Most of this seems to be on par with the rules in Alaska. Does not sit well with some of how she has been attempting to portray herself.
Palin billed state of Alaska for nights spent at home Quote:
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Gubernatorial spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said Monday that Palin's expenses are not unusual and that, under state policy, the first family could have claimed per diem expenses for each child taken on official business but has not done so.
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And she seems to have rung up a smaller bill than the last governor (not that this will justify any charges that were not legal):
Quote:
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Gov. Palin has spent far less on her personal travel than her predecessor: $93,000 on airfare in 2007, compared with $463,000 spent the year before by her predecessor, Frank Murkowski. He traveled often in an executive jet that Palin called an extravagance during her campaign. She sold it after she was sworn into office.
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And it does not seem as though she was attempting to hide anything - on some of the expense reports it was clearly noted that she was staying at her home in Wasilla - while on others the reference had been deleted:
Quote:
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She wrote some form of "Lodging - own residence" or "Lodging - Wasilla residence" more than 30 times at the same time she took a per diem, according to the reports.
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Seems the legality of some charges are still pending - such as those related to family travel.
On the other hand seems she has also declined to charge some things that she was allowed to charge:
Quote:
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Leighow noted that under state policy, all of the governor's children are entitled to per diem expenses, even her infant son. "The first family declined the per diem (for) the children," Leighow said. "The amount that they had declined was $4,461, as of August 5."
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Even if some of the charges are found to be on the frings of legality I doubt much will come of this one.