While government credit cards are meant to be used for "improving bureaucratic efficiency," a new audit indicates federal employees really use them for lavish dinners, online dating services, expensive electronics, and sexy nightwear. The audit, carried out by the Government Accountability Office, includes a rather interesting list of which governmental agencies use the credit cards for superfluous and unnecessary purchases.
For instance, a cardholder from the Agriculture Department spent more than $80,000 on a new Toyota Land Cruiser and Toyota Sienna. A total of $642,000 has been abused by the Agriculture Department for personal expenses, such as gambling, car and mortgage payments, and other retail goods. Even NASA took advantage and used the government plastic for two $400 iPods, personalized with engraved names. Four cardholders from the Defense Department spent $77,000 on expensive clothing from Brooks and Brothers, while the Postal Service treated themselves to $13,500 steak dinners and alcohol.
The federal government spends billions of dollars annually through its purchase cards program. In response to the exposure of unacceptable and unnecessary federal spending, the Government Accountability Office claims the "fiscal challenges facing the federal government demand that agencies do everything they can to operate as efficiently as possible."
Will the improper and abusive credit card charges cease to exist after the results of this audit? Where would federal officials find the money to pay for lingerie and dating services?
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Federal Employees Need Lingerie and iPods Too!
Posted Apr 10th 2008 12:12AM by Ana Kasparian
Filed under: Young Turks, Money
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Run your daily life without credit cards. Think about it, buying everything with cash or bank loan, or a promise to the store owner that you will pay tomorrow. Rent a car without a credit card.Buy a 86inch TV without a Credit Card.
What cost would there be to build up the government and add more govt workers to the payroll so US Govt could do away with use of Credit Cards. It would cost far more to establish a pay with cash Govt purchases than the fraud involved in improper CC purchases. Petty Cash fund at every office. Major Cash Fund at every office for large office and purchases. Thefts and fraud involving petty cash funds. (No Records of just lifting money)
Save money, make fair tax plan, flat rate income tax, Corp Tax, almost no deductions. Reduce IRS by 95%-huge savings. Limit govt spending to amount of money taken in on flat tax, no increases.
Wow, streamline govt.
Credit Card waste is a problem of Govt growth out of control, and the american voters do not care, as in one day from now they will not care about this credit card mess with the govt.
robert okane at 1:59AM on Apr 10th 2008
2. "Limit govt spending to amount of money taken in on flat tax, no increases."
----------------------------------
Sounds like a great idea, Robert, but there goes your war.
Captain Negative at 2:29AM on Apr 10th 2008
3. Captain Nagative
Yes there goes the war. Yes, there would also go the open pocketbook that the Washington has with OUR money. Recent example of crazies in Washington.-The 3 biggest abusers of Pork Barrel Funds were Republicans. Yet, the Democrat majority, along with Republicans, voted down Bill to end use of those funds for projects that fit in the "Pork Barrel", at least for one year.
robert okane at 3:05AM on Apr 10th 2008
4. Patty
Air America-Miss the story on your Liberal Fascist radio program. Air America Radio host was suspended by her network because of an F-word filled tirade she directed at Sen Hillary Clinton during a PUBLIC appearance for Air America affilate KKGN in San Francisco on March 22. During her speech, Rhodes repeatedly called Clinton a "big f***ing whore" and also made the same reference to a Clinton supported Geraldine Ferraro, but added that Ferraro is "David Duke in drag"
This is common place with your hero's at Air America and is what we have and still are seeing out of the mouths of the numerous Liberal Fascist during this Democrat Primary. Ferraro was at one time a Vice-Presidential choice for the Democrat Party, and Hillary is a US Senator, and they are shown total disrespect by one of your hero's at Air America.
But respect is not a word used very often by "Liberal Fascists"
I have no problem using term "Liberal Fascist" and being in the company of the author of a best selling book, H.G.Wells and George Orwell. And no problem using term "Liberal Fascist" when I hear Randi Rhodes talk. And I have no problem using the term "Liberal Fascist" when I see the various "Liberal Fascists" calling everyone who disagrees with them, Fascists.
