Gov. Palin's office defends per diem payments

[Tab]

Source: Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska – Gov. Sarah Palin's office on Monday defended the governor's practice of collecting per diem from the state while living at her home in Wasilla, saying she was costing the state a lot less than her predecessor.

Spokesman Bill McAllister held a press conference comparing Palin's expenses with those of fellow Republican, former Gov. Frank Murkowski.

During her first two years in office, Palin charged the state almost $18,000 for meal allowances while living in Wasilla and commuting 40 miles to her office in Anchorage. But McAllister said Palin spent $100,000 less than Murkowski spent living in the governor's mansion in Juneau, the state capital, during his last two years in office.

"It's a different kind of expense. It hasn't been calculated this way before because previous governors have not spent that much time away from the mansion. But the fact of the matter is in terms of the amount of money, she is charging the state much less," McAllister said.

Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau, said the governor's staff was comparing "the $17,000 apple to the $100,000 orange."

"First I want to see how that $100,000 adds up and secondly, I guess I'm skeptical about whether she would be living in the mansion if she weren't able to collect per diem at home," Elton said.

"Yes, $17,000 is less than $100,000 but $17,000 is a lot higher than zero. And if she's going to work out of her home in Wasilla, the choice is between zero and $17,000 and not $17,000 and $100,000."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_re_us/palin_per_diem

[LynneSin]

1. Just because it was "less than the other guy" doesn't make it right

if you don't want to do the job you're suppose to do in the way it's suppose to be done then perhaps you should do us all a favor and retire.

[PassingFair]

2. Especially since "the other guy" was a well known crook.

Whom she ran against on an anti-corruption campaign.

[Thor_MN]

3. "We like the person stealing from us now, because they are taking less than the previous guy"

[Vinca]

4. I want money for living at home. It's not fair. nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. She'd cost the state a lot less if she'd just resign.

[GoesTo11]

6. If she saved the state $1B by not building a pipeline

could she take $170M for herself?

I'd love to try her logic at my work. "I could have wasted money on a $100 gold pen, instead I used a Bic pen I had lying around and took $17"

[tclambert]

7. "Hey, I'm stealing less than the last guy."

Less corruption not the same as no corruption? The ancient Greeks had a problem with the concept of zero, too.

[Botany]

8. What grifter

BTW she has an office in Anchorage? The state Capital is Juneau and so if
you become governor shouldn't you live in the governor's house in that city?

But no she is living in her own house and billing the state?

[JBear]

9. And what of the mansion?

I am sure they have not shut down the Governor's mansion. It still has the heat turned on. It still has staff. Why is this not part of her expense comparison?? Because then she would be showing MORE cost than Murkowski.

Try playing by the rules for a change and be happy with the spoils of victory.

:bounce:

[Ms. Toad]

10. My reaction, as well.

The comparable cost includes both the $17,000 in per diem expenses PLUS the whatever was spent operating the mansion. I'm willing to bet the total is (as you suggested) more than $100,000.

[Tempest]

14. The mansion is open for tours in the summer

And shut down when the legislature isn't in session unless the governor is living there.

Murkowski was the first governor in years to live there full time.


And the point is, the governor has an office in Anchorage, 40 miles from Wasilla.

Palin shouldn't be receiving a per diem at all.

[No Elephants]

17. Good point! And welcome.

[No Elephants]

18. Palin: But, but. I stole less!

[zbdent]

11. $17,000 not a concern, when compared to $100,000

okay ... so why are you so upset about 1 percent of the attempt at trying to save this country?

[LynnTheDem]

12. "It's a different kind of expense. "

Ahhhhh, that explains it.


:rofl:



The republic party; corrupt to the max.

[gratuitous]

13. Oh, well okay then

And I'm pretty sure this self-serving rationalization will go over just peachy keen with the old guard faction of the state Republican party that's still joined at the hip with the Murkowski family. Yep, this explanation will suit everyone just fine, methinks.

[Winterblues]

15. Republican Ethics on display "Big Time"

She isn't going to win this one. Not with the people of Alaska anyway..

[biopowertoday]

16. but she has saved the state lots of money....

McAllister said Palin has been frugal in other ways as well. He said expense reports for per diem, lodging and travel for the governor and her husband, Todd Palin, in 2007 and 2008 show a savings of more than $900,000 compared to Murkowski's last two years in office.

Over two-thirds of that amount was attributable to Murkowski's use of the state jet. Palin had the jet sold when she took office and travels either on commercial flights or in the Department of Public Safety's 1980 twin-engine King Air.