Law may preclude TV stardom for Palin

[DogPoundPup]

If Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin does not become vice president on Nov. 4, she can look forward to a sweet payday for a memoir about her unlikely VP run should she choose to write one. But she might have to forgo hundreds of thousands of dollars in lucrative speaking fees and perhaps even millions more should she be asked to host a cable or network television show.

Palin, who is expected to serve out her term as governor, which runs through 2010, would likely be allowed to write a book about the VP race under Alaska state laws that govern outside pay of government officials. But restrictions under the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act could disallow her from accepting speaking fees or a salary for television appearances while she’s serving in state government.

Section 39.52.170 of the ethics law declares that public employees “may not render services to benefit a personal or financial interest or engage in or accept employment outside the agency which the employee serves, if the outside employment or service is incompatible or in conflict with the proper discharge of official duties.” In addition, “the head of a principal executive department of the state may not accept employment for compensation outside the agency that the executive head serves.”

An article http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3icc3b73373ecfd4eb935ddcc53cb38f27 in Thursday’s issue of showbiz trade daily The Hollywood Reporter suggested that several producers and other entertainment packagers are attempting to find “the ideal on-air vehicle for the VP candidate.” Among various pitches floated in the piece: a news program on Fox, a reality series featuring the entire Palin family and an afternoon talk show.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081026/pl_politico/14941

[Orsino]

1. Executive Branch Ethics Act?

She laughs at it.

[Realityhack]

2. That assumes she *obeys* the law. And remains Gov.

Both are questionable.

[MaineDem]

3. Hasn't she already violated that act?

What's to stop her from doing it again?