Travelgate. More Evidence of Sarah Palin’s ‘Specialness’.
25 02 2009Governor Sarah Palin yesterday agreed to pay an estimated $6800 for what she charged the state for her children’s travel expenses and related costs since assuming her role as governor.
This all came about as the result of an ethics complaint filed against Palin by Frank Gwartney, a retired electrical lineman who had had enough of Palin’s hypocrisy regarding cleaning up government, and stopping abuses. The complaint, which was filed in October after new information came out about her state paid family travel, was sent to the Personnel Board and investigator…..(wait for it)…..Tim Petumenos. You remember him. He’s the one that said (despite the Legislative Investigation into the Troopergate ethics scandal, and their finding that Palin was guilty of abuse of power under the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act) that Palin was innocent of any wrongdoing. And the fact that there was contradictory testimony from Palin and Walt Monegan? Well….that just wasn’t worth pursuing in his humble opinion.
So now, after looking at FORTY examples of the state paying for Palin’s children to travel with her, he’s come up with 9 instances where he found the personal benefit outweighed the benefit to the state, and Palin has agreed to pay for these 9 occasions in exchange for getting to say “I did nothing wrong!” and for Petumenos agreeing not to file a formal accusation or take the case to a hearing. Not a bad deal. Palin get’s to pay a small amount in order to stop an investigation, and also gets to claim, according to her attorney that she was “exhonorated.”
The charges at issue include the cost of airfare and one meal when daughter Bristol to accompanied Palin to New York City in 2007 for a women’s leadership conference, according to the settlement agreement. State travel forms put that cost at about $1,400.
There’s also airfare and hotel costs for daughters Bristol and Piper to travel with their mother to the National Governors Association meeting in Philadelphia last July. State travel forms say the flights and hotel room at the Ritz Carlton cost more than $2,500.
Other questioned trips were in Alaska, including one last year to the start of the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmachine race, in which Palin’s husband, Todd, was one of the contenders.
So, what were the other 31 trips, where the presence of the Palin children had more benefit to the state than to them, or the governor personally? I’d like to hear what compelling reasons Mr. Petumenos found, that would make me feel good enough about the benefit to the state of Alaska that I’ll pony up money to send her kids along on the trip.
And what did Palin have to say about this? What is her justification?
“This is a big state, and I am obligated to — and intend to — keep Alaskans informed and meet with them as much as I can, from Barrow to Marshall to Ketchikan,” Palin said in a written statement. “At the same time, I am blessed to have a large and loving family, and the discharge of my duties should not prevent me from spending time with them.”
So, she thinks that her job as governor shouldn’t prevent her from spending time with her family. And it shouldn’t keep her from living in Wasilla, rather than the state capital, Juneau. And it shouldn’t prevent her from taking per diem payments to live there and work in Anchorage. And it shouldn’t mean she has to pay taxes on that per diem, and her state vehicle, and on and on.
Nothing works out like it should for the governor, does it?
The policy found on the official state web site says that travel expenses by a state employee’s spouse, children or companions “are not reimbursable.” But somehow when applied to the governor, the rules become “dizzying and circular” according to Petumenos. And the other side agrees as well that things need to be “clarified”.
Palin keeps saying she did nothing wrong. But when one governor’s actions constantly tiptoe over the line, meaning that ethics rules need to be “clarified” and reevaluated at every turn, and when public opinion sees the obvious lack of ethics that went into the decision making process, then it means they did do something wrong. Whatever leads a governor to say “It’s OK to charge the state to live and eat in my own home” and “Sure, the state should pay for my huge family to travel with me everywhere because I shouldn’t have to give anything up like other people do” shows a basic disconnect, hubris, and a sense that the person feels that they are owed something.
It’s that old “inappropriate vs. illegal” argument. Alaskans would rather have none of the above.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:46 PM
@ATF
Sarah asks for a lot of amendments doesn’t she?
