The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

sabang · 11-09-2008, 11:42 PM

This makes me a bit curious. A nice Mansion is provided rent free for the Governor by the State of Alaska. It is located in Juneau, the capital of Alaska- conveniently close to her place of employment.

Per diem payments or not, why is Gov. Palin spending most of her working year away from the Capital- where she has the additional benefit of a nice house provided for her and her family- and instead charging the people of Alaska extra for working from home, 600 miles away?

As Governor, isn't her main place of employment the state capital, or is it considered a part time job?

spiff · 12-09-2008, 12:17 AM

Why work in town when you can stay home with your kids, get paid and claim extra travel expenses? - putting the country first. LOL

Bugs · 12-09-2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiff

Why work in town when you can stay home with your kids, get paid and claim extra travel expenses? - putting the country first. LOL

Actually I think this is a big reason the blue team have not been making much noise about this – mom choosing to stay home with the kids. I have not heard Obama or Biden comment (they might have but I have not sen anything). Attempting to jump here on this might not go down to well with the working mothers. She has the chance to sleep at home with her kids and is doing so. Why uproot the kids from school?

I think you’ll find that a number of governors spend a considerable amount of time at their family home as opposed to the governors mansion – if they have kids that are still school age.

Note, while she does get travel expenses to travel to/from Juneau/Wasilla, the per diem that I think most people have an eye on is related to food and lodging.

Texpat · 12-09-2008, 12:37 AM

"Arnold Schwarzenegger and his family currently live in their 11,000-square-foot home in Brentwood, Ca. He does not have a home in Sacramento. However, whenever he is in the state capitol, he lives in the Hyatt Regency hotel suite. The suite costs about $65,000 a year." wiki

I think you'll find many senators, governors and congressmen have fuzzy living arrangements.

spiff · 12-09-2008, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugs

Note, while she does get travel expenses to travel to/from Juneau/Wasilla, the per diem that I think most people have an eye on is related to food and lodging

That's right. Food and lodging for playing with her children at home? Many a single mom would be grateful for the privilege.

who · 12-09-2008, 02:23 AM

per diem is a fixed amount, you can do what you want with it.

who · 12-09-2008, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texpat

"Arnold Schwarzenegger and his family currently live in their 11,000-square-foot home in Brentwood, Ca. He does not have a home in Sacramento. However, whenever he is in the state capitol, he lives in the Hyatt Regency hotel suite. The suite costs about $65,000 a year." wiki

I think you'll find many senators, governors and congressmen have fuzzy living arrangements.

The states all have different rules and per diem amounts, but then again they have different situations. Some are indeed fuzzy and some incumbents game the system.

nidhogg · 12-09-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugs

As governor her offical duty station is Juneau, but her family home is in Wasilla. Therefore any time she stays at her home she is actually concidered traveling by the state, and thus allowed to charge per diem. .

Dunno on that one. Thats normally called "going home afer work" - and transportation costs for going home and meals while there are covered in that other payment - you know the one - its called a salary.

Boon Mee · 12-09-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texpat

"Arnold Schwarzenegger and his family currently live in their 11,000-square-foot home in Brentwood, Ca. He does not have a home in Sacramento. However, whenever he is in the state capitol, he lives in the Hyatt Regency hotel suite. The suite costs about $65,000 a year." wiki

I think you'll find many senators, governors and congressmen have fuzzy living arrangements.

Right, Tex, but don't try to explain that to these folks on a 'Mission' to dig up any pathetic scrap of seemingly innocuous material with which to damage this gal. Best of luck to 'em as they are just making themselves look even stupider. Case in point: raycarey's screeds

spiff · 12-09-2008, 08:33 PM

Because many have "fuzzy living arrangments", it is ok to claim travel related expenses while one stays at home?

Bugs · 12-09-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiff

Because many have "fuzzy living arrangments", it is ok to claim travel related expenses while one stays at home?

Technically the state of Alaska considers her "home" to be the governors mansion in Juneau. Any time she stays anywhere else except in Juneau and still does work during the day she is considered to be traveling by the state. Thus she is entitled to per diem. It's not like she was hiding anything she even included on some of her expense reports that she was claiming per diem for staying at her "family home" in Wasilla.