Cenk is off Air America for some time now. Why did he leave? The Liberal Fascists like Rhodes have the Air America Program in 28th place in the most recent ratings period. That could be last place.
robert okane at 3:06AM on Apr 10th 2008
5. Cenk-
New Marist Presidential Poll New York State
Republican Ticket of McCain/Rice-49% of Vote
Democrat Ticket Obama/Clinton-44% of vote
or
Democrat Ticket Hillary/Obama 45% of vote
Either way, for some reason or another, it does look like the Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot, going on a path of self destruction in New York State, a State the Democrats should be ahead in by double digit % numbers.
This info will never be shown by Cenk
robert okane at 6:34AM on Apr 10th 2008
6. Wow! I do believe Okane is obsessed with Cenk. Love is in the air!
America's Most Gangsta at 7:31AM on Apr 10th 2008
7. Robert, I agree with your first post. Credit cards have been a curse on our culture. We need to get off of our plastic kick.
I'm especially enfuriated by those Visa commercials that make the people who use cash look like a moron and screw up the routine of everyone around them. Have you seen those? Insidious.
Strados at 8:17AM on Apr 10th 2008
8. R. Okane.... I'm speechless. I thought I was the only one who noticed that Liberals are truly Fascists.... BRAVO!!!!!
Jeffrey at 8:55AM on Apr 10th 2008
9. Hey Big Guy,
That credit card stuff is just the Federal level. Crap, where I lived school board officals were caught traveling to Hawaii for seminars, driving state owned cars to and from work, town officals buying PC's then taking them home and giving them to their kids....all on the tax payer.
Willet at 9:34AM on Apr 10th 2008
10. It's time for another revolution folks. Let's give government of, for, and by the people BACK to the people! What we're seeing here is just the tip of the iceburg. Our government is corrupt and all our systems are failing. Okane is right, a flat tax is a start. And adherence to responsibility by OUR officals should be backed up by the same rules that apply to any other criminal.
EricS at 10:22AM on Apr 10th 2008
11. Better yet, how about NO income tax? You know, like how we ran things for over a hundred years? When we started this country? I'm not even being sarcastic. There shouldn't be an income tax.
Strados at 11:16AM on Apr 10th 2008
12. This just reminded me of the time the mayor of Detroit got caught buying things like cars with taxpayer money. The bastard actually got himself re-elected afterwards. Bunch of morons.
Strados at 11:35AM on Apr 10th 2008
13.
Dear Mr. Okane
I find it very endearing how you went out of your way to engage me in a dialog about a subject that I am not too sure has anything to do with this blog. I have not even had the opportunity to read the topic of this blog; however, I did notice you were directing a comment especially for me, which naturally made me curious.
Alternatively, Mr. Okane I can clearly see how you have no problems using the term “liberal fascist”, despite the fact that it is a false statement. Mr. Okane I understand fully well why you have no problems using the phrase “Liberal Fascist”, it certainly distracts those who do not know better or fully comprehend what a fascist is. I also understand why you wish this statement were true, because if what you have no problem expressing were a fact that would mean that those you support would not actually be the real “Fascist”.
Alternatively, your wanting to grasp on to believing that liberals equal fascism is equally as sad as your continue believe in King George and his despicable lies from the Iraq war to the wire taping to Katrina and numerous other incompetent gaffs he has managed to screw up ever since he took over the White House.
Please allow me to correct you regarding Air America. This station and the host are not my heroes; I do listen too many of them because I find them informative and intellectually stimulating. I realize that you made it a point to bring Air America up because of my response to a different blog. However, I made it a point to name the hosts I listen too and Randi Rhodes name was not on that list. Not that it matters to you (it is clear to me facts seldom matter to individuals such as yourself). Regardless, how dose Randi Rhodes comments matter in this forum? Once again, I fail to see the logic in your way of thinking or better yet not thinking.
In fact, if your claims about Randi Rhodes are true, and she insulted Hillary Clinton why are you not singing her praises? Would that not make Randi Rhodes your hero at least for a day?
Patty at 1:01PM on Apr 10th 2008