Did Palin Evade Federal Taxes via Fake "Per Diems"?

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Tuesday September 09, 2008 · 6:07 AM PDT

2008/09/09 · 06:07

The Washington Post reports this morning on several apparent financial improprieties involving Governor Palin's filing and personal receipt of questionable Alaska state taxpayer monies. As one example, Palin received over 300 days' worth of "per diem" payments from state taxpayers for days when she was living at her home. This same practice, as the Post reports, caused a scandal and resulted in the end of an Alaska state commissioner's career in 1988.

However, there is another potentially explosive issue that demands serious investigation in this matter. According to the IRS, per diems may only be paid for business travel "away from home." Other payments from an employer would apparently be taxable as ordinary income.

Did Governor Palin evade federal taxes by filing for and then receiving "per diems" she was ineligible to receive, and then by not paying taxes on those payments?

sipples

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Friday June 13, 2008 · 4:53 PM PDT

2008/06/13 · 16:53

I am located in Tokyo, and we just felt a long duration earthquake of average intensity starting at 8:43 a.m. local time Saturday morning, June 14, 2008. (Not enough to cause damage here.) However, the Japan Meteorological Agency reports that in the northern part of the main Japanese island the earthquake is of a very significant intensity.

BBC News has this breaking story on their front page, as do all the other major news sources. Sadly, at least three people are reported dead, at least seven missing, and at least 110 injured, some badly. Reports continue to pour in, and it is very likely there will be significantly more casualties.

More details below the fold....

sipples

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Wednesday May 07, 2008 · 9:54 AM PDT

2008/05/07 · 09:54

We just had a rather substantial shake here in the metropolitan Tokyo area which woke me up. Time was about 1:48AM local. The Japan Meteorological Agency has details here:

http://www.jma.go.jp/...

Update #1: No tsunami warning issued. The JMA can issue one instantly if merited -- there's one heck of an early warning system here.

Update #2: There was one station on the mainland that clocked in in the lower 5s (on the 7.0 Japanese earthquake scale). That must have been a bit frightening, but I expect people are going to be OK. My section of Tokyo was in the 3s. Books on the shelves were rocking back and forth, slapping against the sides of the bookshelf. The buildings are engineered to sway like that.

sipples

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Tuesday March 18, 2008 · 5:14 AM PDT

2008/03/18 · 05:14

There's a big problem brewing that could cause many loyal Michigan Democrats to lose their voting rights if there is a DNC-sanctioned primary or caucus scheduled in that state. The Obama campaign is also concerned, and I'd like to explain both the problem and at least one suggestion for how we can assure that all Michigan Democrats have the right to vote in any new contest.

Poll

121 votes Show Results

Do you think the DNC and Michigan state party should allow "Kos Michigan Democrats" to vote in any new primary or caucus?

121 votes Vote Now!

Do you think the DNC and Michigan state party should allow "Kos Michigan Democrats" to vote in any new primary or caucus?

Yes

57 votes

55 votes

Other (Please Post Comment)

4 votes

Not Sure/Undecided

5 votes

New Ohio Poll: Clinton +8 (21-24Feb)

sipples

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Monday February 25, 2008 · 7:47 AM PST

2008/02/25 · 07:47

The Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati has released its latest Ohio Poll. The poll surveyed 529 likely voters in the Democratic primary from February 21 to 24, 2008, by telephone. The results:

Hillary Clinton 47%
Barack Obama 39%
John Edwards 9%
Other/Kucinich 2%
Don't Know 4%

sipples

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Thursday February 21, 2008 · 2:27 AM PST

2008/02/21 · 02:27

The Associated Press reports this morning that Senator Russ Feingold is "poised to endorse" Senator Barack Obama for President. Feingold is a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention.

sipples

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Tuesday February 19, 2008 · 7:25 PM PST

2008/02/19 · 19:25

Obama has been doing well among registered Democrats, but he has been doing even better among independents and the few Republicans who are voting in the Democratic primary contests. His performance outside his own party bodes well for the general election if he were to become the nominee.

The CNN exit polls for Wisconsin reveal that an amazing 37% of voters were not registered Democrats (or at least not self-described registered Democrats). So what does that high independent turnout suggest for Ohio? An analysis follows based on the latest polling.

sipples

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday February 04, 2008 · 11:49 PM PST

2008/02/04 · 23:49

Democrats Abroad began voting today, starting in the Pacific and Far Eastern timezones. It's a global primary with 22 delegates (equal to 11 full delegate votes) at stake, and for the first time overseas Democrats can vote by mail, fax, Internet, or in-person.

Japanese broadcaster NHK is conducting an exit poll at today's in-person voting center in Tokyo. As of 4 pm local time, Obama is leading Clinton there by about a 9 to 1 ratio.

sipples

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday November 03, 2007 · 1:10 AM PDT

2007/11/03 · 01:10

The first Money Sunday (Declining Dollar, What to Do) over two years ago offered recommendations on how to cope with our weak home currency. Now the dollar is even weaker, and that article is especially worth reading again.