——–
So, why do ‘they’ keep saying yes? A child (palin) NEVER grows up and behaves if nobody ever says ‘no’.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:03 PM
This comment is from an older post and I’ve been wondering the same:
bozNo Gravatar (17:59:36) :
Hey,folks. Although born in Alaska, I’ve lived outside since 1959, and am not up on how everything works back home…….isn’t there some sort of Public Interest Research Group or citizens organization that can initiate lawsuits to force state employees to comply with the laws, or force state courts to decide what a state employee can withhold from the public? Tim Petumenos can have his opinions, but how can that be the last word? Surely there must be ways to force the Governor and her minions to face the public inquiries, and comply with state regulations ,such as the one saying on the official state web site that travel expenses by a state employee’s spouse, children or companions “are not reimbursable.”
Help me out here. How can someone living outside support some accountability in the Governor’s office? What organization needs a few bucks to start some action??
AKM, Alaskans for Truth, Shannyn Moore, Immoral Minority, Andree McLeod, Zane from Wasilla, dude who filed the ethics complaint about Grifter Sarah’s travel expenses (sorry I don’t remember his name, wish I did), palindeceptions, Palingates, Palin Peyton Place and several more people have done an outstanding job in educating and updating people about Sarah Palin, the Wicked Witch of the West’s transgressions and activities.
But is there an actual “coalition” in place, comprising individuals and groups, with the aim of removing grifter GINO from office, who are filling out the forms necessary for doing so and examining public records (such as for the Wasilla Sportsplex, to help convict GINO for HOUSEGATE?) Is there a group whose mandate is to impeach GINO?
Thanks Paula for listing all the gates – haha, I hadn’t added them all up.
And yeah, what is up with Tim Petumenos? Seems like Grifter GINO is stroking her pet just the way he likes it.
OT – Quetzacoatl: Gerard Kennedy, straight up guy, always wins his riding, shunned by the Liberal elite for the leadership every time – why? I’m not a fan of Ignatieff either. But better than Stephen “Friend of Big Oil” Harper. Have you read that one of Dubya’s first international appearances will be in Alberta, Canada?
Don’t forget Phil Munger at Progressive Alaska, Linda Kellen-Biegel at Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis, and Dennis Zaki at The Alaska Report!
And you’re thinking of Frank Gwartney who filed the complaint on her kids’ travel. AKM
February 25th, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Comments are ON now – new thread!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Pat, Washington state…you have reveled her evil plan!
those Palin kids are in training so that they can hold public one day, thanks to Moms OJT!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:18 PM
@ Canuck
I posted the Alaska Ombudsman link earlier in the post as a possible agency to formalize complaints?
In 1975, Alaska was the 4th state to establish a state ombudsman. Alaska now has state ombudsman offices in Anchorage and Juneau to help people across the state with questions and complaints about state government agencies and the University of Alaska. Juneau residents may call the Ombudsman for help with municipal issues as well. The Alaska Ombudsman is authorized under Title 24, Chapter 55 of the Alaska Statutes, 24.55.010 – 340.
http://www.state.ak.us/ombud/
How to Contact:
Anchorage
P.O. Box 102636
Anchorage, AK 99510-2636
(907) 269-5290
Fax: (907) 269-5291
Toll Free: 1-800-478-2624
Juneau
P.O. Box 113000
Juneau, AK 99811-3000
(907) 465-4970
Fax: (907)465-3330
Toll Free: 1-800-478-4970
February 25th, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Wait, Dubya’s going to Canada? Will he be arrested and put on trial as a war criminal?
February 25th, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Thanks, AKM, for reminding me of Frank Gwartney, the guy who filed the ethics complaint against grifter GINO. If you’re reading this, Frank, thanks for having the sense (and the balls) to question what you found to be just wrong.
Phil Munger at http://www.progressivealaska.com is a straight talker and very funny.
Linda: http://www.divasblueoasis.com is reasoned, well-spoken, and a straight talker, also.
