Palin Turns Down Stimulus Money For Special Needs Students!

Governor Sarah Palin is turning down 31% of the stimulus money for the state of Alaska.  The $288 million of the $930.7 million that Alaska would receive from the federal stimulus is targeted for education, social services, and schools.  This is the portion Palin is refusing. She only wants money for construction projects.

“We are not requesting funds intended to just grow government,” Palin said. “In essence we say no to operating funds for more positions in government.”

Her decision has brought her wrath from school officials that need those funds for eduction.

The biggest single chunk of money that Palin is turning down is about $170 million for education, including money that would go for programs to help economically disadvantaged and special needs students. Anchorage School Superintendent Carol Comeau said she is “shocked and very disappointed” that Palin would reject the schools money. She said it could be used for job preservation, teacher training, and helping kids who need it.

“After soliciting and accepting more federal dollars per capita than any other governor in the union, Sarah Palin’s decision today to deny the state of Alaska over half a billion dollars in recovery and reinvestment funds – including millions for schools, energy and public safety – appears to be nothing more than political posturing,” communications director Brad Woodhouse said. “At a time when her state is suffering, Alaska’s working families cannot afford a governor that puts her political future ahead of the needs of the state and its families.”

What Sarah Palin is not completely being honest about is, the fact this has nothing to do with growing government.  The money she is refusing would have gone to many worthwhile social programs as well.  Here is a partial list:

Palin is turning down money for weatherization, energy efficiency grants, immunizations, air quality grants, emergency food assistance, homeless grants, senior meals, child care development grants, nutrition programs, homeless grants, arts, unemployment services, air quality, justice assistance grants and other programs.

When she comes up for re-election, her constituents need to remember how she not only broke her promise to help special need students, but also to provide assistance that would have made a world of difference for people who are out of work.

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