THE VETO VOTE

The following are my remarks to the Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature that was called at the Egan Center in Anchorage to override former Governor Palin's veto of $28 million for energy assistance in the form of "better" building codes, et cetera:

"Thank you Mr. President (of the Senate) I also want to thank you Mr. Speaker (of the House) for the manner you have put this special session together to consider the override of a governor’s veto. In 1994 when I got involved in an attempt to override a governor’s veto, I got into all kinds of trouble - but that hasn’t happened this time, because you did everything the proper way. Thank you.

An attempt to override a governor’s veto, whether we agree with a veto or not, is a legitimate process that helps preserve the balance of power between separate and independent branches of government. I strongly support that balance of power.

However, I do not support overriding the veto. We’re getting conflicting messages from our so-called friends in Washington DC. A letter from the Department of Energy says one thing, but that’s in direct conflict with ARRA Section 410, which looks like strings - maybe ropes - on the 28 million dollars to me. You know, we build good houses up here in Alaska, we have excellent engineers, we have a great construction industry, and we can figure out our own building codes - when and how we want to.

So I’m voting 'No', and I’m telling Nancy Pelosi, and the other busybodies in Washington DC, to keep their money, and to keep their pea picking hands off Alaska."

Governor Palin's veto was overturned, by one vote. The photos show protestors across the street from the Special Session, me "running the gauntlet" of protestors (they were very nice), and a photo inside during a time out in the proceedings. One photo shows a sign I especially liked held by a six year old child. I shook hands with many of the demonstrators - both the Pro and the Con. They were a great group of Alaskans demonstrating democracy in action.