Gov. Sarah Palin signed legislation into law Monday to pay each qualified Alaska resident a $1,200 "resource rebate," or personal share of the state's multibillion-dollar oil revenue surplus.
Palin signed the rebate bill and a related appropriations bill to fund the payment, which will be tacked onto Permanent Fund dividends. The appropriations bill includes $60 million to continue a home weatherization program.
Palin proposed the $1,200 rebate in June, suggesting Alaskans could use the money to help relieve the surging costs of fuel and heating.
The legislation also suspends the state's motor fuel tax for a year _ an 8-cent tax on highway gasoline and a 5-cent tax on marine fuel, as well as taxes on aviation fuel.
The legislation also includes $23 million to expand the state's Power Cost Equalization program, which helps rural residents defray electric power costs that typically are much higher than in cities.
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