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WASHINGTON — Federal employees charged millions of dollars for Internet dating, tailor-made suits, lingerie, lavish dinners and other questionable expenses to their government credit cards over a 15-month period, congressional auditors say.
A report by the Government Accountability Office, obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, examined spending controls across the federal government following reports of credit-card abuse at departments including Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs.
The review of card spending at more than a dozen departments from 2005 to 2006 found that nearly 41 percent of roughly $14 billion in credit-card purchases, whether legitimate or questionable, did not follow procedure — either because they were not properly authorized or they had not been signed for by an independent third party as called for in federal rules to deter fraud.
For purchases over $2,500, nearly half — or 48 percent — were unauthorized or improperly received.
Out of a sample of purchases totaling $2.7 million, the government could not account for hundreds of laptop computers, iPods and digital cameras worth more than $1.8 million. In one case, the U.S. Army could not say what happened to computer items making up 16 server configurations, each of which cost nearly $100,000.
Agencies often could not provide the required paperwork to justify questionable purchases. Investigators also found that federal employees sometimes double-billed or improperly expensed lavish meals and Internet dating for many months without question from supervisors; the charges were often noticed only after auditors or whistle-blowers raised questions.
"Breakdowns in internal controls over the use of purchase cards leave the government highly vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse," investigators wrote, calling the governmentwide failure rate in enforcing controls "unacceptably high."
"This audit demonstrates that continued vigilance over purchase card use is necessary," the 57-page report stated.
The report calls for the General Services Administration and Office of Management and Budget, both of which help administer the government's credit-card program, to set guidance to improve accounting for purchased items, particularly Palm Pilots, iPods and other electronic equipment that could be easily stolen.
OMB and GSA were also urged to tighten controls over convenience checks, which are a part of the credit-card program, and to remind federal employees that they will be held responsible for any items if the purchases are later deemed improper.
In response, both OMB and GSA agreed with portions of the report. But GSA administrator Lurita Doan noted the vast majority of federal employees use their cards properly and that many oversight measures already are in place. She acknowledged there is room for improvement but added that by using purchase cards the federal government saves about $1.8 billion in administrative costs each year.
"We agree that no level of abuse or misuse is acceptable," Doan wrote.
The GAO study comes amid increasing scrutiny of purchase cards, which are used by 300,000 federal employees and are directly payable by the U.S. government.
The AP reported Sunday that VA employees last year racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in government credit-card bills at casino and luxury hotels, movie theaters and high-end retailers such as Sharper Image. Government auditors have been investigating these and similar charges, citing past spending abuses.
In Tuesday's report, investigators did not seek to determine the extent of fraud or waste at each agency. They cited numerous cases of questionable spending, which they said represented what could be found government-wide, including the VA.
"The purchase card is a useful tool for the government, and in no way are we suggesting it shouldn't continue to be used widely," said Gregory D. Kutz, GAO's managing director of forensic audits and special investigations, in a telephone interview. "However, I would say these cases once again show that lack of internal controls cost taxpayers millions of dollars and thus continued focus is needed on improving these controls."
Among the expenditures cited in the report:
_An Agriculture Department employee fraudulently wrote 180 convenience checks for more than $642,000 to a live-in boyfriend over a six-year period. The money was used for gambling, car and mortgage payments, dinners and retail purchases that went unnoticed until USDA's inspector general received a tip from a whistle-blower. The employee, who pleaded guilty to embezzlement and tax fraud charges, was sentenced last year to 21 months in prison and ordered to repay the money.
_U.S. Postal Service workers separately billed more than $14,000 to government credit cards for Internet dating services and a dinner at a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Orlando, Fla., for 81 people at a cost of $160 each for steaks and crab. The dinner bill also included more than 200 appetizers and more than $3,000 worth of wine and brand-name liquor such as Courvoisier, Belvedere and Johnny Walker Gold.
In the Internet dating case, a postmaster charged $1,100 over 15 months for two online services, including the Ashley Madison Agency. The expenses went unnoticed for more than a year even though he was under internal investigation for viewing pornography on a government computer. The postmaster was eventually told to repay the Internet charges but faced no disciplinary action.
_At the Pentagon, four employees purchased $77,700 in clothing and accessories at high-end clothing and sporting goods stores. The spending included more than $45,000 at Brooks Brothers and similar stores for tailor-made suits — $7,000 of which were purchased a week before Christmas. The credit-card holders said the items were for service members working at U.S. embassies with civilian attire. Pentagon rules allow purchases of civilian clothing when performing official duty, but generally only up to $860 per person.
