Anchorage Daily News

When Gov. Sarah Palin's 7-year-old daughter flew to Barrow with her mother recently, the state paid the $402 bill.

Spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said the first family was invited to Barrow by the North Slope Borough mayor, and that Palin made the trip with her daughter Piper and 12-week-old son Trig.

"The state pays for family members to travel to official functions when they are included as part of the invitation," Leighow said.

There isn't a specific law or regulation that says the state will pay for family members' travel to events with the governor, but it's become tradition, said Linda Perez, director of administrative services in the governor's office.

"It's pretty much just been the historical practice."

The North Slope Borough sent its King Air to Wasilla pick the governor up the morning of June 30, according to the borough. She flew home that night on Alaska Airlines. Trig's a baby, so he rode for free, while Piper's one-way Alaska Airlines ticket cost $402, according to the state.

It's unclear how many times the state has paid for family members to travel with Palin. Asked for a tally of flights since the governor's inauguration, Perez said Wednesday that it would take time to put the list together.

Leighow said Palin doesn't bring family with her often, but that the state pays when the family's on "official business."

Asked what official business Palin's daughter would have in Barrow, Leighow said she took part in a whaling celebration. On a form requesting the state to pay for the trip, the purpose is listed as "The Governor and First Family will attend the Barrow Whaling Events/Blanket Toss."

The question of who pays for family to travel with an Alaska governor has come up before.

In 2007, Perez told the Daily News that when governors traveled with their spouses, they would normally reimburse the state unless the spouses had official duties to attend to such as first-lady events.

Gov. Frank Murkowski's wife, Nancy, accompanied her husband on scores of trips. The state was reimbursed for only a handful.

"The governor used Mrs. Murkowski as one of his primary and chief advisors ... he treated that as official business," Perez said.

North Slope Borough spokesman David Harding couldn't estimate Wednesday how much it cost to send the Borough's King Air -- which is used for search-and-rescue missions, wildlife management and other purposes -- to pick up the governor.

Perez said the cost of that flight will be considered a gift from the borough to the state.

Asked if it's a good use of state money to pay for travel costs for Palin's family members, Leighow said: "There's a certain expectation of the first family. Which includes participating in community activities and making public appearances."

Find Kyle Hopkins' political blog online at adn.com/alaskapolitics or call him at 257-4334.

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