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Palin's Figures on Ethics Complaints Don't Add Up

Report has lawyer costing $30K per hour

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 10, 2009 8:00 PM CDT
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(Newser) – A spreadsheet from Sarah Palin's office detailing spending on ethics complaints and lawsuits is riddled with discrepancies, the Anchorage Daily News reports. The administrative director of Palin's office says accidental double-counting added $26,849 to the $1.9 million total. She plans to make inquiries about other parts of the spreadsheet, including a line in which 0.3 hours of an attorney's time seems to have cost more than $10,000.

Another page lists 119.4 attorney hours on a complaint related to Troopergate, but the figure is given as 13.3 hours elsewhere. A tally on the toll for workers in the governors office suggests they make $85 an hour, but the administrative director says that figure includes health benefits and other extras. Palin has said the cost of requiring government employees to deal with complaints against her is one of the reasons she's stepping down.

Sarah Palin gave the high cost of dealing with ethics complaints as one of her reasons for resigning as governor of Alaska.
Sarah Palin gave the high cost of dealing with ethics complaints as one of her reasons for resigning as governor of Alaska.   (AP Photo/The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Robert DeBerry)
Sarah Palin holds a copy of the Anchorage Daily News with the headline Board exonerates Palin as she stops for coffee before voting in last year's election.
Sarah Palin holds a copy of the Anchorage Daily News with the headline "Board exonerates Palin" as she stops for coffee before voting in last year's election.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gives the state of the state address to a joint session of the Senate and House in the Capitol in Juneau, Alaska in January.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gives the state of the state address to a joint session of the Senate and House in the Capitol in Juneau, Alaska in January.   (AP Photo/Al Grillo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Toon
Jul 12, 2009 12:26 PM CDT
Ah the master plan that the long lived lizard people put into place 96 years ago and is still going like clock work. I guess we should be happy to be ruled by folks so smart they were able to put into place a plan that has controlled the world through two world wars and effects of the cultural changes from new technologies like television and computers and the internet.
lindamae
Jul 12, 2009 5:09 AM CDT
Perhaps Geitner helped her add up her figures. No one has mentioned the 150 Freedom of Information Act challenges which also needed to be answered and paid for by Alaskans through their taxes. Remember that it is Congress which makes up the budgets and the President who signs the bills into action. You can't blame Bush for the trillions we now have to pay because it is only Pelosi and Obama who are responsible. It's a joke to keep blaming Bush.
Fondue
Jul 12, 2009 3:20 AM CDT
You look like Glenn from the Village People
US • Politics

 
ethics • Alaska • accounting • governor • Troopergate • Sarah Palin

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