The distances are immense ~ far greater than those of other states, and that's just halfway (Alaska is roughly the size of three Texas' and one Indiana).
The Governor is NOT required to live in Juneau, but "overnighters" are undoubtedly out of the question, plus, there are duties she must attend to in Juneau.
Just figuring out what her perdiem really is constitutes one accounting nightmare. Figuring out what part is taxable is yet another nightmare. The third is that if she's claiming perdiem in Wasilla and then flies off to tend to state business in Fairbanks (for example), she's still on perdiem, but if she returns to Wasilla that's going to be counted one way, and if she returns to Juneau that's going to be computed differently.
I know Alaska is big. Maybe Alaska is a special case and should be reflected that way in the ever expanding Internal Revenue Code. I don't know. (BTW, I am not a fan of the Code).
I am not saying Sarah is not entitled to her per diem expenses. I am saying that in any other state, if you are provided extra money and you are working out of your house, it would be counted as income.
Re: accounting nightmare. I agree. Having to file expense reports on occasion, I can attest to that. 'Pod.