Story Created:
Mar 23, 2009 at 10:51 AM AKDT
Story Updated:
Mar 23, 2009 at 11:38 AM AKDT
Governor Sarah Palin is under fire for rejecting nearly half of the economic stimulus money Alaska was slated to receive.
Democrats and education leaders sharply criticized the governor's decision and are asking the legislature to intervene.
Palin's decision to reject about 172 million dollars for education drew disapproval from Anchorage School District Superintendent Carol Comeau.
About 26 million was destined for Anchorage Schools. Comeau says half was to go towards special needs children and the rest towards programs, such as pre-Kindergarten, in the poorest neighborhoods.
Acting Mayor Matt Claman says Palin's rejection of the funds is holding Alaska back.
Both Claman and Comeau are urging lawmakers to act fast. Claman says, "It would be a bump in the road if this was a two million dollar package and given the scope and need to move quickly...it's much more than a bump in the road - we just want to move this forward."
Others feel that Palin made the right decision. Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell says Governor Palin did not reject the money but rather, that she wants a public forum to discuss how the money should be spent. Critics believe her move was purely political. Parnell rejects that Palin's decision was political saying, "There were no political issues purely policy. Our governor stood tall and said I can not accept the money is for shovel ready type jobs."
The deadline to accept funds is April 3.