Dennis Zaki at Alaska Report http://www.alaskareport.com/ is a reporter but a hero in my view, too, also.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Is it ethical, proper and legal for someone to publish a book entitled, “Anonymous Bloggers?” Besides great reading, it would get the word out to a wider audience. Lawsuit? We are protected by anonymity. How Palinesque.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:22 PM
“…isn’t there some sort of Public Interest Research Group or citizens organization…”
Actually he’s referring to the Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG) and a guy named Steve Conn (retired in 2003). Kind of a Ralph Nader thing. Everybody got kind of tired and defeated after the salmon price-fixing lawsuit.
http://www.akpirg.com, P.O. Box 101093, Anchorage, AK 99510
907.278.3661, fax 907.278.9300, AkPIRG@gci.net
I wonder what Ralph Nader thinks?
February 25th, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Paula, thank you for the list of “gates”
I hope you don’t mind but I copied and pasted them into a text file on my computer for future use. I’ll make sure I quote you whenever I use it. I fixed the typo of turkey gate and removed the duplicate beauty queen gate reference. Okay? Thanks.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Here’s the statute cited by Petumenos and Svobodny as relevant in KidTravelGate:
“Sec. 39.20.060. Exclusion of governor and lieutenant governor from personnel laws.
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the governor and lieutenant governor are not considered employees of the state for the purpose of state personnel laws relating to hours of employment, annual leave, sick leave, overtime, compensatory time, and travel allowances. This section does not deprive the governor and lieutenant governor of the right to participate in the state retirement system or in state group insurance plans.”
Do you see anything about family members in this statute? I don’t.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Why is Palin only reimbursing the state foir airfare and 1 meal for Bristol’s junket to New York City?
Here’s some oriinal reporting on that:
“In October 2007, Palin brought daughter Bristol along on a trip to New York for a women’s leadership conference. Plane tickets from Anchorage to La Guardia Airport for $1,385.11 were billed to the state, records show, and mother and daughter shared a room for four nights at the $707.29-per-night Essex House hotel, which overlooks Central Park.
The event’s organizers said Palin asked if she could bring her daughter.
Alexis Gelber, who organized Newsweek’s Third Annual Women & Leadership Conference, said she does not know how Bristol ended up attending.”
It sounds like the Palins owe half of the 700 PER NIGHT hotel room, and any other meals Bristol ate at state expense.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:27 PM
@austintx (18:08:40) :
Ooo, what a drag. What your mansion at least a cool looking one? Hope the state has the sense to take the local contractors up on their offer!
February 25th, 2009 at 11:37 PM
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* The years involved.
* The estimated dollar amount of any unreported income.
Your name, address and daytime telephone number Although you are not required to identify yourself, it is helpful to do so. Your identity can be kept confidential.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:38 PM
This whole Travelgate reminds me of an analogy to a great documentary I recently watched… ‘Man on Wire’.
There was a person who dreamed of doing something no one could ever imagine (walk a wire across the WTC towers/Palin as VP). A tight knit group of devoted friends helped this person break/bend a few laws so this dream would be realized [in SP's case they (Palin fam, Billy Mc, Megster, Vanphlem etc...) continue to do so].
The unimaginable moment came. It truly was a spectacle. Walking the wire this person defied all odds (SP: the vp race, debates, media interviews).
In the end however, even the closest of friends were alienated and forgotten. Left behind by the star whose ego blinds her from seeing simple rights from wrongs. Whose daily reliance on her lawyers to explain her wire-walking actions to her constituents are opening the eyes of more and more people.
It’s a sad story really but a reality nonetheless.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:41 PM
who cares? palin 2012
February 25th, 2009 at 11:49 PM
this must be were all The women Failures hang out. Cry because they wish they could have a real life.
