Jack & Jill Politics

Washington Post has the story

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.

Because that’s what reform-oriented mavericks do yall!

There’s more. Looks like she paid to see her first dude in a snowmobile competition

The family also charged for flights around the state, including trips to Alaska events such as the start of the Iditarod dog-sled race and the Iron Dog snowmobile race, a contest that Todd Palin won.

And sent him on “official state business”

Todd Palin spent $725 to fly to Edmonton, Alberta, for “information gathering and planning meeting with Northern Alberta Institute of Technology,” according to an expense report. During the three-day trip, he charged the state $291 for his per diem. A notation said “costs paid by Dept. of Labor.” He also billed the state $1,371 for flight to Washington to attend a National Governors Association meeting with his wife….”

Christy Hardin Smith at FDL has pulled up the state regulations. Looks like somebody has been bilking taxpayers

But wait, there’s more.

…One event was in New York City in October 2007, when Bristol accompanied the governor to Newsweek’s third annual Women and Leadership Conference, toured the New York Stock Exchange, and met local officials and business executives. The state paid for three nights in a $707-a-day hotel room. Garnero said the governor’s office has the authority to approve hotel stays above $300.

Asked Monday about the official policy on charging for children’s travel expenses, Garnero said: “We cover the expenses of anyone who’s conducting state business. I can’t imagine kids could be doing that.”

But Leighow said many of the hundreds of invitations Palin receives include requests for her to bring her family, placing the definition of “state business” with the party extending the invitation.

One such invitation came in October 2007, when Willow flew to Juneau to join the Palin family on a tour of the Hub Juneau Christian Teen Center, where Palin and her family worship when they are in Juneau. The state gave the center $25,000, according to a May 2008 memo….

As TPM points out, with the Lie To Nowhere, the fake ebay plane sale story and this latest revelation, everything McCain has said about Palin is a lie. How do we even know she had those five kids? :)

John McCain had six months to choose a vice president. That’s more time than any nominee in history. He decided that Sarah Palin was the best America had to offer. Will he use the same thought process to appoint his cabinet and federal judges? Is he ready to lead?