_Justice Department and FBI employees charged $11,000 at a Ritz Carlton hotel for coffee and "light" refreshments for 50 to 70 attendees for four days, averaging about $50 per person. Seventy percent of the total conference cost of $15,000 was for the food and beverages, while audiovisual and other support services totaled only about $4,000, or 30 percent of the charges. It was not clear what action, if any, that Justice took in light of the conference expenses, which GAO deemed excessive.
_At the State Department, one credit-card holder bought $360 worth of women's lingerie at Seduccion Boutique for use during jungle training by trainees of a drug enforcement program in Ecuador. One State Department official later agreed that the charge was questionable and stated that he would not have approved the purchase had he known about it.
"Too many government employees have viewed purchase cards as their personal line of credit," said Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security subcommittee on investigations, which requested the GAO report. "When money that was intended to pay for critical infrastructure, education and homeland security is instead being spent on iPods, lingerie and socializing, we must immediately remedy the problem."
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who chairs the investigations subcommittee, agreed. "Although internal controls over government credit cards have improved, we still have a long way to go to stop the fraudulent use of these cards," he said.
___
On the Net:
Government Accountability Office: http://www.gao.gov
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":1669930,"authorDomain":"bondibox"}
Just an extension of Bush's "pillage America" administration.
{"commentId":1669930,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"bondibox"}
- 8 votes
#1 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:12 PM EDT{"commentId":1670060,"authorDomain":"tacitus13"}
Just an extension of Bush's "pillage America" administration.
This is and has been a problem regardless of party affiliation.
{"commentId":1670060,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"tacitus13"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":1670257,"authorDomain":"caroaber"}
Perhaps I'm guilty of romanticizing the bygone days, but I can't imagine this pillage happening during wartime in any other era. It seemed the nation was more cohesive then, more unified. Now, it's each man for himself. What a shame.
Our wounded veterans get nickel-and-dimed at Walter Reed, but the fat cats spend heartily. It's simply appalling.
{"commentId":1670257,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"caroaber"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1670430,"authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
It's best summed up when Bush threw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals MLB game, he was booed. I didn't feel sorry for him, but I did sorry and ashamed for America. Then he has no shame of staying in booth, he's a joke.
{"commentId":1670430,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1670860,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
bondibox...Just an extension of Bush's "pillage America" administration.
caroaber...This is and has been a problem regardless of party affiliation.
You're both right, the crime and corruption is totally bipartisan. The true public servants are few and far between, but Bush's tenure has ratcheted up the stakes for a, they win, we lose spree that has left the Nation bankrupt.
It takes a lot of criminal helpers in Congress to feed the beast. No President can do it alone; we have checks and balances. Congress writes the checks and the President increase the balance of the debt.
caroaber...Perhaps I'm guilty of romanticizing the bygone days, but I can't imagine this pillage happening during wartime in any other era.
On the nostalgic side you be right to recall it that way. There wouldn't be taught in any history class. The nitty gritty details of who did what with the War Board contracts were reported by muckrakers and critics at the time.
The monied powers, the Bonesmen's network with Luce at Time/Life and other friends in the press were surely much kinder in omitting and downplaying stories.
Here's a perfect example and not so different from the players and plays they pull now and maybe part of the reason Dubbya feels he can do as he blessed well pleases. Grampy Prescott Bush was a Wall Street big shot on the Board of UBC when it was seized for trading with the enemy. That was Hitler. The New York Times reported the story in the back, business pages as this...
On December 15, 1944, the UBC moved its principal place of business from 39 Broadway to 120 Broadway.
The property custodians office was at 120 Broadway so that's all the news that was fit to print. If you like bonsey folklore the 120 Broadway Building is a treasure trove of scandal. It's spitting distance from Wall Street, tucked between the FED and Brown Brothers Harriman, Rockefeller's Chase on the other corner. Ironically, Larry Silverstein owns 120 B'way and has for some time, but I'm losing the other point of robbing us blind with a war budget.
It goes back as far as Congress but both world wars were a license to steal, the Wall Street crowd of investment bankers carrying on in long family traditions. Now and then examples, with Bechtel show nothing is changed. It doesn't even include Boston's Big Dig!
Start with oil in Alaska...
