Lawmakers, Palin bicker to the finish

[babylonsister]

:nopity:

http://www.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/764532.html

Lawmakers, Palin bicker to the finish

LEGISLATURE: Session ends today, but loose ends remain.

By SEAN COCKERHAM
Anchorage Daily News | [e-mail]


There was a Saturday blowup when Fairbanks Republican Rep. Mike Kelly objected to appropriating state energy assistance money and suggested people in rural Alaska should cut wood rather than rely on the proposed state aid. Members of the Republican-led majority in the state House later huddled behind closed doors for much of the day, with lawmakers saying there were internal conflicts over personalities, bills that have not moved and what to do about $9 million that Palin wants for pursuing an in-state natural gas pipeline.

There was less drama in the state Senate. But the session is nearing an end with no conclusion in sight to the war that's dragged on for weeks between Palin and Senate Democrats over a vacant Juneau state Senate seat.

The governor's chief of staff sent senators a letter Saturday saying she's standing behind an appointee that's already been rejected and wants to have a meeting about it.

snip//

Palin has re-appointed one of her rejected appointees, Tim Grussendorf, and wants a new vote on him. But the Senate Democrats have their own legal opinions from legislative lawyers that says their rejection of Grussendorf was legal.

Sen. Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, said there are no plans to vote on Grussendorf again.

"I don't consider it a valid appointment," said Ellis, the Senate majority leader. "He was rejected."

Ellis said Palin has until Monday under the law to appoint someone else to the seat that's been open since Juneau Democratic Sen. Kim Elton resigned March 2. Nizich suggested Saturday that Palin and the nine Democratic senators find a time to meet soon and talk about what happens now.

"This stalemate has to be overcome ... a potential cycle of nominations and rejections or time-consuming litigation does not help Juneau's citizens," he wrote.

[rainbow4321]

1. So **now** she "wants to have a meeting about it"??

Amazing how there is suddenly no time to lose...but there WAS enough time for her to go give speeches this past week in Indiana when the lawmakers were asking her to stay and take care of state business.

[babylonsister]

3. She has until tomorrow. And I wish this was smaller...

:nopity:

[truebrit71]

2. Fuck that wolf-killing b*tch...

eom

[islandgirl808]

4. how did she get elected again?

???

[rainbow4321]

5. She just caved....

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/140667

Gov. Sarah Palin has ended the stalemate over the open state Senate seat by giving Senate Democrats the appointee that they wanted, former Juneau mayor Dennis Egan.

The nine Senate Democrats "unanimously and enthusiastically" voted to confirm Egan to the seat, said Anchorage Democratic Sen. Johnny Ellis, the Senate majority leader.

Juneau Democrats had billed Egan as a compromise candidate after it became clear that Palin wasn’t going to appoint their top choice, House Minority Leader Beth Kerttula.

Palin until today was still pushing legislative aide Tim Grussendorf for the job, arguing the Senate Democrats’ previous rejection of Grussendorf wasn’t valid because it was behind closed doors.