Anchorage Daily News

The Alaska Legislature has called itself into a special session to consider overriding Gov. Sarah Palin's veto of federal stimulus funds for energy-related projects.

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said the one-day session will be Aug. 10 in Anchorage instead of the Capitol in Juneau.

Besides the veto override vote, lawmakers will consider confirming the new lieutenant governor, Stevens said.

Palin initially said she would not accept about one-third of the $930 million Alaska was eligible for under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, citing "strings" that could bind the state to federal mandates and increase the size of government.

Legislators found few strings and passed a bill accepting all federal money. Palin accepted all the stimulus funds except for $28.5 million in energy cost relief. Lawmakers have been mulling an override vote but said it would be difficult during the summer as the state's 60 lawmakers were traveling and enjoying summer activities.

They had asked the federal government if it could consider the override in January when the Legislature reconvenes. However, last week, U.S. Department of Energy officials said they were unwilling to wait until the regular legislative session to see if lawmakers will override Palin's veto and apply for the State Energy Program money.

An override would require a three-fourths majority in both the House and Senate.

"I'm pretty convinced we've got the votes in the Senate. The House leadership is trying to figure out if they've got the votes to override the stimulus veto, but I think they do," Stevens said.

The governor's office did not have immediate comment on the special session.

Lawmakers also will consider approving the designee for lieutenant governor.

Palin has announced she will resign July 26, and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will take the oath of office at the Governor's Picnic the same day in Fairbanks.

In her announcement, Palin said Military and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Craig Campbell would become the new lieutenant governor, even though the Legislature had previously named Corrections Commissioner Joe Schmidt as the designee.

After receiving an opinion from the attorney general, Parnell on Monday named Campbell as the lieutenant governor on a temporary basis, saying he would serve in that capacity until he could be confirmed by the Legislature.

Stevens said lawmakers may also consider override votes of Palin line-item vetoes in her capital budget, but that decision hasn't been finalized.

Only one other special session has been held in Anchorage, in June 2007. The one-day session cost nearly $112,000, according to Pam Varni, executive director of the Legislative Affairs Agency.

Varni said daylong sessions in Juneau generally cost about $50,000 for transportation and another $25,000 to $30,000 for expenditures including per diem and lodging.

Holding a session in Anchorage rather than Juneau costs more because in addition to the usual expenses, technicians must set up sound systems and computers and essentially create a temporary chamber for lawmakers.

Associated Press writer Rachel D'Oro in Anchorage contributed to this report.

ADVERTISEMENT