Palin Hit With Another Ethics Complaint

In the wake of Governor Palin stepping down from her job, new allegations have surfaced today in Alaska charging Palin with additional violations of the Alaska Executive Ethics Act.

Zane Henning -- a conservative government watchdog from the governor's hometown of Wasilla and an oilfield worker on Alaska's North Slope -- asserts in a letter to Alaska Attorney General Daniel S. Sullivan that Palin has "been charging and pocketing per diem to live in her home and has used the process for a personal gain since being elected."

The Washington Post first broke this story last September during the 2008 presidential race, but until now, no formal ethics charges have been brought on the matter in Alaska.

In a detailed press release accompanying his complaint, Henning declared that:

Palin's use of the per diem is in direct conflict with Section 39.52.120. (a) of the Alaska Executive Ethics Act....More than a thousand state employees commute from the Mat-Su Valley daily and none of them get to pocket free money.

Henning noted that "the State of Alaska provides housing in Juneau for the Governor."

If she chooses not to live there, Alaskans should not have to pay for it. I am requesting that you and the Personnel Board direct Governor Sarah Palin to reimburse the State of Alaska all per diem funds, plus interest, and a fine that are related to charges while staying in her Wasilla residence.

Henning further argued that Alaska Statute 39.20.010 sets an "annual salary for the governor of $125,000."

Sarah Palin has collected more than the amount established by law by cashing in her per diem checks. Alaska Statute 39.20.050 (Exclusive Compensation) states that the compensation fixed by law for the governor and lieutenant governor is in full for all services rendered by each of them in any official capacity or employment whatsoever during their respective terms of office. Per diem is therefore any added expenses incurred while in travel status, not when living in your own home.

According to Henning:

State travel regulations say that per diem can't be claimed when travel is less than 50 miles from a state employee's workplace. The IRS and state finance officer have already determined that the per diem is considered income. The governor's workplace in Anchorage is only a 45-mile commute from her Wasilla home.

In February, Palin was required to pay back income taxes on thousands of dollars in expense money she received while living at her home overlooking Lake Lucille in Wasilla. Little more than two weeks ago she was forced to pay back the State of Alaska more than $8,100.00 for nine trips taken by her children that she had improperly charged as being part of official state business.

Henning contends the per diem is another way for the Alaska governor to line her pockets at the state's expense:

As a Wasilla resident I know that thousands of valley residents commute into Anchorage for work every day. They don't receive checks from their employers for sleeping at home. Governor Palin does. And it's wrong, not to mention unethical, for her to even submit these per diem claims. To me, this is a roundabout way for Palin to give herself a raise.

"The Governor is quitting her job," said Henning, "and now more than ever the State of Alaska, along with its residents, need to be reimbursed for the per diem charges, including interest and a fine...[I]t is up to private citizens, like myself, to hold our Governor accountable."

Comments

[meede]

02:53 AM on 07/15/2009

Geoffrey, you're behind in the ethics. Another one filed on Tuesday for not temporaril­y transferri­ng Governor duties while she campaigned with McCain. See your fav Mudflats!

You're bio doesn't include book mention. Not doing it? I thought I would get honorable mention!!! LOL

[Hambone2u]

01:33 PM on 07/11/2009

is it true that the citizens up in alaska are getting ready to file a class-acti­on lawsuit against all the bloggers for filing frivolous ethics charges against Palin and the State in order to recoop the money the state paid to investigat­e the lame charges filed

[meede]

02:46 AM on 07/15/2009

Those pesky bloggers cost the state $108,000. Palin filing a complaint against herself cost $187,000. You do the math who cost the state more.

[flash LI]

01:04 AM on 07/10/2009

Pretty deep in these parts. Need some toilet paper? HAHA lol

[DocThom]

09:42 PM on 07/09/2009

"Bailin' Palin the Alaskan Buttercup" The gift that keeps on takin'

[Audrey85]

09:14 PM on 07/09/2009

Hey watch out gang, did you forget she will sue you for talking about her! Watch yourselves­! She talks negative about everyone but if you say anything about her, those high powered lawyers will get ya! wink wink, cheese (colgate commercial or do you think ultra bright).

I have a question. Why is it when this woman makes a statement, everyone seems to get wrapped up in it, and the message is lost! Is she fishing while on tax payers time like the rest of the lame duck Governors? Not accusing, just asking.

Why did she ramble out her announceme­nt about stepping down? I couldn't believe how long it took her to get out words. Is the entire family in the entertainm­ent business? It seems everyone has some type of media job. Spokespers­on, etc

[EquesLignite]

08:24 PM on 07/09/2009

Many are saying because the Personnel Board is appointed by Palin, therefore they acquitted her, and because the AG is also appointed by her, and yada yada. But remember history, 4 out of 9 justices during Nixon watergate was APPOINTED BY NIXON, Burger, Rehnquist, Blackmun, and Powell, NONE of them decided in favor of Nixon. Even Rehnquist the far-right guy voted abstention­.

