A few days ago, I wrote about the Alaskan legislation passed in order to eliminate the billing of rape victims for the rape kits that collect forensic evidence. Palin was the mayor of Wasilla at that time, and her town was the ONLY community in the state to engage in such practices.
Some have come to her defense saying that we have no idea how long that policy was in place. It’s unfair to judge her for what could be a long standing rule.
Turns out that that policy was initiated on her watch. A Huffington Post Off the Bus blogger did some digging through Wasilla records.
Placing the city budget records, however, alongside a timetable of Palin’s firing Chief Stambaugh and hiring Chief Fannon makes it clear the policy was put in place as a direct result of Palin’s leadership. . .
Checking the budget confirmed former Chief Stambaugh’s claim. He had included a contingency of $15,000 in his budget for the department’s 1st year of existence (1993-1994), $5,000 for 1994-1995 and 1995-1996, and $13,000 for his final year as police chief in 1996-1997, spending $11,625.
Duwayne Charles Fannon, his replacement, halved the budget request in 1997-1998, with a request of $7,298, spending $3,454. However, it seems he began the “victim pays” policy in the 1998-1999 fiscal year. That year, he requested $3,000 but spent only $205. This data can be found in the Document Central section of Wasilla’s website.
It feels somewhat more reprehensible that a woman signed off on this policy shift. But given parallels have been drawn between Palin and conservative crusader Schlafly, it’s no suprise.
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