GSA spending scandal; top official quits

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Reba

Reba

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The General Services Administration's top official abruptly resigned and her top deputies were fired or put on administrative leave Monday amid a breaking scandal that the White House chief of staff called "a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars."

In resigning, GSA Administrator Martha Johnson said she made a "significant mis-step" when her agency squandered taxpayer dollars on its annual training conference in Las Vegas in 2010.

"I feel I must step aside as administrator so that the agency can move forward at this time with a fresh leadership team," Johnson wrote in her resignation letter.

Bob Peck, commissioner of the agency's Public Building Service (PBS), and Johnson advisor Stephen Leeds were also removed from their positions.

Dan Tangherlini, the Treasury Department's former assistant secretary for management, chief financial officer, and chief performance officer will take over for Johnson, according to GSA spokesman Greg Mecher.

Jack Lew, White House chief of staff, said in a statement that the administration acted quickly to discipline those responsible for the scandal.

"When the White House was informed of the inspector general's findings, we acted quickly to determine who was responsible for such a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars. The president was informed before his trip to South Korea, and he was outraged by the excessive spending, questionable dealings with contractors, and disregard for taxpayer dollars," Lew said.

GSA's Public Buildings Service spent $822,000 on the biennial Western Regions Conference in Las Vegas for only 300 employees, according to an inspector general's report.

The expenses included $147,000 for airfare and hotel lodging for six planning trips by conference organizers. That figure included $100,000 on two "scouting trips" and five off-site meetings and an additional $30,000 on catering costs for those trips, according to the report.

Among the other expenses were $3,200 for a mind reader; $6,300 on a commemorative coin set displayed in velvet boxes; and $75,000 on a training exercise to build a bicycle, according to the IG report, which was obtained by Federal Times.

GSA also promised the hotel an additional $41,480 in catering charges in exchange for the "concession" of the hotel honoring the government's lodging limit.

The agency also spent $44 a person per breakfast and $95 per person for its closing reception dinner.

The agency also spent money on mementos for attendees, clothing for GSA employees and tuxedo rentals, according to the report.

House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., which oversees GSA's Public Buildings Service, said he plans to hold a press conference Tuesday on the matter....
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Emerging GSA scandal brings down top officials - FederalTimes.com
 
what the heck is GSA? never heard of it....
 
General Services Administration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. government offices, provides transportation and office space to federal employees, and develops government-wide cost-minimizing policies, and other management tasks.
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About GSA
Excellence in the Business of Government. GSA provides workplaces by constructing, managing, and preserving government buildings and by leasing and managing commercial real estate. GSA's acquisition solutions offer private sector professional services, equipment, supplies, telecommunications, and information technology to government organizations and the military. GSA policies promote management best practices and efficient government operations.
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interesting....
 
Obama is "outraged" by the conduct of a member of his team! Now that is a first!
 
I like this part:

"Among the other expenses were $3,200 for a mind reader"

:lol:
 
Jiro said:
what the heck is GSA? never heard of it....
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:shock: there is something Jiro does not know! :shock:

giggle.gif


Reba said:
I like this part:

"Among the other expenses were $3,200 for a mind reader"

:lol:
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the total BS tax dollars get spent on does not surprise me at all anymore.


but being paid to do nothing, I wish I had that gig...
oh wait...
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rolling7 said:
Obama is "outraged" by the conduct of a member of his team! Now that is a first!
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Only because it comes at an embarrassing time right before the election and it makes him look bad! And the fact that they were caught and made public!
 
Ah, there we go! Because these people don't know the value of a dollar... They think there's nothing unusual about the sums spent? $44 per breakfast??? I spend a little more than that PER WEEK. GD!! There's your problem! These people drive expensive cars, go to Barbados several times, think there's nothing wrong with a $5 bar of chocolate or a casual dress for $120. Idiots!
 
deafdrummer said:
Ah, there we go! Because these people don't know the value of a dollar... They think there's nothing unusual about the sums spent? $44 per breakfast??? I spend a little more than that PER WEEK. GD!! There's your problem! These people drive expensive cars, go to Barbados several times, think there's nothing wrong with a $5 bar of chocolate or a casual dress for $120. Idiots!
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really? where?
 
$75,000 on a training exercise to build a bicycle
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:ugh:

I'm sure a fellow ADer derek here can do that for a fraction of the cost.
 
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