This edition for Sunday, November 4, 2007, takes a practical and specific look at how to react: where to go on your next (or first) international vacation. This past week I visited Australia, but I didn't buy anything in the shops. The U.S. dollar has fallen about 20% in the past two years (16% in the past year alone) against the Australian dollar. So what countries remain comparative bargains? Read on to find out and for links to past editions of Money Sunday....

Poll

33 votes Show Results

Are you planning to take an international vacation within the next year?

33 votes Vote Now!

Are you planning to take an international vacation within the next year?

Yes, and the weak dollar won't influence my choice.

7 votes

Yes, but the weak dollar will influence my choice.

10 votes

Maybe. It depends on a number of factors.

2 votes

No, the weak dollar will keep me in the U.S.A.

4 votes

No, I'll take my vacation in the U.S.A., regardless of dollar behavior.

4 votes

No, I can't afford to take any vacation.

6 votes

No, I'm a workaholic.

0 votes

Other/Unsure. (Please comment.)

0 votes

Debate Question: Will You Keep Dean at DNC?

sipples

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Saturday September 29, 2007 · 12:53 AM PDT

2007/09/29 · 00:53

Like most Americans, I was incredibly frustrated and disappointed in the answers three prominent Democratic candidates for president gave to Tim Russert's question about whether they would remove troops from Iraq by the end of their first term (in 2013).

So here's another question. Would an average citizen like to ask it? How about a smart reporter?

If a Democrat wins the presidency in 2008, will you promise to support the retention of Howard Dean as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee through at least the 2010 election cycle should he wish to continue serving?

sipples

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday July 29, 2007 · 4:25 AM PDT

2007/07/29 · 04:25

The polls closed at 2000 hours JST (7:00 a.m. Eastern U.S. time) on July 29, 2007, here in Japan.

These elections are for the upper house (the House of Councillors), with half the seats up for grabs. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) isn't liberal or democratic. It's conservative and lately has been trying to amend Japan's pacifist constitution to permit military expansion and more aggressive overseas deployments. The LDP's Bush-friendly Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, could be forced from power with a particularly bad poll result.

Results are devastating for the ruling party, with the main social liberal party, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), cruising to victory.

sipples

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday May 20, 2007 · 8:35 AM PDT

2007/05/20 · 08:35

In this second installment of the revived Money Sunday series, you will learn about stock options: what they are, how they work, and why they are so controversial. Learn about this huge element of executive compensation so you can become a smarter, more politically savvy Kossack.

Whether you received stock options yourself — are you lucky? — or want to understand more about how top executives receive so much more pay than their own workers, read on. And take a look at past Monday Sunday articles linked below....

Poll

26 votes Show Results

Do you (or did you) have any stock options?

Yes, and I exercised them and made money.

Yes, and they are worth some money on paper, but I haven't exercised them yet.

Yes, but they are (were) underwater.

Yes, but I left the company before they all vested.

I was offered stock options but turned them down.

Yes. I received multiple awards; they are (were) some combination of the above.

No, but my current employer offers them to at least some regular employees.

No. My current employer only offers them to top management; I'm not in that category yet.

No. My current employer has public stock but does not offer stock options to any employee or manager.

No. My current employer does not have public stock (e.g. government, not-for-profit, etc.)

No. I'm presently not working, and I never received any previously.

Other / Don't Know

26 votes Vote Now!

Do you (or did you) have any stock options?

Yes, and I exercised them and made money.

5 votes

Yes, and they are worth some money on paper, but I haven't exercised them yet.

0 votes

Yes, but they are (were) underwater.

0 votes

Yes, but I left the company before they all vested.

1 vote

I was offered stock options but turned them down.

2 votes

Yes. I received multiple awards; they are (were) some combination of the above.

5 votes

No, but my current employer offers them to at least some regular employees.

0 votes

No. My current employer only offers them to top management; I'm not in that category yet.

3 votes

No. My current employer has public stock but does not offer stock options to any employee or manager.

0 votes

No. My current employer does not have public stock (e.g. government, not-for-profit, etc.)

6 votes

No. I'm presently not working, and I never received any previously.

2 votes

Other / Don't Know

2 votes

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Did Palin Evade Federal Taxes via Fake "Per Diems"?

Strong Earthquake in Japan, At Least 3 Dead (Update #19)

Earthquake in Japan ~1:45 AM Local (Update #4)

"Kos Michigan Democrats" to Lose Their Voting Rights?

New Ohio Poll: Clinton +8 (21-24Feb)

Feingold Poised to Endorse Obama

After Wisconsin: Ohio Indies the Key? Clinton only +4?

Exit Poll: Obama Leads ~9 to 1 in Tokyo

Money Sunday: Vacationing on a Weak Dollar

Debate Question: Will You Keep Dean at DNC?

Japan Election Results: Left Beats Bush Friend Abe's Conservatives

Money Sunday: How Do Stock Options Work?