Responding to criticism from Democrats yesterday, campaign aides to Gov. Sarah Palin defended her practice of billing Alaska taxpayers for more than 300 nights she spent at home during her first year-and-a-half in office.
Palin received a per diem expense allowance for 312 nights she spent at her home in Wasilla, The Washington Post reported yesterday.
The $60-a-day allowance is available for Alaska state employees when traveling on official state business to cover meals and other sundry expenses. Palin's per diems totaled $17,059, from Dec. 4, 2006, when she took office, through June 30, 2008, the most recent data available, according to Sharon Leighow, a spokeswoman for the governor. Palin's salary is $125,000 a year.
Palin was able to receive the allotment while she was at home because her official "duty station" is listed as Juneau, the state capital, aides said. That allowed Palin to file for per diems while she was working out of her Anchorage office and commuting there from her home 45 miles away in Wasilla.
The practice of billing for working from home seems to be unusual. Officials said it would not be allowed in their states, including California, South Carolina and Pennsylvania, as well as other jurisdictions. On the federal level, officials said members of Congress do not get per diem allowances for routine home visits.
"To charge the citizens of any state for home visits is somewhat beyond the pale," said Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell, a Democrat who supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary.
Palin's staff and the McCain campaign said the charges to the state were entirely appropriate under Alaska rules.
"Every action taken by Governor Palin was open and transparent," said Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign. "It is only logical that if she is traveling for the government, that her expenses be paid for."
