California State University, Stanislaus officials may be breaking the law by not disclosing how much former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be paid to speak on campus on June 25, state Sen. Leland Yee said Wednesday.
"CSU Stanislaus officials sought out Sarah Palin, negotiated her contract behind closed doors, and are now welcoming her to our public university, yet they think they are above the law in disclosing to the public the cost of her appearance," Yee said in a prepared statement. "State law is explicitly clear that such confidentiality clauses hold no legal bearing. If the CSU administration has documentation of this compensation contract, then they need to immediately disclose it. Students and members of the public deserve and have a right to view this contract."
Matt Swanson, president of the CSU Stanislaus Foundation Board of Directors, earlier said Palin's contract is confidential, and no public money is being used. Palin, a Republican who was Sen. John McCain's vice-presidential running mate in 2008, commands up to $100,000 per lecture.
Swanson said the $500-per-person, black-tie event is self-funded, and no foundation money is being used.
Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco, said state law specifically prohibits a state or local agency from allowing an outside entity to control the disclosure of information that is otherwise subject to the California Public Records Act.
Yee said the law states that regardless of any contract term to the contrary, a contract between a private entity and a state or local agency is subject to the same disclosure requirements as other public records.
This article originally appeared on KCRA.com.
