JUNEAU -- Lawmakers could face a second round of vetoes, Gov. Sarah Palin said Thursday, if they don't justify $70 million worth of previously vetoed projects they put in the supplemental budget.

Specifically, Palin said she wants to know why lawmakers believe these projects must be funded immediately.

For instance, she wants to know why a batting cage or a gun range is so important that it has to be funded this year rather than next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

"Before vetoes are made again, come tell us why it's so doggone important that we spend the money right now, today, in a supplemental to get these projects done," Palin said.

"Whether we are talking about a budget that's $70,000 or in this case $70 million, spending other people's money is a responsibility that I take very seriously."

Palin and lawmakers have been at odds over the placement of the projects in a bill that is traditionally reserved for spending shortfalls for the current year's budget.

"We've been quite bold in letting folks know we do not believe the supplemental is an appropriate place to put capital projects," Palin said.

But Palin too has her own projects in the supplemental budget that lawmakers agreed to include, and, in turn, believe their requests deserve her approval.

Palin says her administration has accounted for those ongoing projects, such as airport runway upgrades in Petersburg, environmental studies in Unalaska and drainage work to protect homes in Ketchikan.

She said she simply wants the same accountability from lawmakers asking for their own capital projects in the supplemental budget.

"As they are scrutinizing our projects, we are explaining to them also about some of the unforeseen circumstances and some of the timeliness that necessitated putting capital projects in there," Palin said.

"We haven't shied away from those specific explanations for each project being in there," she said. "That's what we have to have happen with the lawmakers, the opportunity given to them to explain their priorities."

Palin's formal invitation to lawmakers went out Wednesday in a letter calling for what she called open dialogue.

Palin clarified that the lawmakers' projects won't summarily get rejected if the members or their staff do not report to her office.

"I think it's the fair way to do this," she said. "The project should be able to stand on its merit no matter who is promoting it."

VETO OVERRIDE THREATENED

Rep. Kevin Meyer, an Anchorage Republican who serves as the House Finance co-chairman, said he likes the idea.

"I appreciate having the opportunity to explain it," Meyer said. "That was part of my beef or gripe last summer during vetoes. We spent a lot of time putting that capital budget together.

"Then for her to just veto all of them without at least getting back to me or individual legislators who submitted it. ... At least now we have an opportunity to make our case."

Sen. Bert Stedman, a Sitka Republican who serves as co-chair to the Senate Finance Committee, said he's ready to meet.

"I've never declined a meeting with the governor; the more dialogue the better," Stedman said. "These are '08 projects with the '08 budget and they should not be counted again for the '09 budget in my opinion."

If Palin does veto lawmakers' projects again, they will still be in session, giving them the option to retaliate during deliberations over the governor's 2009 capital budget.

The two sides have until April 5 to work things out. That's the deadline for Palin to either accept the entire bill, or reject projects she doesn't deem worthy in line-item vetoes.

Moves on both sides will likely get careful thought as the 90-day session is coming down to its final three weeks.

Palin also has until March 28 to sign or veto a separate funding package estimated to inject an extra $180 million into education over the next five years.

Palin noted the possibility of a veto, calling the package incomplete. Lawmakers have threatened a veto override.

Palin tried to raise the base student allocation, currently $5,380 per pupil, by $200. The Legislature gave her $100.

Sitting in the House Speaker's chambers during lunch hour, a group of key lawmakers took turns weighing in on the probability of a veto override.

That requires three-fourths of the Legislature or 45 votes, and the group of high-ranking lawmakers had little doubt they would get it.

"I find it hard to believe there is not one school district in the state of Alaska out there who would not ask us to override that veto -- or one parent," said Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel.

House Speaker John Harris, R-Valdez, agreed, saying "If we don't override it, they get nothing."