Cheryl Brooks, our Tea Party organizer and member of the Conservative Patriot's Group, asked that I explain my vote to accept the $28 million in stimulus money.

I did receive several e-mails and phone calls asking that I investigate the strings attached to accepting the controversial $28 million.

After investigating here is what I found: if Alaska refused to accept the money, it would revert to the U.S. Treasury and be available for redistribution. It is highly unlikely that money not accepted would be used to reduce the federal deficit.

The federal Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy commented in an Aug. 5 letter that Alaska does not have to adopt a statewide building code in order to receive the $28 million stimulus funding. A letter from Gil Sterling, Program Manager for the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program at the Department of Energy, sent a letter on Department of Energy letterhead stipulating that a statewide energy efficiency code is not required to qualify for this state energy funding. Here is what he said:

". . .rather, the state must provide assurances to DOE . . . that the state will encourage, promote, and assist municipalities that choose to adopt their own energy-efficiency codes to achieve the goals of SEP funds (State Energy Program) - reduced energy consumption in public and private buildings."

Encourage, promote, and assist are things we normally do with energy money so while these may be strings, they are not damaging to state's rights since we already do this with state energy programs.

This money can go to weatherization, loans, and grants for energy, energy-efficiency projects, etc . . . and Alaska can change the plan at any time. It is anticipated that Alaska will appropriate the money 50 - 50 between The Alaska Energy Authority and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, although Governor Parnell will make these decisions himself. You may recall that AHFC was the state organization which ran the hugely successful "Home Energy Rebate Program," a program open to all Alaskans without restrictions on income, in addition to the "Home Weatherization Program," which has strict limits on income," and also the "Loan Program" again for low income homeowners. The list to enter these programs was long because the programs were so beneficial.

On Aug. 25 we received word from Energy Secretary Steven Chu that the first half of the energy money is already on its way. I need to tell you more about Secretary Chu. Secretary Chu is well educated and very liberal; he is a strong believer that global warming may be the biggest single threat to the planet, that we must apply a cap and trade tax, and that the USA needs to set the standard, even if the remainder of the world doesn't participate. These policies will cripple America's competitiveness in the world marketplace. No surprise that President Obama agrees with Secretary Chu. Fortunately, the US Chamber of Commerce is requesting that the EPA hold a hearing to examine the evidence that climate change is man-made. This will put the question of global warming on trial and I anticipate Al Gore will be a star witness; I recall he said he invented the internet. The evidence is overwhelming that all this planetary heating and cooling is natural, expected, and quite normal with no evidence that it is exaggerated by atmospheric CO2 or any other man-made activity. However, I am always open to be persuaded when facts indicate otherwise.

I understand your concern over state's rights and have been a strong proponent of those very things. I have consistently voted to defend parental rights, to oppose abortion, to support home schools and charter schools, and to oppose government programs that are better left to the community. I will always defend the 2nd Amendment, and firmly believe that we should retain the right to run our own state, to care for our own forests, our own fish and game and our own resources.

It appears there may be a major shift in Congress following the 2010 elections if those in Washington DC continue to ignore the will of the people. Remember, the Tea Party is this Saturday, September 12th, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Wasilla Lake Park! See you there!