Thursday, February 19, 2009

Governor Palin charged my state for a $60 phone call to FOX News. How did that benefit the state of Alaska again?

The Governor, for instance, charged the state of Alaska a $60 per diem expense for an appearance on Fox News on November 9, 2008. A few weeks later, she billed taxpayers another $60 for a "phone call with Sen. Elizabeth Dole." (Dole had lost her reelection bid weeks earlier). On the 26th of November, Palin again turned in a $60 meal/incidental expense per diem report for "Phone call with Gov. Rendell, interview."

Here is the November report, and here is the December report.

Taken as a whole, these expenses constitute a drop in the bucket compared to the thousands of dollars Palin charged for the work she did while living at her personal home. They also seem to fall within the legal confines of appropriate per diem billing (though Alaska taxpayers may take umbrage with that). On a broader lever, the expenditures offer a fascinating window into how Palin -- thrust into the national spotlight -- balanced her work as governor with growing media attention.

There are, for instance, interviews conducted on the same day in November with "Entertainment Tonight" and the New York Times, and, a week later, The Weekly Standard and "Larry King Live." A few days after speaking with Rendell, she filed a $60 per diem expense for a photo session with "UAA Men's & Women's teams" -- likely University of Alaska Anchorage's basketball squads. In mid-December, meanwhile, she met with Alaska Senator-elect Mark Begich, followed by an interview with Human Events (for which she filed a per diem expense of $60). On the next day came a phone call with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for what was, ostensibly, a federal matter that pertained to Alaska.

$60 dollars for a long distance phone call? How long did Sarah Palin have to talk to come up with that number? And how come it seems that every single call she makes costs the State of Alaska sixty dollars? Could it be because that is the most that she can ask for? You betcha.

Which I guess also explains how she came up with the $60 dollar per diem for a "photo session with UAA Men's & Women's teams". Did she do this telephonically as well? Or is that her going rate to be photographed these days. (Is that how much she charged People magazine?)

This whole thing stinks like a trunk full of dead salmon. (I made that part all Alaskan-y for my out of state visitors.)

Essentially this woman is treating her job like a bottomless credit card that she can use to pay for any little thing that strikes her fancy or furthers her national political aspirations.

I am very interested to see the expense reports for January, just for the opportunity to see how much of the costs this "SarahPAC" of hers is picking up in order to keep this shallow woman living in the lifestyle in which she has recently grown accustomed to living.

Speaking for the Alaskans that I know, we are absolutely over this goddamn woman and cannot wait until she is voted, impeached, or thrown the hell out.

17 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:34 AM

    Given the timing of the call- after they were both defeated- do you think Dole was giving Palin some good advice about Alaska issues?


    Also, last time I checked, state per diem is calculated on a 24 hour period basis, e.g. if you take a late night flight you do not get $60 for that day. So how in the hell does she think a phone call justifies getting $60- a full day's per diem?

    But, keep the faith baby...she and baby-faced Sean are traveling to Western Alaska at last with.......Franklin Graham! Roll the cameras.

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  2. Anonymous10:04 AM

    ...Talk ain't cheap...but SP is...

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  3. Anonymous10:07 AM

    Thank you so much for covering this, Gryphen!

    Did you see this news:

    "Palin Disputes Biographer's Claim
    http://news.aol.com/article/palin-disputes-biographers-claim/351180

    (Feb. 19) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has denied an author's claim about when Palin knew she was on the short list to be Sen. John McCain's running mate on the GOP presidential ticket, Politico.com reported.
    'Trailblazer: An Intimate Biography of Sarah Palin' claims that Palin found out she was a top contender to be McCain's choice for vice president at a February 2008 governor's meeting where she first met McCain. The McCain campaign has said it did not let her know until August."

    February, huh? Hmmmm....

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  4. Anonymous10:10 AM

    Hi Gryph,
    I think that my head is going to absolutely explode! I just read about her and the Lt Gov travelling to Western AK with Mr. Graham, et al. While I am overjoyed that those folks are getting even more assistance, I am also disgusted that NOW she decides to become involved when the media is there to document her "interest" in our fellow Alaskans. Then I read your report about the $60.00 per diem/phone calls. OMG!

