Legislature votes to override veto

The Alaska Legislature voted in favor of overriding former Governor Sarah Palin’s veto of federal stimulus funds today. The vote was 15 – 5 in the Senate and 30- 9 in the House.

Former Talkeetna Good Times reporter Diana Haecker was at the special session in Anchorage today . She reports that a large demonstration of about 200 people took place outside the Egan Center while legislators met. She says those against the veto override seemed to far outweigh those in favor of the energy stimulus funds, at least vocally.

The Mat Su area delegation voted against the override, with the exception of Linda Menard, who voted in favor of the measure.

The legislators also confirmed the new lieutenant governor in the special session. Craig Campbell was approved on a 55 to 4 vote. Approval was needed when Palin named Campbell instead of the previous selected designee, Joe Schmidt to take the place of Sean Parnell.

The one day special session was estimated to cost $110,000.