Palin's "LEGAL: Expenses for meals, travel for children come under scrutiny."

[ProSense]

Palin received per diem at Wasilla home

LEGAL: Expenses for meals, travel for children come under scrutiny.

By KYLE HOPKINS
[e-mail]

Published: September 10th, 2008 01:15 AM
Last Modified: September 10th, 2008 09:47 AM

Gov. Sarah Palin is campaigning as a budget watchdog eager to shave frivolous government spending. That image took a hit Tuesday when The Washington Post reported the governor charges the state for travel expenses while living at her Wasilla home, and the Palin camp defended her conservative credentials.

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The newspaper reported that Palin billed the state for meal money while spending more than 300 nights at her Valley home during her first 19 months in office and regularly takes family members on state-paid trips. In response, Palin's state spokeswoman said the governor has saved Alaska money by flying coach, selling the infamous state jet and cutting the chef at the governor's mansion in Juneau.

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A few examples:

• July 7-15, 2008: Palin daughters Piper and Bristol flew to Philadelphia with the governor for a National Governors Association meeting. The state lists the purpose of the girls' trip as participating in "governor's youth programs and family activities." The airfare and lodging cost $2,500.

• April 3-6, 2008: Piper joined the governor in Southcentral because -- according to state travel records authorizing the trip -- the first family was to read to students a Wasilla Christian school. The round trip flight from Juneau cost $550.

• October 7-11, 2007: Palin's oldest daughter, Bristol, flew with the governor to New York City at a cost of $1,390 because she was "invited to attend Newsweek's Third Annual Women and Leadership Conference with the governor," Palin's office says. They stayed in a $707-a-night hotel for four nights.

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[KingFlorez]

1. She should have paid for their fare and lodging out of her own pocket

No reason the taxpayers should have been billed for her pointless dragging her children with her.