If the state did not want to pay, they should drop the offer to pay per diem to elected officials.

The travel rated expenses that she has claimed that pertain to travel between Juneau and Wasilla are quite common for elected officials - payment for travel between an elected officials home prior (or district home) to the election and thier work station (or state capitol).

pai nai ma · 12-09-2008, 09:12 PM

She very often commutes to an office in Anchorage. In those circumstances her home would be Wasilla.

raycarey · 12-09-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugs

Technically the state of Alaska considers her "home" to be the governors mansion in Juneau. Any time she stays anywhere else except in Juneau and still does work during the day she is considered to be traveling by the state. Thus she is entitled to per diem. It's not like she was hiding anything she even included on some of her expense reports that she was claiming per diem for staying at her "family home" in Wasilla. If the state did not want to pay, they should drop the offer to pay per diem to elected officials. The travel rated expenses that she has claimed that pertain to travel between Juneau and Wasilla are quite common for elected officials - payment for travel between an elected officials home prior (or district home) to the election and thier work station (or state capitol).

you know, you're going to need a chiropractor after all this bending over backwards.

spiff · 12-09-2008, 10:13 PM

Erm, ok.

I am staying at home for the week, so technically I traveled from my place of work and incurred expenses for overnight stay, eating out etc., can I have my per diem please? LOL

Uh, btw, I am all for small government, accountability and against squandering or misuse of funds - I know god is on my side.

11-09-2008, 11:42 PM	#41 (permalink)
sabang Watching the Wheels Last Online: Today 01:27 PM Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: where the streets have no name Posts: 11,499	This makes me a bit curious. A nice Mansion is provided rent free for the Governor by the State of Alaska. It is located in Juneau, the capital of Alaska- conveniently close to her place of employment. Per diem payments or not, why is Gov. Palin spending most of her working year away from the Capital- where she has the additional benefit of a nice house provided for her and her family- and instead charging the people of Alaska extra for working from home, 600 miles away? As Governor, isn't her main place of employment the state capital, or is it considered a part time job? __________________ To err is human. To blame someone else is politics.

12-09-2008, 10:13 PM	#54 (permalink)
spiff Impregnator Last Online: 31-07-2009 02:13 PM Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: amidst dogs and ducks Posts: 2,735	Erm, ok. I am staying at home for the week, so technically I traveled from my place of work and incurred expenses for overnight stay, eating out etc., can I have my per diem please? LOL Uh, btw, I am all for small government, accountability and against squandering or misuse of funds - I know god is on my side. Last edited by spiff : 12-09-2008 at 10:22 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-09-2008, 12:17 AM	#42 (permalink)
spiff Impregnator Last Online: 31-07-2009 02:13 PM Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: amidst dogs and ducks Posts: 2,735	Why work in town when you can stay home with your kids, get paid and claim extra travel expenses? - putting the country first. LOL

12-09-2008, 12:37 AM	#44 (permalink)
Texpat ฝรั่งพูดมาก Last Online: 27-10-2009 11:55 PM Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nong Khai Posts: 12,491	"Arnold Schwarzenegger and his family currently live in their 11,000-square-foot home in Brentwood, Ca. He does not have a home in Sacramento. However, whenever he is in the state capitol, he lives in the Hyatt Regency hotel suite. The suite costs about $65,000 a year." wiki I think you'll find many senators, governors and congressmen have fuzzy living arrangements.

12-09-2008, 02:23 AM	#46 (permalink)
who Kanchanaburi Last Online: 10-10-2009 02:05 AM Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 189	per diem is a fixed amount, you can do what you want with it.

12-09-2008, 08:33 PM	#50 (permalink)
spiff Impregnator Last Online: 31-07-2009 02:13 PM Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: amidst dogs and ducks Posts: 2,735	Because many have "fuzzy living arrangments", it is ok to claim travel related expenses while one stays at home?

12-09-2008, 09:12 PM	#52 (permalink)
pai nai ma I am in Jail Last Online: 18-12-2008 08:14 PM Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,038	She very often commutes to an office in Anchorage. In those circumstances her home would be Wasilla.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)