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—Palin, elected in 2006, chose not to move from her Wasilla home to Juneau, the capital 600 miles away
—Blagojevich, a Democrat, elected in 2003, chose not leave Chicago, 300 miles from the capital of Springfield
EXPENSES
—Media reports indicate Palin took daily expense payments for 312 days while living at home. Her spokeswoman said she was entitled to the $17,000 because she was working in the nearby Anchorage office, therefore "traveling" from her capital headquarters.
—Blagojevich has been known to take daily round trips between Chicago and Springfield, which tax experts say could leave him open to tax liability if he's receiving a fringe benefit in the form of state-paid travel home to Chicago with no business purpose there. But Blagojevich's office says his tax headquarters is in Chicago, not the capital.
Palin could face similar tax questions, a tax expert said.
TRAVEL
—Palin's husband and daughters have charged the state $43,000 for travel and expenses for travel that Palin's office says were for official business.
—Blagojevich's two daughters flew 190 times on state planes in their father's first 58 months in office, often traveling to "official" events in Springfield that wouldn't require travel if they lived here, such as Halloween parties, Easter egg hunts, Christmas-tree lighting events and Thanksgiving dinners at the otherwise-empty Executive Mansion.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press
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