Reading Palin's gov. e-mails has a cost

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 3 (UPI) -- Alaska will not let the public view for free former Gov. Sarah Palin's e-mails in Anchorage, requiring costly copying and shipping, the governor's office says.

Interest in Palin's actions in office has risen with her hints of running for president and bus tour this week.

In response to Anchorage activist Andree McLeod's request, Linda Perez, Gov. Sean Parnell's administrative director, said she could see them for free in Juneau, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

"If you want to receive the records in Anchorage, you will need to pay the duplication fee of $725.97 and the shipping costs. I understand that WPX courier will deliver the set of 5 boxes to Anchorage overnight for $543.73 or a 2nd day delivery for $443.73," Perez wrote.

McLeod wrote to Parnell Thursday: "For all intent and purposes, you occupy the Anchorage office as much as the Juneau one. ... Am I to understand that when it's convenient for you and your staff, the Anchorage office becomes a viable extension of your Juneau office, except when it serves the public re: the review of these e-mails as stated in the Public Records Act?"

The state says it will soon release 24,199 edited pages of Palin's e-mails through Sept. 30, 2008, but not in electronic form.

Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, was governor of Alaska from December 2006 to July 2009.