Revealed: Palin billed state for nights spent at home

Alaska governor and US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a “per diem” (by the day) allowance intended to cover meals and expenses while travelling on state business.

The governor has also charged the state for expenses to take her children on official out-of-town trips. And her husband, Todd, has billed the state for a daily allowance for trips he makes on business for his wife.

Palin, who earns $125,000 (€88,000) a year, claimed and received $16,951 as her allowance, which officials say was permitted because her official “duty station” is Juneau, the capital city 965 kilometres (600 miles) from her home in Wasilla, according to an analysis of her travel documents by The Washington Post.

Her daughters and husband charged the state $43,490 for travel and many of the trips were to and from their house and the capital.

Governor spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said yesterday that Palin’s expenses are not unusual and that under state policy, the first family could have claimed per diem expenses for each child taken on official business but has not done so.

During her speech at the Republican National Convention last week, Palin cast herself as crusader for fiscal rectitude as Alaska’s governor. She noted that she sold a state-owned plane used by the former governor.

Ms Palin’s press office defended her claims.

“As a matter of protocol, the governor and the first family are expected to attend community events across the state,” said spokeswoman Leighow. “It is absolutely reasonable that the first family participates in community events.

“The governor is entitled to a per diem, and she claims it.”

The accusations came as it was revealed Republican presidential candidate John McCain has enjoyed a boost in the polls in the wake of Palin’s electrifying speech to the party’s convention.

He now leads his Democrat rival Barack Obama by up to 10 points, according to some surveys.

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has continued his attack on McCain as a hypocrite, saying he was trying to fool the voters into believing he wanted change.

With McCain surging ahead in the polls, Obama used some of his toughest language about his Republican opponents.

McCain, 72, claimed he would bring change to the US government in his speech at the Republican convention, a theme Obama has trumpeted for the last 18 months.

A new TV advert called the “original mavericks“, featuring Palin and McCain, highlighted their reform efforts and the “real” changes they have made during their political careers.

Mr Obama mocked their plans, saying: “Except for economic policy, tax policy, healthcare policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove politics, we’re really going to shake things up in Washington.”