Reporting Sarah Palin, some talking points

One of my readers suggested writing up some talking points people could refer to when reporting Sarah Palin's misdeeds to various bodies.

RELIGIONGATE (contact AU)

2007/2008

Juneau Pentecostal church asked the Alaska state government for cash for a new youth center. Gov. Sarah Palin, who had recently started worshipping at the church, vetoed the legislative appropriation from the capital budget, explaining it was “not a state responsibility.”

But by the time this year’s budget negotiations rolled around, Palin had become very involved in the Juneau Christian Center, attending an increasing number of services there, touring the youth center with her family (she charged the state for Willow's travel to visit the center), citing the pastor as among her spiritual guides, and appearing with the pastor at a Martin Luther King Day celebration and a religious conference where he laid hands on her while praying.

During this year’s capital budget writing process, Palin penned a letter to lawmakers “in support of the Juneau Christian Center’s new state-of-the-art youth center,” and she approved $25,000 for the center in May, even as she sparked a backlash from officials around the state for slashing spending from projects they deemed crucial to their areas.

The posts under Religiongate should provide further ammunition. Part 2 in particular is very rich in links that support the argument about mixing state and religion.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State
518 C Street NE
Washington, DC 20002

Link to ACLU

HOUSEGATE (contact FBI)

The Palin family home is a two-storey, 3,450-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath, wood house situated on Lake Lucille. According to Palin’s income tax returns, the house was assessed at more than half a million dollars — $552,000 to be exact.

Todd Palin told Fox News that he built the 3,450 square-foot, half million dollar home himself with the help of some “buddies.” Coincidentally, at the same time that Todd and his “buddies” were building the Palin house, the $12.5 million dollar Wasilla sports complex and hockey rink was under construction right down the road.

Sarah Palin blocked an effort to require the filing of building permits as mayor of Wasilla, there is no record of who Todd’s “buddies” were, where the building materials came from or how they were paid for.

Again, the Housegate posts provide the necessary background when writing to the FBI.

Anchorage Division Office 101 E. 6th Ave.,
Anchorage,
Alaska, 99501

(907) 276-4441 ETHICS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW (contact DOJ)

Sarah Palin's interim Attorney General has given an opinion regarding outside employment which conflicts with her previous AG's interpretation of the Executive Branch Ethics Act.

Present AG:

The law department has looked into whether the governor having a book contract conflicts with the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Acts, including its prohibition on accepting outside "employment for compensation."

The department concluded a book contract isn't employment, because it's not regular work for a salary or wage. State employees are allowed to provide services for their own financial benefit as long as it's on their own time, does not conflict with their official duties and does not involve using state equipment or resources, said the legal opinion, signed by deputy attorney general Richard Svobodny.

"A book publication project is compatible with your position as governor so long as it does not interfere with your official duties," Svobodny wrote to Palin.

Previous AG:

Since I serve as your designated ethics supervisor, I want to remind you that the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act requires that all state employees report to their designated ethics supervisors any outside employment or services benefiting their personal or financial interests by July 1 of each year. Although elected to your position, you are considered a public employee under the Ethics Act and must comply with the reporting requirement, if appropriate.

However, the Ethics Act also precludes "the head of a principal executive department of the state" from engaging in "outside employment."l The Office of the Governor is a principal department of the state.2 Therefore, as head of that office, you may not be engaged in outside employment. We construe "employment" to have its ordinary meaning.

• Any employment for which you are paid, but not your state employment.

• Examples: a job with another employer, work as an independent contractor, and work in your own business.

The Office of the Governor is a principal department of the state. Therefore, as head of that office, you may not be engaged in outside employment.

It would be interesting to seek the opinion of the DOJ as to which of the AGs has interpreted the Ethics Act correctly.

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530-0001

I hope these points make the task of reporting Sarah Palin's conduct a bit easier. Titles link to posts on each of the subjects listed above. If reporting online, the links are in brackets next to titles. Otherwise, all addresses are provided at the end of each section.

If any lawyers or activists out there would like to contribute and compile a list of talking points that make more sense than the above, please please please e-mail me: palingates@gmail.com
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