Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on June 5, 2009 released US Energy Department revelations that the $28.6 million in stimulus funds she vetoed indeed come with strings attached.
DOE has repeatedly stated some energy funds are directly tied to the statewide adoption of new federal energy-efficiency codes. [Section 410(a)(2); March 12, 2009, DOE Guidance Manual, p.8, p.10, 25-26, p.33-34, Attachment 3; April 24, 2009, DOE Guidance Manual, p.8, p.10, p.25-26, p.33-34.] The codes in question are the 2009 International Conservation Code for residences and the 2007 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ code for commercial buildings throughout the state (DOE Strings, 2009, ¶2).
As there is no statewide energy code, compliance by all local jurisdictions would include even Alaska’s 114 second-class and mostly rural communities. Full compliance with the strict new codes, which regulate even the type of lighting that can be installed, would cost Alaskans thousands of dollars per new home or renovation (DOE Strings, 2009, ¶3).
Governor Palin’s release listed in the references outlines some of the building code material in greater detail.
Commentary
As an executive, Governor Palin analyzed the facts that were presented to her vis-Ã -vis the US Department of Energy codes and the stimulus package. She applying these criteria: is her decision, safe, legal or authorized, and does the benefit outweigh the costs? (Hilley, 2008, p. 48). Any decision she made would have safe, legal, or authorized, but only one would pass the cost-benefit analysis, and that decision was the one she made.
Accepting the $28.6 million would have been a pyrrhic victory, for the money is poisoned. It comes with strings attached that will likely cost more than the $28.6 million received. This is akin to one person gifting a house to another, only the recipient cannot afford the mortgage or property taxes on it. The gift is self-negating and Governor Palin’s considered analysis found this to be precisely the case.
Governor Palin made the decision as an executive to veto this money. If the Alaska State Legislature desires to, they can override her veto, should they have sufficient votes to do so — which they appear to (Cockerham, 2009, ¶1). The Governor through this release, once again provided the facts, which formed the basis of her decision. The legislature may well override her, but Governor Palin can rest easy knowing that her mind performed the proper analysis and her hand executed the correct decision.
This poisoned money is not merely self-negating. It involves greater federal interference into state affairs — a breach of the Tenth Amendment, and that is where this analysis shifts to the political. Governor Palin is a strong advocate of small, limited federal government, and keeping power at the local level to the greatest degree possible. She interprets the federal and her state’s Constitution strictly and as they were originally written. These is are two of the core principles of Reagan conservatism. The decision Governor Palin executed in vetoing this poisoned money was 100% in accordance with and guided by these core principles and beliefs.
Governor Palin will not compromise her core principles for the sake of short-term popularity.
References
Cockerham, S. (2009, June 5). “Lawmakers muster votes to override governor.” Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved June 6, 2009 from: http://www.adn.com/palin/story/820095.html
Energy Department reveals strings attached, asks states to comment. (2009, June 5). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved June 6, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1887
Hilley, J. (2008). Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan).
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