Sarah Palin’s CSU Contract (and Speaking Fee) Revealed

Sarah Palin was hired by California State University Stanislaus to appear at a June Fundraiser.  When a non-profit government transparency group sought to find out her speaking fee through a public information request, the University refused to reveal the information.  Last week, a California judge ordered the University to disclose the details.

Now that the contract is public record (you can read it in its entirety here), it reveals that Palin received $75,000 for three hours' work, in two payments of $37,500. The University was also on the hook for her accommodations and travel expenses, which included two first class tickets and two unrestricted coach tickets.  Among other interesting tidbits, we learn that Palin requires bendable straws, wooden lecterns and skirted tables:

A spotlight directly on the Speaker should be avoided. Unopened bottled still water (2 bottles) and bendable straws are to be placed in or near the wooden lectern. A representative of WSB [Washington Speakers Bureau] or the Speaker's party will open the water at an appropriate time prior to the Speaker's participation in the program.

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No Plexiglass or thin lecterns, please. If Speaker is seated on-stage at a table (sic) customer to ensure that the table is skirted.

Guess this confidentiality clause could not insulate the government entity from transparency:

The Parties agree that the terms of this Agreement, including its compensation terms, ("Confidential Information") are confidential and should be held in confidence by each party. The Parties shall not publicly disclose any Confidential Information and acknowledge that any breach, negligent or intentional, of this confidentiality shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement for which the breaching party will be held liable.

[Meredith R. Miller]