Palin Billed State For [312] Nights Spent In Her Own Home

[babylonsister]

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/09/palin-billed-state-for-nights.html

Palin Billed State For Nights Spent In Her Own Home

This one should have legs. Washington Post:

ANCHORAGE, Sept. 8 -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.

There's a lot more detail in the article, including questions about why she billed the state $25,000 for expenses related to her daughters. She also was reimbursed for attending a basketball game. Perhaps the kicker is that she charged the state over $2,000 for a three-night stay at a $707 per night hotel room in New York City.

The problem here is obvious: Palin's lavish spending completely undercuts the moosehunter maverick myth being spun by the McCain campaign. This is exactly the kind of politics as usual that they claim to be running against.

WaPo article here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090803088.html?hpid=topnews

[predfan]

1. surely a lie. spread by the elite beltway media............if Palen had scammed the taxpayers,

the great maverick wouldn't have chosen her.

Nice try, nattering nabobs of negativism.

[babylonsister]

2. So you're suggesting this is a lie and Palin is pure as the driven snow? nt

[TwilightGardener]

3. Sarcasm?

[predfan]

5. Next thing you know, they'll be suggesting she doesn't understand the housing market.

[TwilightGardener]

6. LOL! OK, got ya.

[Frustratedlady]

4. I'm happy to see this, as it shows the media is not sitting on their thumbs.

Quite a little resource in having 5 kids and a hubby who likes to travel, when you get to charge for each one.

The list keeps growing.

[RoadRage]

7. Regarding the Hotel in NYC...

Look, the part about her charging the state to stay in her OWN FUCKING HOUSE is absolutely absurd... but the $700 per night hotel stay in NYC - frankly that's the average rate there.

I work for a "major" hotel chain (Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Westin, Sheraton, Omni) - and the cost to stay in a regular guest room in NYC during the week is between $500 - $900 per night. That city is out of control... even a Super 8 is about $300 - $400 per night.

So, I would just focus on the BS about her charging to stay in her own home. That's nuts.