Aide says Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will accept most federal stimulus funds

Aide says Gov. Palin will OK most stimulus funds

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A spokeswoman for Sarah Palin says the Alaska governor is going to accept most federal stimulus funds.

Spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said Tuesday that Palin is likely to reject only $29 million for State Energy Programs funds because she believes it to be tied to developing a statewide energy code.

Palin had initially indicated she did not want to accept about a third of the $930 million available to Alaska because of strings attached that would bind the state in the future.

Legislative budget leaders couldn’t find those strings, however.

Lawmakers passed bills accepting nearly all funds available to Alaska. The bills are expected to reach Palin’s desk by early next week. She then has 20 days to accept or veto them.