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Sure, You Can See Palin Email ... for $15M

And after Alaska fees for search, they won't be ready until mid-Nov.

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 17, 2008 1:20 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Sarah Palin ran on a platform of transparent government, but it seems that Alaskan transparency has a price: $15 million. That’s how much the governor’s office wants from news organizations for copies of official email, MSNBC reports. Even if organizations are willing to pay up, the email will be censored, and won’t come until well after Election Day.

Why $15 million? The office says a computer programmer needs13 hours to assemble the emails for each employee, which, at $73.87 an hour, equals $960.31. Multiply by the 16,000 full-time state employees, and you get $15,364,960. Plus 10 cents per photocopy. State law allows such fees to be waived for journalists, but Palin’s only done so when it’s a few dollars.

Sarah Palin, speaks at a campaign stop yesterday in Bangor, Maine. Her campaign plane is seen in the background.
Sarah Palin, speaks at a campaign stop yesterday in Bangor, Maine. Her campaign plane is seen in the background.   (AP Photo)
Sarah Palin, speaks during a rally in Elon, NC, yesterday.
Sarah Palin, speaks during a rally in Elon, NC, yesterday.   (AP Photo)
Don't worry, 'first dude,' there's $15 million between reporters and your e-mails.
Don't worry, 'first dude,' there's $15 million between reporters and your e-mails.   (AP Photo)
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email • Redacted • McCain 2008 • Election 2008 • Sarah Palin • transparency • Sarah Palin emails

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