Gov. Sarah Palin said late Thursday she is refusing to accept the Alaska Senate Democrats' rejection of Tim Grussendorf as her appointee to the state Senate.Palin said the rejection isn't legally valid because it happened behind closed doors, and only among Democrats.
"We don't believe that a closed door meeting of just a partisan group says yea or nay to the governor's choice," Palin said in an interview on Thursday night. "We believe based on a 1987 opinion of department of law, it needs to take place out in the open with a larger body than just the partisan participants."
"I believe my selection of Tim Grussendorf is legitimate and it stands until they take that vote in an open, public forum with more than just the partisan participants," Palin said.
Palin cited a 1987 legal opinion that challenges the constitutionality of the state law that sets out how lawmakers should confirm an appointee to an open legislative seat. Anchorage Democratic Sen. Hollis French, reached Thursday night, was surprised to find out that Palin was disputing the legality.
"What is she trying to do, sue us?" asked French, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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