Letters to the Editor

Readers react to Palin's rejection of stimulus money

Food Bank of Alaska appalled

We at Food Bank of Alaska were appalled to learn that the governor chose to refuse federal economic stimulus funds that would help feed our neighbors. Given that 13 percent of the Alaska population gets food assistance each year, and that food pantries across the state have seen 30 percent increases in requests for food in the past two years, our state needs to use every tool at its disposal to ensure adequate nutrition.

The funding refused includes:

• The Emergency Food Assistance Program, $50,000.

• School Lunch Program, $300,000.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, $500,000.

• WIC, $800,000, for low income women and children.

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• Senior Meals, $500,000.

As a state, we need more resources, not fewer, to ensure that our elders have enough to eat and to prevent widespread hunger.

-- Susannah Morgan

Food Bank of Alaska

Anchorage

Think of kids not political future

I read with interest about Gov. Palin and her supporters' anger over President Obama's comparison of his bowling with Special Olympics. I agree that was a poor choice of words. However, Gov. Palin cannot have it both ways with her righteous indignation regarding special needs children and her lack of concern when she plans to deny stimulus funding for education in the state.

Our schools are for all students/children, including those with special needs. The schools are suffering with high fuel costs, high grocery bills and high transportation costs. Any money from the stimulus bill would be welcome news -- even on a short-term basis.

Alaska's students should not be caught up in Gov. Palin's political ambitions and her desire to score political points among potential supporters. Giving every Alaska student the means to a first-class education will only pay dividends for the state in the future. Come on, Gov. Palin, be for all of our children and their future!

-- Judy Leinberger

Anchorage

Beware education stimulus money

I find it rather humorous that we have people complaining about Sarah refusing $288 million. The give-me, give-me people need to understand that this money is just not being pulled off some money tree in Washington, and it will be around forever. Let's start all these school programs, and then when the federal money tree quits giving, then who will have to keep the programs going? Us.

Why should the American taxpayer pay for projects and programs for our school system? If the school needs money, get it from the people in Alaska who benefit from it.

-- Leif Sorlie

Anchorage

Keep education funding

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I am exasperated with our governor's decision to reject federal stimulus funding for education. It is incomprehensible. Members of the all-Republican state Senate minority said this is a wise course because we don't want to accept federal money that could cost us money in the long run -- as quoted in the ADN: "People could come to expect the programs, leaving the state paying for them to continue, said the governor and her allies..."

Well, yes, I do expect the state to continue pay for a decent education system for our kids -- and right now they aren't doing a very good job. If this money can help, then let's take it! We need it -- our kids need it! I hope all state legislators will work together to convince the governor of the need and importance of this federal funding. Let's put our kids first.

-- Janet McNary

Homer

Which way is it, governor?

Does anyone else out there find it ironic that Gov. Palin supporters would howl at Obama's gaffe regarding Special Olympics bowlers but they haven't seemed to lather up at all about the millions in stimulus money she's rejected that would have gone to Alaska's special needs children/students? Seems odd, doesn't it?

-- Tom Bohn

Chugiak

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All about image

It seems pretty clear to me at this point that Gov. Palin is more concerned with improving her image with Rush Limbaugh than she is with improving the quality of education for Alaska school children.

-- Jim Hart

Anchorage

Government money isn't free

Kudos to Gov. Sarah Palin for not accepting stimulus money which will only grow government and put us into further debt in the future. It is not free money because it comes from the federal government!

The fifty percent of us who are paying taxes now are paying for the stimulus bill and eventually everyone will be paying for it with the higher costs of goods and services and decreased availability of private sector jobs.

Our children, for whom we say keep the education money, will be paying exorbitant taxes in the future, for the education money they receive today. To our state Legislature, let us reduce spending wherever we can!

-- Maureen Klump

Anchorage

Palin cares only about Palin

I am outraged. Gov Palin is letting the poor suffer by rejecting money for education, food assistance, lunch program, etc. Let Palin know she is not for the people but for her own recognition for a high national office.

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She is letting the people of Alaska down again by rejecting the much needed help to the poor.

-- M. M. Hawk

Anchorage

What about our children?

Upon hearing the news that Gov. Palin decided to turn down over $170 million in funding for Alaska's schools, two questions come to mind:

Is the governor's decision to turn down funding for our schools and our children based on what is best for Alaska and our children?

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Is the governor's decision to turn down funding for our schools and our children based on her 2012 presidential aspirations?

Alaskans have an admirable record and tradition of going the extra mile to care for and educate their children. Often I've heard people say, "Nothing's too good for our children." Gov. Palin seems determined to provide our children with plenty of nothing.

-- Hal Neumann

King Salmon

Quit chasing after GOP points

The news that Gov. Palin will not accept money from the federal government for education is outrageous. Spending money on education will stimulate the economy not only now, but well into the future. An educated workforce provides Alaska with better opportunities for economic growth in the future. Our governor is now putting the future of Alaska's students and economy at risk so she can score political points with the national Republican Party.

-- Ted Phelps

Anchorage

Education not all that important

Sarah Palin rejects dollars for education and accepts dollars for construction projects. This will surely increase her future political success.

By maintaining the status quo of Alaska's public education, Palin is grooming potential constituents. Keep people from learning too much science and they will fall in line with Palin's Christian-centric ideology and won't balk at her views on resource development, environmental conservation or sexual responsibility. Keep people from becoming too skilled in written and oral communications and (you betcha) they will continue to adore her folksy Palinisms. Keep people from learning too much about geography and they won't think twice when told about views of Russia from the shores of Lake Lucille. Keep kids from learning basic sex education and they'll continue to produce future voters.

By rejecting these funds, Palin diminishes Alaska's potential for a critical-thinking public and in doing so fosters a public apt to support her at the polls. Construction projects are obviously much wiser investments in the future of our state than education. More bridges! More roads! More teenage mothers, single parent kids and unskilled workers to drive them.

What would our future be without those? We should all be in awe at this fine example of fiscal conservatism.

-- Stormy Haught

Anchorage

Decisions are sound

One of the situations that got us into the terrible economical mess was spending money we don't have, hoping to be able to pay for the credit at some later date.

I applaud Gov. Palin for having the foresight to see that charging now, leaving the bill to the grandkids is not a sound fiscal policy. Secondly, this is not free money. It is taxpayer money and the bill will come later for all of us to pay, with a huge carryover for the next generations.

Some of you critics need to think of the consequences five (or more) years down the road.

-- J.B. Henley

Wasilla

Governor ignores our children

Gov, Palin was elected to serve the people of Alaska and secure a better future for our state. By rejecting $177 million for education as part of the federal stimulus package, she is accomplishing neither of these goals. This money, like a short-term grant, would be utilized to implement technology in our classrooms as well as assisting younger at-risk students with pre-kindergarten and Title I programs. It would also be used to retain teachers our state so desperately needs.

I sincerely hope Palin reconsiders her rejection of this money. Sadly, she is demonstrating a lack of commitment to the future of Alaska by throwing away so many important educational initiatives this money could provide. Will she be able to explain herself to a MatSu teacher who will receive a pink slip this spring? Can she justify her decision face-to-face with an at-risk elementary student who has been told by his governor that his education and future are not important? I think not.

-- Stephanie Thornton

Eagle River

Needs of people rejected

Its clear from Gov. Palin's rejection of the stimulus package that the needs of the people of this state are of less importance than her own ambitions. She took a direct shot at the neediest sector of our population. The disabled, the unemployed, the underfunded schools.

I voted for her, and her governance has been a terrible disappointment.

-- Elizabeth Dean

Wasilla

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