In these days of growing sports frenzy, with baseball picking up steam, basketball and hockey in the limelight, with the US auto industry in trouble again, and with the Obama flip-flops continuing, only a few folks may have heard that Governor Palin refused federal stimulus funds for Alaska. Even fewer would have bothered to find out the details.

It is natural for us pumas to worry about the press in this country not doing its job fairly, if at all. When is the last time you have heard about anything that Sarah Palin did, other than gossip about her family, children no less!

Recently, the Governatoress, yes, that’s the new affectionate term I coined for Sarah Palin, it’s along the lines of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s nickname the governator, explained her stand.

In an Op-Ed piece in the Anchorage Daily News, Governor Palin explained that federal money was tied to changes in Alaska policies that ran counter to local legislation, local traditions and an Alaskan way of thought. Here are some quotes:

Strings were definitely attached to federal energy dollars. The stimulus law in section 410(a) (2), along with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) official guidance, required certifying one of two options before Alaska could receive the energy conservation funds. [sic]

The Legislature did not pass a bill adopting a statewide energy building code. In addition, the federal residential building code does not allow exemptions, such as we use in Alaska. When Alaska Housing Finance Corporation funds are used, building and energy codes can be waived due to the “high cost of implementation” in different areas of Alaska. One size does not fit all in Alaska. [sic]

Alaska communities have the right to determine for themselves whether to adopt building codes. [sic]

The Department of Energy finally admitted section 410 and their previous statements were “inappropriate” for some states but still wanted an agreement to push model codes on all Alaskan communities. I said no.[sic]

Beware of Washington, D.C., trying to cajole local community leaders to eliminate the choices Alaskans have when building or renovating homes and businesses. These new codes are so detailed they would dictate the kinds of lights that can be installed in a home in Akutan, and how thick window panes must be in Chignik. [sic]

We have hundreds of millions of dollars already budgeted for conservation, weatherization and renewable energy development. My administration will remain vigilant for Alaskans and oppose mandates or pressure to conform from Washington, D.C., bureaucrats.
{Emphasis Added}

Even a cursory reading of the op-ed article reveals the reasoning and the eloquent argument made by the Governor. You won’t read too much about it in the popular press. I guess, that’s why we-b-log.