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  5. Anonymous10:32 AM

    I don't know how she can charge all that per diem to the state for just doing her job. It seems like every day she works (if you can call it work), Palin not only gets her salary, but it looks like an extra $300 per week, just because she can get away with it. WTF? Is this legal?

    When I used to travel as a national account manager, the company picked up airfare, car rentals, and meals which were reimbursed via expense report with receipts that had to be approved. I don't know any company that would reimburse you for just doing your job in your home location. Any phone calls she made in her official capacity as governor should be from her governement issued office or cell phone. ANy other state of Alaska business should be conducted in state offices, when she has to travel, food and lodging should be reimbursed for her but not her gaggle of kids and nanny.

    This doesn't even go into all the expenses she charged to the state for Dud and the kids...that totals about $40,000 more!

    You know for someone who goes on and on about not depending on the government for handouts, she certainly her her sticky fingers way down into the bottom of the barrel...I think it's called WELFARE, Sarah.

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  6. Anonymous11:12 AM

    Sarah abuses the intent of per diem. She games the State and profits by living in her own home. Then she complains about people accepting government assistance.

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  7. Anonymous11:27 AM

    About getting a per diem to eat in her own house-- in her convention speech, Sarah wanted to show how thrifty she was in cutting expenses, and that she had to let the chef go, (and, oh by the way, her kids loved the chef). Turned out the chef had one of those lateral transfers and wasn't fired. So, when the chef cooked for Sarah, we have to assume that she was compensated for the food she bought (by the State) and that her salary was paid for (by the State) so how does that translate into Sarah getting a per diem, too, also? And according to the records, Sarah was in her own house most of the time. Isn't that double billing??

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  8. Anonymous11:50 AM

    How can she get away charging the State for $60 per phonecall - doesn't she have a State-issued cellphone/Blackberry/ landphone, that the State pays for???
    Talking about GRIFTER!

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  9. IMPEACH!!!! And make sure the door hits her ass on the way out!

    Attention!!! I’ve tagged you in the Pajama Clad Basement Dwelling Blogger Meme! Check it out!
    http://werenotthatstupid.blogspot.com/2009/02/attention-all-you-pajama-clad-basement.html
    Tag, you’re it!

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  10. WHAT!!???? WHAT??? This crooked (really really rude word right here derived from an ancient word for wise which she really really isn't) is sticking it to the state in every way possible. I have absolutely had it.

    I'm gonna roast this woman.

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  11. WHAT THE HELL, ALASKA! SAVE THE FEDS THE TROUBLE AND IMPEACH THIS EXCUSE OF A "FISCAL CONSERVATIVE" NOW!

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  12. Anonymous2:50 PM

    february is when told her she would be vp; august is when mccain found out!

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  13. Anonymous2:52 PM

    february is when cheney told her she would be vp; august is when mccain found out!

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  14. WTF!! $60 phone calls?

    Why didn't Ms Fiscal Conservative just use a cell phone with free long distance?

    Never mind, I know. That would be too reasonable, and we know she's a stupid greedy waste of oxygen!

    Alaska, PLEASE!

    IMPEACH the bitch!

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  15. Anonymous6:22 PM

    Does she have an email address where we can tell her directly how we feel??? I'm serious. Is there somewhere we can write!

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  16. Anonymous10:41 PM

    You are right the trip to the bush country is a photo opt To bad the journalist couldn't get his paper to pay his way so he could ask questions etc. $60 for one phone call we all know to use a cell phone for long distance calls. My only hope is the people in the native villages get out and vote her out of office.I think the word has already spread that the bloggers started the help for the villagers and Palin as forced into doing what she is doing by shame if she can even feel that

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  17. Anonymous6:36 PM

    I can call Putin in Russia for less than $60 a phone call!

    также слишком!!

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