Anti-Pork Governor Sarah Palin On Stimulus: “We Will Appreciate Those Dollars”

Even with the stimulus deal done, a debate rages on: Is it "stimulus"? Is it traditional pork-barrel spending? Is it both?

Into this discussion wades the Governor of Alaska and ex-GOP would-be Vice President Sarah Palin. Speaking from the Governor’s conference room in Juneau, Ms. Palin said her state was ready to accept a projected $1 billion in federal funds, if it made sense for Alaska. "On the whole these things that are good for the state we will appreciate those dollars coming as an addition to our economy, certainly the construction projects we are still looking forward to those because those are what actually create the jobs."

But she criticized the measure for expanding social programs. "I beg to differ with the premise of this economic stimulus package that it, as a whole, stimulates the economy when you look at the programs that are entailed in this economic stimulus package, the programs that could end up costing a state so much more at the end of the day, those don’t necessarily stimulate the economy.

We’re looking for the tape — sometimes Governor Palin is a bit easier to understand when listening to her, rather than reading a transcript…