BAHAHAHAHA
PALIN 2012
Although you have obviously overwhelmed us all with your wit, and intelligent discourse, I’m afraid I’m going to have to fling you into the Mudflats. AKM
February 26th, 2009 at 12:03 AM
Steptoe (23:41:50) :
who cares? palin 2012
————————————-
Answer = The FBI and IRS
February 26th, 2009 at 12:25 AM
I read somewhere (and I can’t find it right this minute, but I will keep looking) that the complaint filed in October actually listed 72 items, not 40.
I don’t know if this is true or not, but if it did contain 72, why were only 40 looked at?
I can imagine VERY few things where the children’s attendance would benefit the state. To be honest, off the top of my head, I can think of none.
I would like to know if there were really 72 vs 40 items though.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:45 AM
I found a link that included the 72 reference. I’m sure there are others, since this isn’t the one I read yesterday, but here it is:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=6950496
So if her attorney says there were 72 items, why does the report say 40?
What benefit could there possibly be to the state in those other 63 trips?
There must be some way to find out what those trips were. A FOIA request maybe? Her expense filings are public record aren’t they?
February 26th, 2009 at 3:06 AM
AKMFan (00:25:17) :
I read somewhere (and I can’t find it right this minute, but I will keep looking) that the complaint filed in October actually listed 72 items, not 40.
I don’t know if this is true or not, but if it did contain 72, why were only 40 looked at?
I can imagine VERY few things where the children’s attendance would benefit the state. To be honest, off the top of my head, I can think of none.
I would like to know if there were really 72 vs 40 items though.”
I was just going to say the same thing.If you look at what PET-umanos said,Sarah has agreed to a “settlement”.So maybe the terme of the settlement were that the rest of the trips would not be researched and that she would pay back this small amount only.Maybe to keep the state of Alaska from having to foot the bill for more attorneys,investigators,etc. to defend SP.Maybe this has more to do with Colberg resigning than anything else,perhaps he was of the opinion she should have to pay it all back ? Or that she should be prosecuted for fraud for the expenses and for the changing the records to try to support her claims ?
February 26th, 2009 at 3:45 AM
InJuneau – Yeah – It was built in the mid-1800’s and has the 2 story columns and all the Greek Revival goodies. and I still say Sarah never got that 1st good spanking………
February 26th, 2009 at 4:05 AM
Murkowski, Jindal raised “a legitimate question about funding volcano monitoring in legislation that’s supposed to create jobs for unemployed Americans.”
Does Murkowski think they just create themselves? They are generally fitted with high tech gear and people to man and moniter that gear… but maybe jobs in a scientific field don’t count? Maybe a bunch of fundies should just camp out on that mountain, wack the hell out of it with Bibles and kill the deamon within? Time for Jindal to climb another mountain. He can bring Palin along for moral support. If we’re lucky, they’ll both fall in.
February 26th, 2009 at 5:24 AM
She makes up all of these excuses why she’s not in the Capital city, Juneau, Alaska and needs to be in Anchorage. She even hides out in Anchorage or Wasilla, it doesn’t matter where she is residing at, she’s a fraud.
____________________________________________________________________
Research needed!!! In order to be fair….
Aren’t there a fair number of governors who don’t “live” in their governor’s mansions.
Has anyone looked into this.?? Laughably, the only two I can think of off top of my head have been bounced from office: Eliot Spitzer (lived “primarily” in NYC not Albany – plus Albany a quick train ride form NYC so he coudl do a daily commute) and Blago who lived “primarily” in Chicago not Springfield ( Cap of Il)..not sure of milegae distiance.).
Can anyone look into this ??? Back to the salt mines for me…
February 26th, 2009 at 5:32 AM
let it run – I believe Arnold commutes , and on his dime I might add. I defer to the ever vigilant caligrl to be sure.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:39 AM
@let it run: reporting from WA. Christine Gregoire lives in the mansion in Olympia.