The people who administer justice seldom do favor to the people who appointed them, this is Watergate is the proof. I have confidence in the decision of the officials of Alaska who are working on the complaints­. If they say she did the wrongdoing with proof, send her to jail like they sent Blago. If not, innocent until proven guilty. Now apparently she has not been convicted of anything despite multiple complaints­, I don't think further ones will come in fruition.

[fedupinfla]

01:01 AM on 07/10/2009

There's a HUGE difference between justices from Nixon's time and the high school friends Palin appointed on the personnel board don't you think???

[EquesLignite]

07:21 PM on 07/10/2009

Tell me what the difference is, besides higher office and maybe a higher academic degree

[whitehawk]

08:02 PM on 07/09/2009

The pair of Palin's thought they were royalty!! Her tenacious style and confrontat­ional pit bull style is so unbecoming a Queen. She hasn't learned the proper etiquette to serve her 'heigness' post. I think she suddenly became aware her fellow repubs could read also.

[kmacwayne]

07:35 PM on 07/09/2009

"The Governor is quitting her job," said Henning, "and now more than ever the State of Alaska, along with its residents, need to be reimbursed for the per diem charges, including interest and a fine...[I]­t is up to private citizens, like myself, to hold our Governor accountabl­e."

Mr. Henning - perhaps you could focus your fierce accountabi­lity on the 111th congress and Mr Obama since you so heroically defended me against this malicious government worker - WE NEED YOU!

[ganerd]

06:05 PM on 07/09/2009

Even the most devout Christian seem to bow down readily to that almighty GOD, the DOLLAR.
Why do you think "In God We Trust" is on the very face of what they really worship?

[Patrick McCarthy]

05:21 PM on 07/09/2009

Well done Henning!

[cabriojag]

04:09 PM on 07/09/2009

Who is governing Alaska while Ms. Palin is out fishing?

[Paros]

04:40 PM on 07/09/2009

Good question, but she is entitled to a vacation, just question the timing of announcing her resignatio­n right before her vacation - common sense - not so sure!

[bleedingheartliberal218]

03:48 PM on 07/09/2009

Palin would make herself immune from ethics complaints when she becomes president so she could charge the taxpayers for travelling expenses for her children and charge the taxpayers for lodging when she is at her home.--her Dept. of Law would protect her. What a thieving, lying, unethical, immoral "Christian­" she is. Her shameless hypocrisy and dishonesty should disqualify her from public office, but she makes ordinary Republican ultraconse­rvatives with similar "Christian­" values feel like they too could be president. There's spiritual poverty and moral bankruptcy from sick people.

[talkinhedz]

08:12 PM on 07/10/2009

AND..You know all Christians­? You have access to ALL THE FACTS? Amazing..S­o glad the politics of personal destructio­n has been damped by "Change we can Believe in!

[digalo]

02:24 PM on 07/09/2009

The soon-to-be former governor is simply a hypocrite. She should pay back the people of Alaska all that she has taken from them: per diems, privileges­, and pride. What she's given America is a glimpse into the future of its politics (and it's not pretty): false populism, fundamenta­list religiosit­y, and self-servi­ng ambition.

If she runs for anything, it should be the first ferry to Russia that she sees passing by her window.
Bye Sarah!

[talkinhedz]

08:14 PM on 07/10/2009

But Its ok for Obama to Travel to NY for the weekend on your DIme? Lets see..in 7 months ..how many oversea trips has Obama and his Humongus Posse Taken?

Talk About Carbon Footprint

[hunt49]

05:38 AM on 07/15/2009

It's called diplomacy. It prevents the huge carbon footprint that results from unnecessar­y military deployment­s.

[farmerpatsy]

02:12 PM on 07/09/2009

What is Palin running from? It must be the ETHICS COMPLAINTS filed against her? and now we have another "new: one. The POINT I wanted to make Is "Whether they are true or not, it needs to get settled". Not run from it. We the people of the United States wants Ethics Complaints filed on anyone that is not following the rules: Period. Yet, Palin thought it was funny when she filed against someone else during the time she was Mayor. I would have to say, Palin is not a good leader by running from the problem. If she was she would bit her bottom lip and go on. Palin this is life, apparently you need to stay away from Government and keep fishing.

[BocaMom]

11:45 AM on 07/09/2009

What a joke! What is with our obsession with Sarah Palin!!! She's a Governor of Alaska. Or should I say, the soon ex-Governo­r of Alaska. Who cares??? Congress is spending billions of our tax dollars on nothing! The economy is getting worse. Unemployme­nt is going into the teens. California­, New York and other states are going broke. Pelosi is lining her friend's wallets with our money as she continues to lie about pretending not to know about torture... and the good for nothing $800 billion Stimulus bill. Palin
is just a distractio­n. Let's worry about the thieves in Congress who are robbing us blind!

[Obamanaut]

12:13 PM on 07/09/2009

...And what are YOU doing about it besides complainin­g? The reason all those things are allowed to go on is because WE don't stand up and say, "ENOUGH!" Henning is trying to do something about it. Wouldn't you if you could?

[blondecuban]

12:20 PM on 07/09/2009

So you're saying that we should let a criminal off the hook because it takes too much to prosecute him and the economy is in the dumper? I just want to get that straight because it costs the government $1 million for every person they prosecute and put on death row.