Palin's office seeks to calm furor over stimulus funds rejection

[Top Cat]

ANCHORAGE — Dozens of protesters held signs Saturday criticizing Gov. Sarah Palin for turning away federal economic stimulus money they said is vital for education and other services for Alaskans.

"Mama Grizzly, you forgot your cub," said one sign.

"We need a governor, not a presidential candidate," said another.

The protesters staged the demonstration outside the Loussac Library, where Anchorage area state legislators met to hear from constituents.

Many asked for money to fund building projects, or urged passage of particular bills.

But the dominant issue was Palin's purported rejection of $288 million, or 31 percent of the $931 million the state is eligible to receive under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Palin supporters and her budget director, Karen Rehfeld, said the bluster over the governor's stance on the stimulus money is somewhat misplaced.

In fact, the administration hasn't yet rejected a single dollar of the stimulus funding, Rehfeld said in an interview from Juneau on Saturday.

She sent an e-mail Friday to all legislators promising that state agencies "will continue to complete the necessary paperwork and applications and meet the specific deadlines" to collect all the stimulus money pending a public debate on whether to keep it.

Read the full story at adn.com
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/politics/v-print/story/64562.html

(I hope they protest everyday)

[Andy823]

1. It should be

All or nothing, period. I thought Biden made that comment earlier, that if they weren't going to use it "all" for the programs that were targeted, they would not get any money at all, has that changed?

[Top Cat]

2. I hope not.... The Gov. Of Alaska will probably take the money

[Andy823]

5. I think

All those republican governors know that their state officials will step in and "force" them to take the money, but they can use it as bragging rights when they run for the party ticket in 2012!

What needs to be done with Palin is for those in her state to point out to the media that she don't think Alaskans should "accept" handouts from the government, yet she is asking for "handouts" to help pay her legal bills. It's OK for her, but the hell with the people of Alaska?

[LiberalFighter]

6. Of course she will take the money...

how else will she pay for her clothes? And be able to receive per diem to do work in her home?

[dkf]

3. Now THIS is the ultimate in hypocrisy.

She says she won't take the money, but then tells her agencies to submit any paperwork needed to collect?

WTH?

[VampyreHunter]

4. No Palin for 2012!

god help us if Palin gets elected in 2012!

[Top Cat]

7. I hope she runs because Obama will kick her ASS.....

It would be a landslide she has a small following in comparison

[smoochpooch]

8. Good for the protesters! They hit the nail on the head: she wasn't elected to posture for 2012. n/t