OT: It’s SNOWING again! Unbelievable. This is NOT Alaska and we are NOT accustomed to this weather. grumblegrumblegrumble
February 26th, 2009 at 6:58 AM
again AKM, thanks for keeping us that live in the bush (and city folk) up on things,,:} Love you’re blog.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:22 AM
Lisa Demer seems to be investigating “Kids Travel Free!”
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/138435
Bristol went with her mom to NY to devise a plan regarding young Bristol’s pregnancy, period. There was some speculation that if Bristol, Willow and Piper went with SP to the Iron Dog in 2008, and a luncheon of the Heart Assoc. (which they were NOT INVITED TO) that that was proof that Bristol was not Trig’s mom, because her condition would have been obvious at that point. According to LD’s article Bristol did not go with to Fairbanks in 2008. If Andree Mcleod is correct that AK has already been charged for this trip, with three daughters in attendence, LD’s article would seem to contradict this. I am confused, but isn’t that the point? IMHO, Bristol did not go with her sisters and mom to send off papa dawg in 2008, because she was very pregnant.
The tower is tumbling folks!
February 26th, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Lots of good links in the adn blog!
penny: three kids does not necessarily include Bristol. Don’t forget Track, no 1 son.
February 26th, 2009 at 8:53 AM
@austintx (03:45:57) :
Ah, what a loss. Hopefully they’ll get it back up and lovely again. Our was built in the 1930s by the Feds as the Territorial Gov’s House and is just another one of those things we inherited from the US Gov. when we became a state (the Capitol has been said to look like an inner city elementary school, though I think it’s a bit nicer than that!).
February 26th, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Hey TPC,
This is a link to an earlier article about SP’s very own “Kids Travel Free!”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-21-palin-AP_N.htm
I do not know if Track was included in KTF shenanigans, but of interest to me was the American Heart Association luncheon on February 15, that the girls, 1? 2? 3?, attended uninvited. That trip to Fairbanks has been used as proof that if all the girls were there, none of them could be Trig’s mom, because SP was the only one camouflaging a non-existent pregnancy in those days. They were not invited or expected, but it was their attendance on behalf of the State of Alaska, that SP used to charge the State, when they just wanted to see papa dawg off. I really can not figure out how many girls she charged the State for, but if Lisa Demer’s information is correct, only Piper and Willow went with. I have not been able to locate any photos of Bristol on that trip, which leads me to my conclusion, she did not go on that trip because, IMHO, she was very pregnant.
penny
February 26th, 2009 at 8:55 AM
@wired differently (06:39:16) :
Hey, you should pop over to the Forum to write on the Writing Club Week 12 thread. The topic is Unexpected weather. Here you go: http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,6409.0.html
February 26th, 2009 at 9:45 AM
@ penny — there was a travel expense form filled out for Bristol Feb 15, 2008. Did she actually attend? Don’t know. See pages 11-112 of the travel authorizations document at ADN.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:56 AM
I am not great at manuevering around ADN’s site. Could you give me a link to those documents TPC?
thanks!
February 26th, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I haven’t read the 170 or so comments above mine, just responding to the article:
R U kidding me??!!! I’m jumpiing jack flash incensed by the level of high school antics Alaskans allow SP and her govt. to get away with. This is dangerous precedent setting stuff which firms inside the logic of HRH and carries over into whatever actions she takes next, not only on a State level, but Nationally.
By not impeaching her you undoubtedly ”enable” her flawed logic to run ‘rogue’ impacting the lives of the population of Alaska.
Why haven’t formal proceedings to remove her begun?
