Gov. Sarah Palin has quietly signed into law the biggest rewrite of the state's education funding system in a decade. House Bill 273 phases in increases to per-pupil spending, increases to intensive needs students and adjustments to district cost factors that compensate schools outside Anchorage for their steeper costs. Based on recommendations from a legislative task force, it sailed easily through the Legislature.

Even so, Palin hinted last week that she might veto the package,
calling it incomplete. Lawmakers threatened a veto override. She signed the bill Thursday without ceremony, applauding lawmakers' efforts in a press release. Her office said she was busy meeting with lawmakers over last year's capital budget vetoes.