I noted earlier that Sarah Palin was busted charging the state of Alaska for charging a travel per diem allowance ... while staying at home. It was a great scam, no doubt. But here's further food for thought. Remember this?

Gov. Sarah Palin knows how to cook.

And her children are capable of making sandwiches.

That said, Palin has told chef Stefani Marnon that the Governor's Mansion in Juneau won't be needing a professional cook until the legislative session this coming winter.

"Bottom line is, the governor does not need a gourmet chef at the mansion," said Meghan Stapleton, the governor's spokeswoman. "From the start, she's been very uncomfortable with a gourmet chef. It's a luxury she doesn't think Alaskans should be paying for."

Folksy! And yes, she was right. There was no reason for Alaskans to be paying for a gourmet chef for the governor. That was $45,000 she saved the state.

Except she then charged Alaska $16,951 to eat at her own place.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.

So the bottom line appears to be that staying at her own joint was a luxury she thought Alaskans should pay for. Oh, and when she did travel for such crucial state-related business such as "Newsweek's third annual Women and Leadership Conference", she did things like charge Alaska for three nights at a hotel costing $707 per night. That was certainly a luxury she thought Alaskans should pay for.

As for that chef, the one she supposedly fired to save the state $45,000? Well, she didn't.

Remember the long-time executive chef who lost her job at the Mansion when Sarah decided to live mostly in Wasilla instead of Juneau? Stefani Marnon was first reassigned as a "constituent relations assistant" in the governor's office and later to the state museum.

Earwigs report she's finally landed where they really appreciate a good chef: the Legislative Lounge.

So apparently, the chef was also a luxury she thought Alaskans should pay for.

I've gotta admit. As a scam artist, she's pretty good.