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Palin, Alaska lawmakers discuss stimulus package

Palin, Alaska lawmakers discuss stimulus package
Governor, lawmakers discuss Alaska priorities for federal economic stimulus package

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska should seek its share of transportation dollars from the Federal Economic Stimulus Package but should be wary of accepting money to pay for new state services.

That was the message from Gov. Sarah Palin and legislative leaders Wednesday after their first formal meeting since the legislative session began Jan. 20.
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Palin and legislators said their discussion centered on the federal proposal designed to jump start the nation’s flagging economy.The U.S House on Wednesday night approved an $819 billion stimulus bill.

House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, and Palin said they are leery of accepting funding for new programs that the state would have to pick up once federal dollars in the stimulus package dry up.

“We agreed to continue to meet and look at the responses that we get back from the federal delegation and try to make decisions based on that information,” Chenault said.

Lawmakers earlier this week expressed reservations that Palin had focused only on projects that would support a proposed natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to markets in the Lower 48.

In her State of the State address, Palin said her administration would be pitching projects that served both state and national needs, such as gas pipeline infrastructure.

House Majority Leader Rep. Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan, said Tuesday members of his caucus had been told little about what the Palin administration was requesting.

Sen. Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla, warned Palin not to get tunnel vision on building pipeline infrastructure. Other lawmakers said federal stimulus package could make up for falling oil prices and other economic woes in Alaska.

Palin on Wednesday assured legislators that she would seek other projects also.yahoo