.
Anchorage-based pollster Hays Research Group says its March survey shows 61.3 percent -- nearly two out of every three Alaskans -- feel either “very positive” or “positive” about Gov. Palin.
Palin triggers a negative reaction from about one-third of Alaskans, however. The poll found some 32.7 percent of Alaskans rate Palin as either “somewhat negative” (12.5 percent) or “very negative” (20.2 percent).
Only 6 percent are undecided about her, suggesting that the GOP governor tends to evoke strong feelings one way or the other. The poll of 400 Alaskans has an error margin of plus or minus 4.9 percent. "
When people like the Portland Prog are so consumed with hate toward this woman, the truth will never matter.
My daughter and son-in-law live in Alaska. And it bothers me to no end that Palin is so busy thinking about her 2012 run she pays no attention to what the state will be like once she leaves. I want my grandchild to have a good education. Thanks to Palin, she won't get one. I guess if the funds will eventually run out they should just sit tight and suffer?
Happy, you must remember that "Progressive" is a four letter word meaning, "H A T E".
Happy Indep
While I appreciate your attention, I must confess I was not writing for the Examiner at the time of the election.
If I would have been writing at the time I would have focused on Palin's gross incompetence and questioned McCain's judgment. Selecting such a weak, unqualified candidate for such an important position was a cynical ploy to gather votes, with the potential of putting this great nation at risk.
DirtyHarry: Sarah Palin can run in 2009 and 2012 and 2016 and beyond. She will never win. I am so hoping that she runs in 2012 so Obama will leave her in the dust asking "where is russia". You thought McCain was spanked but he might have had better numbers but he brought bumbling idiot Palin and her wasilla hillbillies along for the ride and cost him the House. Sarah Palin 2012 --- Obama 2012 and beyond.
Slogan: "Meth is Cool Don't Stay in School" Sarah Palin 2012
Slogan: "My family values stay unwed, uneducated, and baby mama" Sarah Palin 2012
Sara Palin is riduculous! She's not for the people, she's for Rush Limbough, Sean Hannity and Mccain. They will ruin our country, like they did with bush! She's not educated enough to be governor! She's inconsiderate, like all the other Repulicans in office!
WelfarefortheRich, Have to disagree with you about good ole John McAmnesty losing because of Palin. McAmnesty was about the worst choice to run for president the republicans could come up with. They say history repeats itself, and here we have an almost identical situation as the mid '70's after the Nixon debacle. After Ford served out the interim, America elected its first president from the deep south, none other than Jimmy Carter. Carter started out with an approval rating in the 70's, and quickly destroyed the economy, dismantled the military, and crushed the American spirit. By the time Mr. Carter was through, the American voter wanted no more part of a liberal agenda for the next 12 years. So thanks Obama, like Carter you will make the conservative movement bigger than it ever was after one dismal failure after failure of a pathetic administration.
Lets compare the education system in Alaska to the Progressive Utopia of California's- you may be surprised as California is number 50 dead last on a recent survey while we are spending a fortune for our schools-
I am a third gen. gold miner and my business involves other Alaskans and a great deal of trust. Sarah Palin is a FLAKE and has no business of mixing her immature agenda with state business. You can bet she will never win reelection as governor.
Fritz, get a grip, If Sarah ever told the truth it would damage her national reputation as a lying, backstabbing power and celebrity starved strumpet who sold her soul to the S cientologists
I have so much respect for Gov. Palin, but sad to say she will not be president, not for now until Americans return to God's command. Why? How can Palin wins if 55% of Americans are becoming more liberal and leaning towards the Anti-Christ?? Have you watch the movie Left Behind which features a black american president, and this film was produced way back in 2005. How can the film maker vision out that from 2008 to 2012 the president of the United States is a black american, and in the story, this president who is black betrays his own people by aligning himself to the new world order under the leadership of the anti-christ. Have you not noticed now? Obama slowly but surely is leaning towards evilness. He is slowly favoring abortion, gay rights, etc. Why did God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha in the first place?? You better research dude,and you will feel horrifying. There is still time, and americans must start to think about it before it is too late.
I wish she would have the guts to say she refused the education funds because of the ban on funds for schools who practice religion or use the facilities. When are people going to realize that Obama is seeking to destroy the free practice of religion in america.
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