The smear of the day comes from The Washington Post, who breathlessly proclaim that Sarah Palin inappropriately billed the state of Alaska for days when she was at home and not in the governor’s office.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a “per diem” allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.
The governor also has charged the state for travel expenses to take her children on official out-of-town missions. And her husband, Todd, has billed the state for expenses and a daily allowance for trips he makes on official business for his wife.
Unfortunately, like all smears, it simply isn’t true that Palin billed the state of Alaska improperly.
You have to read the article carefully to figure this out, but what the story ultimately reveals is that Palin (a) billed the state for most expenses allowed by law, including per diem when she stayed in her own home (her “duty station” was the state capitol of Juneau) in Wasilla; (b) didn’t bill the state for other expenses, when she could have done so lawfully, such as per diems for her children; and (c) spent a lot less money on expenses than did her predecessor, especially on travel and by ridding herself of the state’s personal chef. [FWIW, she apparently maintained two residences, the governor's mansion in Juneau, where assumedly she didn't get a per diem (but where her predecessor had a personal chef), and Wasilla, from which she commuted to Anchorage for work when the legislature wasn't in session. Saintly to take the per diem when in the second residence? No. Worthy of the lead headline on Washingtonpost.com? Please! Not illegal, not unethical, and not a scandal.]
Read the whole thing. Nothing illegal nor unethical was done here. In fact, Sarah Palin asked for less in reimbursement than she was actually entitled to. She is a reformer and a maverick through and through. And, the WaPo has once again engaged in shoddy reporting in a transparent attempt to elect their man Barack Obama.
Why isn’t she living in Juneau. Alaska shouldn’t pay for her to have two residences. That is her choice. It is not legitimate business expense. She also better have put this on her tax return. She is a disgrace! She is a big fat liar. She never fired her cook–she still cooks for her family she just changed the woman’s title. How can she just stand there and lie over and over. She never said no to the bridge and has given us our taxpayer money back! Where is the bridge money Palin? Give us our money back!
Everything she did was legal and in accordance with Alaska state law. She actually charged the state for less than she could have. She said no to the bridge when she saw how much it would really cost. She was permitted to keep the earmarked money and use it for other infrastructure projects which is what she did.
Obama and Biden both voted for the bridge, so they have no leg to stand on here. And no, her per diems probably don’t need to go on her tax return, at least according to multiple CPAs who have chimed in on this issue. You people are clutching at straws. Palin is a good, capable governor and will make an outstanding vice president. Clean up your own party first and get rid of the empty suits like Obama and the gaffe machine Biden before you go stirring up trouble somewhere else.
Let us be reasonable guys. The per diem is probably a non issue. She took what she was entitled to under the law. I would probably do the same if I were in her position. I know something about per diems, as I have had, away from home assignments. The bridge to nowhere would not have been an issue had she and McCain not made it the center peice of their campaign. She did not reject it on principle. She made a rational decision, maybe, and tried to win political points in the process. Her claim that she is against ear marks does not hold water.
The main question, however, is whether she is competent. She has not said anything so far that demonstrates that. She has not spoken any more intelligently, say, than George Bush. In fact, her style of governing appears to be very similar to his. Get people who think like you close to you. Reward them. Punish those who do not toe the line and attack the other side visiously.