Gov Palin and the Stimulus Package

“Governor Sarah Palin again today expressed her serious concerns with President Obama’s proposed stimulus package. In a joint letter sent to Alaska’s congressional delegation, Governor Palin, House Speaker Mike Chenault and Senate President Gary Stevens cautioned that unrestrained spending, initiation of new programs that the states may be asked to continue after the federal stimulus is gone, and the borrowing of hundreds of billions of dollars to pay for it may result in serious economic problems in the future” (Stimulus, 2009, ¶1).

Governor Palin recently traveled to the nation’s capital to personally express her concerns with the stimulus package with business, economic and political leaders. The trip was not an effort to endorse or lobby for the current stimulus package now before Congress” (Stimulus, 2009, ¶2).

“I agree with the decision of Senator Murkowski and Congressman Young to vote NO on the package,” Governor Palin said” (Stimulus, 2009, ¶3).

“It’s a given that a stimulus package is needed and will happen,” Palin said. “With guaranteed spending on the table, I am arguing for needed construction projects and tax breaks that will truly stimulate the economy and create jobs, and against increased federal programs that will become a state’s unfunded mandate to continue funding for generations” (Stimulus, 2009, ¶5).

“Governor Palin and the legislative leadership also highlighted the conventional fuels that Alaska has to offer and the need to find ways the federal government can help bring the state’s clean burning natural gas through a pipeline to the midwest” (Stimulus, 2009, ¶8).

Commentary

Many people are of the mistaken notion that Governor Sarah Palin supports the Obama stimulus package. As she made clear from the foregoing, she does not, as noted in ¶3. To summarize, Governor Palin supports funding for construction projects and tax breaks. She is against expanded Federal programs that ultimately become a state’s mandate to fund until the mandate ceases. She agrees that there should be a stimulus package, but not this one which is full of pork barrel spending and does nothing to stimulate the economy, but everything to grow the size and scope of the Federal government.

Governor Palin’s business acumen, fiscal conservatism, and position on a small, efficient, Federal government shines through in this release and in her trip this past weekend to lobby for responsible funding for Alaska’s projects with an eye toward energy independence.

Governor Palin Continues to Express Serious Concerns with President’s Stimulus Package. (2009, February 4). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved February 4, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1622

Tagged as: stimulus economic pork construction infrastructure