Palin sends stimulus letter to President Obama
Sarah Palin, candidate for vice president last year, sent President Barack Obama a letter last Tuesday in which she explains why she accepts only a part of the money Obama’s economic plan reserved for Alaska. The governor used the opportunity to present herself as a fiscal conservative leader, who remains true to principles, even in tough times:
The purpose of this letter is to provide notice that I am accepting those funds available to Alaska under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that create new, private-sector jobs and grow the economy.
I have invited public discussion through the legislative hearing process currently underway on ARRA funds that appear designed to grow government programs or that will impose federal mandates on our state. Federal stimulus spending must not add to strained state budgets nor diminish state sovereignty by imposing mandates, now or in the future…
1) The State of Alaska will request and use certain funds provided by ARRA with some decisions subject to final determinations based on the legislative appropriations process described in this letter; and
2) Funds will be used to create jobs and promote economic growth.
By making this certification, the State of Alaska is not committed now or in the future, to accept all of the federal funds.
The federal economic stimulus package will have profound, long-term implications. Our citizens and future generations must have the hope of meaningful work and economic opportunity, rather than be burdened by higher taxes and increased national debt.
That last sentence is obvious criticism of Obama’s economic plans and of governors who do accept all the money allocated to them, even if it’s not meant to stimulate the economy immediately and will burden future generations with tremendous debts.
Interesting about the letter is that Palin uses two reasons – practical and principles – to explain why she will accept only part of the funds. The practical reasons are those described above: short term stimulus is needed, a massive debt is a major drain on the economy and society, etc.
The principles she refers to are those of federalism, of course. State rights.
It’s a good letter for a Republican with national aspirations. It will be worth keeping an eye on what the other Republican governors do and how they make the case for limited government and fiscal responsible behavior.
I hope this letter gets wide circulation. Unfortunatley, I think the MSM will bury it, so it will be up to those on the internet to spread it as far as possible. I’m sure those governors who already have their snouts in the trough will not appreaciate it, but the average American will appreciate that there is actually someone out there who has a real clue that running the country in to deep debt is not a smart idea.
Donate to SarahPAC
Fantastic letter! It’s clear that Washington has become too large. America needs a leader like Sarah Palin to restore the federal government to its rightful — and much smaller — role.
You do realize she is a compulsive liar who only flirts with fiscal discipline, right? She was all behind the bridge to nowhere and has made many lies about being against it from the start. She never comes clean. Couple that with her tendency to assign friends and acquaintances to political spots even if they are committed homophobes, and you have a pretty unpleasant politician.
I think this is smart for Palin, but Garland is right in some ways. She did turn away those bridge funds only after it became inconvenient politically. Then there’s the little matter of windfall oil profits tax in Alaska, meanwhile Republicans elsewhere were demonizing Democrats for proposing the same thing.
Like I said, this is a smart thing. But to pretend Palin is a fiscal conservative saint is to ignore the other side of the coin.