Sarah Palin emails: Questions over per diem

The reporter asked: Was the per diem  “the same type paid to state employees for the purpose of covering lodging/meals/incidentals incurred while working away from home on state business?”

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 Also, asked the reporter, “Does the state consider the per diem paid to the governor to be taxable income?”

The subject line of Nizich’s email: “Just some info we have used to counter comments on the per diem in case in comes up in your interview.”

The points he urged Palin to make: Palin had declined “First Family per diem reimbursements to date of $4,461.” Also, the state of Alaska had paid for an Anchorage apartment for former Gov. Frank Murkowski.  Also, Murkowski’s travel in 2006 totaled $525,392. Palin had saved the state $97,000 by dismissing the chef at the governor’s mansion, and also saved the state an additional $96,000 in housing expenses. She had reduced her security detail, from seven to two, saving $125,000 in 2007.

“Governor Palin does not travel with an entourage.” Nizich wrote, and “Governor Palin prefers to drive herself – no chauffeur.”

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