Bechtel-McCone was also involved in another scandal concerning war contracts. Lieutenant General Brehon Somervell, head of the Army Sources of Supply Command, decided to build "a major refinery at the Norman Wells oilfields in Canada's Northwest Territories, and run a pipeline from there 1,200 miles southwest through the Yukon Territory into Alaska."
the wrong sized pipes had been used and it was discovered that to pump the oil it cost $150 per barrel rather than the $5 estimated by Somervell, Bechtel and McCone. Less that a year after it was finished, the plant and pipeline was abandoned. It had cost the American taxpayer $134 million.
how about a war time contract??
In 1942 McCone and Stephen D. Bechtel obtained a contract to build aircraft at Willow Run in Alabama. The War Department agreed to pay all the company's costs plus 5 percent on work estimates presented by Bechtel-McCone every six months. A 300-acre factory was built and 8,000 employees hired to staff it. However, no aircraft were built. Employees were paid for doing nothing. A local man, George P. Alexander, discovered details of this scam and collected affidavits from workers who admitted that they "went in every day at 9.00, punched the time clock, then went home". They then returned to the factory at 5.00 to "punch out".
and the war surplus??
In 1942 McCone and Stephen D. Bechtel obtained a contract to build aircraft at Willow Run in Alabama. The War Department agreed to pay all the company's costs plus 5 percent on work estimates presented by Bechtel-McCone every six months. A 300-acre factory was built and 8,000 employees hired to staff it. However, no aircraft were built. Employees were paid for doing nothing. A local man, George P. Alexander, discovered details of this scam and collected affidavits from workers who admitted that they "went in every day at 9.00, punched the time clock, then went home". They then returned to the factory at 5.00 to "punch out".
those references in Spartacus - John McCone
The best now will take more than a quick glance but it's very, very Bush League!!
Wow, whew and my goodness, enough pent up frustration for an article on this one. *smirk*
{"commentId":1670860,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1669962,"authorDomain":"miasma"}
It's like Milo Minderbinder, only not fictional.
{"commentId":1669962,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"miasma"}
- 5 votes
#2 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:19 PM EDT{"commentId":1670002,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
just don't make me eat the chocolate cotton. Loved that book.... whoooa I dint know their was a sequel.. thanks you made my day.
{"commentId":1670002,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1670016,"authorDomain":"miasma"}
(Sequel) It's not as good. But what could be? In fact now thinking about it, fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here (after we've like ALREADY been attacked over here)...sounds a lot like Help The Bombadier, Help The Bombadier...I am the Bombadier..well Help Him...help him!...or some such.
{"commentId":1670016,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"miasma"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1670033,"authorDomain":"ehad-aham"}
I love that its always conservatives that talk about the need for small government, for downsizing the IRS and taxes. So, first they take away the government's income, and now they decide to spend it all?
{"commentId":1670033,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"ehad-aham"}
- 8 votes
#3 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:43 PM EDT{"commentId":1670070,"authorDomain":"miasma"}
Yeah it's like Noam Chomsky says about "Free Trade."
It's like someone taking the corn flakes off of this shelf and moving it to that one.
Only in this case it is a matter of downsizing IRS, Education, HHS, EPA and just sending that money to the War Department..oops I mean the Department of Defense, we don't call it that anymore..heh...Lockheed-Martin.
{"commentId":1670070,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"miasma"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":1670068,"authorDomain":"Wheel"}
Why do any of these people still have jobs?
{"commentId":1670068,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"Wheel"}
- 8 votes
#4 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:57 PM EDT{"commentId":1670078,"authorDomain":"miasma"}
Exactly. When I have to go out of town on travel, I have to have it signed off on the highest levels. Every meal, every receipt has to be turned in and checked before I see any reimbursement. Most of the time I have to book airfare and hotel accommodations out of pocket too.
{"commentId":1670078,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"miasma"}
- 7 votes
{"commentId":1670128,"authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
They should be in jail. Don't ya' love a unregulated capitalistic, take all you can get government. Crime does pay, become a politician or government worker.
{"commentId":1670128,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":1670388,"authorDomain":"damiankd"}
Exactly. When I have to go out of town on travel, I have to have it signed off on the highest levels. Every meal, every receipt has to be turned in and checked before I see any reimbursement. Most of the time I have to book airfare and hotel accommodations out of pocket too.