February 26th, 2009 at 11:40 AM
@penny — I tried to post it earlier, but I think the link was toooooo looooong. If you go to the http://community.adn.com/adn/node/138435 (that you actually have already mentioned) and then about half way down Lisa Demers’ article it says in blue “all the children’s travel reports.” Click on that blue to open up the PDF and then scroll down to page 111, there is Bristol’s travel authorization for Nov 14,15,16, 2008.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:14 PM
She thinks that we should foot the bill for her “bein’ a Mom” (and a kind of crappy one at that…) That’s really what she’s saying. Well, if spending time with her children is so important that she presumes to charge the state EXTRA for DOING HER JOB, ya know, the one that some people up here elected her to do, then she should perhaps step down and just be MOM. If she does not want to enlist a professional child care worker to assist her with her children when she is DOING HER JOB, then she really needs to decide WHAT HER JOB REALLY IS. Instead she totes the kids around on the state dollar and makes up reasons for them to be there. Hey, I’ll go run a raffle at a fund raising event for a free plane ticket and hotel room and a few meals. I’m probably more qualified than her children…..I’m sick of paying her to be a MOM as well as paying her to be Governor. ‘Nuff said.
February 26th, 2009 at 4:04 PM
NEVER has a Governor of this fine State used the internet to divide and conquer like our Governor is these days. She’s got TeamSarah and SarahPAC pitting Alaskans against Alaskans and Alaskans against the rest of the country.
She’s also been busy having her minions paint her as the hero in this picture and Alaska as the bad guys. You know, according to the TeamSarah and SaraPAC scripts, she initiated this all on her own as part of her transparency in government platform. NOT
So, how about a full blown investigation, there is certainly enough just cause. We could get rid of 3 for the price of one – if we send the Governor packing then TeamSarah and SaraPAC will follow. Alaska can’t afford to be her national soapbox any longer. The Legislature and Washington DC need to hold a summit in restoring Alaska’s national reputation. If we expose her for what she is, we can all wear our Alaska T-Shirts when we travel again. alohalaska / united we stand, divided we fall
February 27th, 2009 at 5:39 AM
Furthermore, FREQUENT FLIER MILES
Are they attributed to the States account for future use or the Flier’s name?
This is a pretty valuable point system and should be given to the employer who is footing the bill or TAXED as income.
IMHO
Does anyone know about this?
February 27th, 2009 at 5:58 AM
Someone has created a timeline from the travel reports of Palin and think they solved the baby gate.
http://www.flickr.com/people/33163903@N05/
Also, of what use is Todd if Palin has to claim responsibility for raising the kids? It’s not like he works, right?
February 27th, 2009 at 10:18 AM
FYI: I just posted this comment on the ADN in response to their article “More on Palin kids’ travel – governor will repay 10 trips not nine.”
Somebody please explain how Petumenos and the Personnel Board have ANY authority to have anything to do with this ethics complaint.
According to the article Petumenos was only “hired by the Personnel Board to investigate the case as an independent counsel.” That does not give him any authority to settle anything, just to investigate the case. This is the same as a cop, who investigates a case and then negotiates a plea deal with the accused. That is not the cop’s role. Here too, it was not Petumenos’s role to negotiate any settlement.
The article also states: “A state law specifically exempts the governor . . . from state personnel laws . . . The governor is taken out of the entire personnel act . . . Petumenos said.”
Thus, any questions about Palin’s compliance with “state personnel laws” is not for the Personnel Board to consider, since apparently it only deals with matters within the “entire personnel act.”
So, something is very wrong with how this ethics complaint was handled, no?
February 27th, 2009 at 4:02 PM
I went through the travel reports and put it together with the timelines that we had and it has all of the answers. It is so clear what happened. Who was where…and at what school. It is complete and leaves NO DOUBT when and who gave birth to Trig.
I am so excited!! I have copied the timeline to this link:
http://tinyurl.com/cnhqwu
We’ve got it! Now I am going to send to off to every media outlet I can think of!! Including… and especially… Alaskan Daily News!
February 27th, 2009 at 9:27 PM
OK, despite all of the other glaring times we paid for Sarah to bring her family along on our dime (I don’t charge my work for my family time) I want to know:
Why do we have to pay for Sarah to watch her husband’s sporting event?. Since when is that government business?
Not only have we been paying for her family to be hauled around but why are we paying for her personal trips?