Government debit cards might be issued

[alaskaguy]

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is proposing an energy cost relief plan to give Alaskans $100-a-month debit cards. The cards would have "merchant codes" so they could be used only for energy purchases at gas stations, fuel distributorships, utilities and the like. The $100-a-month for children could be added onto the balance of their parents' cards.

Palin said it's not right to let money pile up in the state treasury while people pay more and more. The estimated cost of the program is $1.2 billion per year.

In addition, the Governor is proposing to grant $475 million to electric utilities to lower electric bills.

Link:
Palin wants to give residents $100 a month to use for energy costs: Politics | adn.com

[Wesley]

It must be nice to live in Alaska: scenery, placid and laid back, and free debit cards for being you.

[Phaedrus]

Alaskaguy - you really let me down, right there. I was all worked up about the Government finally manning up and issuing Debit Cards to its employees and soldiers to use on deployments, rather than financing the debt by forcing them to get personal credit cards.

One of my pet peeves is forcing employees to use their personal credit to finance government or business expenses.