...and itemized receipts, and no alcohol on those itemized receipts, and be frugal whereever possible -- hey do we work for the same company? :)
{"commentId":1670388,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"damiankd"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1670421,"authorDomain":"Wheel"}
Exactly. When I have to go out of town on travel, I have to have it signed off on the highest levels. Every meal, every receipt has to be turned in and checked before I see any reimbursement. Most of the time I have to book airfare and hotel accommodations out of pocket too.
...and itemized receipts, and no alcohol on those itemized receipts, and be frugal whereever possible -- hey do we work for the same company? :)
Me too, and I have to get a purchase order before I go charging stuff. And I have to account for where I used the stuff I bought.
{"commentId":1670421,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"Wheel"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1670584,"authorDomain":"justinpm"}
How does their GTC even work? Mine never does! My ass would be in Levinworth if I did this, their fate should be no different!
{"commentId":1670584,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"justinpm"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":1671182,"authorDomain":"miasma"}
Crime does pay, become a politician or government worker.
Actualy in my example above, I am a government worker. Why not substitute "black" "hispanic" "asian" for gov't worker? Oh no, that would be racist. But it is ok to paint people that choose service with the few who are allowed to run amok. Next time you see a wounded war vet, Lotto; be sure to chastise them for being a crook.
{"commentId":1671182,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"miasma"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1670231,"authorDomain":"thetalkingmule"}
When people buy "refundable" airline tickets and end up canceling their trip, it is almost as if you then have a gift certificate in the amount of your original ticket for that airline. Well it turns out that travelers at the Pentagon were just having new tickets issued rather than use the credit from old tickets. Wasted millions and millions of dollars out of pure laziness and oversight.
{"commentId":1670231,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"thetalkingmule"}
#5 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 8:57 PM EDT{"commentId":1670875,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
Well it turns out that travelers at the Pentagon were just having new tickets issued rather than use the credit from old tickets.
Part of doing contract business with the government is making accommodations in record keeping, terms and conditions like cancellation at any time. This is more than an administrative failure, it's corporate welfare.
The airlines can track the Pentagon purchases and used tickets, just the same way the do all other costs and the GAO reported it. We are not in the infancy of the information age. My supermarket tracks my bonus points for buying toilet tissue, they airlines and Pentagon together can track used fares. If they can't track their own passengers why are they offering to do more?
{"commentId":1670875,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1671187,"authorDomain":"miasma"}
I have a friend that is in the private sector and he does a lot of work with the GSA. A lot of old timers quit when Bush took office, kind of fearing that things would be tighter and more, well, conservative. It turns out that were my friend not an honest man; he could rob them blind. They've removed the majority of the checks that would foil fraudulent charges. It's probably so the KBRs of the world can continue the looting.
{"commentId":1671187,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"miasma"}
{"commentId":1672810,"authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}
I happen to work in travel software. Tracking and managing unused tickets sucks, it's an inherently error prone area and often requires intervention by a travel agent. My company is #2 in corporate travel, but we haven't touched government business. Several government agencies use one travel booking solution, that is completely mired in 1997 technology because they put all their work into complying with government rules, and not into having a useful/usable travel tool.
The airlines can track the Pentagon purchases and used tickets, just the same way the do all other costs and the GAO reported it. We are not in the infancy of the information age. My supermarket tracks my bonus points for buying toilet tissue, they airlines and Pentagon together can track used fares. If they can't track their own passengers why are they offering to do more?
Airlines don't do this. Their inventory is sold through a few competing GDSes (global delivery system), and from there by many travel agencies and booking tools. And guess what? In 2008 most of the automated tools do not offer unused ticket tracking or exchanging. Heck travelocity just started offering it in their business offering less than 2 months ago
In 2007, large-market clients of Travelocity Business re-used, on average, 60 percent of their unused non-refundable tickets. This figure represents a considerable amount of recouped value for corporations that have historically been challenged to re-use even one-third of their unused non-refundable tickets. The rollout of this automation offers the potential to push that figure higher this year.
...
Unused non-refundable air tickets represent a sizable loss for companies, as last-minute traveler changes and other re-scheduling scenarios often result in abandoned tickets that are purchased but never used. What's more, complex fare rules typically stymie travelers and travel arrangers that try to use these tickets for new bookings.
While the problem is slightly worse at the government than in private enterprise, it is fundamentally a travel problem rather than a government problem.
{"commentId":1672810,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1673670,"authorDomain":"miasma"}
Yeah Brian, we cannot even bundle travel+lodging+car rental very effectively. If at all.
