Another ethics complaint was filed against outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin yesterday - the 18th such complaint filed against her since taking office 2 1/2 years ago. This one states that she abused her office while running for Vice President by accepting a salary and using state staff outside the state while on the national campaign trail. It's the third complaint filed since her rambling resignation speech.
Link to AP article
In her complaint, Andree McLeod said that two days before Palin was named John McCain's running mate, she signed travel documents that stated "conclusion of state business." A similar document soon after the election stated "return to duty status."
McLeod said Palin's signature on the documents demonstrated a "willingness to forgo her duties as governor" to travel on the national campaign. She added that she filed the complaint now only because she was waiting for a final document from the state in response to a public records request.
McLeod said that given that temporary absence, Palin should have turned over the governor's responsibilities to Parnell as required by the state constitution.
"The reason this is so serious is because the transfer of power should have taken place but did not," McLeod said Tuesday.
Sound familiar to anyone? Do I hear whispers of "Argentina"?
And one of the authors of Alaska's constitution, a Republican, agrees with the complaint:
Jack Coghill, a Republican and an author of the Alaska constitution, said Palin should have formally put someone in charge.
"Anytime she leaves the state, according to our constitution, she has to relinquish her power as governor to her successor," he said.
That's standard operating procedure for governors. I know that when Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey goes traveling, for example, President of the Senate Dick Codey becomes acting governor. Why Sarah Palin thinks she's above standard operating procedure is something only she can answer.