{"commentId":1673670,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"miasma"}
{"commentId":1673765,"authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}
That is exactly the kind of thing my company's product does actually, letting you book one trip with your air + hotel + car rental + parking/taxi + opentable dining reservation all in one, and then import it automatically into an expense report . But we haven't spent the bajillion manhours it would take to make our product work for the government.
{"commentId":1673765,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1670234,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
No surprise here. That's why Democrats love government, i.e., spending other people's money.
{"commentId":1670234,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
- 4 votes
#6 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 8:58 PM EDT{"commentId":1670267,"authorDomain":"caroaber"}
It's a bi-partisan problem. Just look at all the defense spending under Reagan, Clinton, and the Bushes.
{"commentId":1670267,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"caroaber"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1670882,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
No surprise here. That's why Democrats love government, i.e., spending other people's money.
Unless that was offered to make folks laugh, it is so blindly loyal, it's really beneath you Bill. I still don't get how crime on any side is defensible. C'mon, lets be honest about the source of our National bankruptcy.
Both parties, both sides of the aisle are corrupt and doling corporate welfare to their patrons. To try and spin 8 years of the GoP and Bush into some Democratic issue is idiotic.
{"commentId":1670882,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 7 votes
{"commentId":1670385,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
I believe the problem goes back to 1988 and is it not an injustice money could have helped Veterans?
{"commentId":1670385,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
- 3 votes
#7 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 9:51 PM EDT{"commentId":1670899,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
It goes back a little farther than that...
The Bonus Army or Bonus March or Bonus Expeditionary Force was an assemblage of about 17,000 World War I veterans, accompanied by their families and other affiliated groups, who demonstrated in Washington, DC, during the spring and summer of 1932. The marchers were seeking immediate cash payment of Service Certificates granted eight years previously by the Adjusted Service Certificate Law of 1924. Each Service Certificate issued to a qualified soldier bore a face value equal to the soldier's promised payment plus interest. The sticking point was that the certificates, similar to bonds, were set to mature a full 20 years from the date of their original issue. Thus, under existing law, the certificates could not be redeemed until 1945.
{"commentId":1670899,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1671189,"authorDomain":"miasma"}
-and Douglas MacArthur was sent to attack them. We always treat our vets so well in this country. Shed another tear W.
{"commentId":1671189,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"miasma"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1674505,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
Doesn't it blow your mind to hear when the whole propaganda of the "Greatest Generation" tributes to the aging Vets when the story omits the part where Uncle Sam shoots when they asked to be paid!!
{"commentId":1674505,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1674594,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
Very sad isn't it? We owe our freedom to our Veterans and should take care of them....
{"commentId":1674594,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1675300,"authorDomain":"jumpstone"}
I believe the problem goes back to 1988
1988 BC, maybe.
{"commentId":1675300,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"jumpstone"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1672337,"authorDomain":"kendraee7"}
I work for a DoD agency and I don't know how other people manage to do it, but we have very strict rules regarding what you can use your card for. In order to get reimbursed for charges, we have to submit receipts for everything. I have used it for restaurants when I am on travel, but I always use my per diem money to pay for it. We aren't allowed to have expenses reimbursed if they are over the per diem. I haven't ever experienced this (because I don't try to use my card for personal use) but supposedly there are blocks on using the card at specific stores/types of stores. If someone does use the card when not on official travel orders, the bank will call the employee and the supervisor to alert them that the card was used without authorization.
Why are people turning this into a Democrat/Republican/Bush issue? As far as I know, President Bush has never come into our office telling us to misuse Government/taxpayer's money. The same goes for political parties; there are dishonest, unethical criminals in both parties, I don't see what party affiliation has to do with stealing.
{"commentId":1672337,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"kendraee7"}
- 1 vote
#8 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 12:16 PM EDT{"commentId":1672411,"authorDomain":"alacount"}
this has got to stop right now--take away all of their credit cards, make em submit receipts and be reimbursed for their expenses, yikes, talk about 'good ole boys' this needs to be presented to the presidential candidates for an answer for what they would do about it
{"commentId":1672411,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"alacount"}
- 3 votes
#9 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 12:30 PM EDT{"commentId":1672445,"authorDomain":"facebigelow"}
This sort of thing starts at the top. Sometimes only satire helps and my latest webcomic (Face Bigelow) is on this topic.
{"commentId":1672445,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"facebigelow"}
- 1 vote
#10 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 12:37 PM EDT{"commentId":1672767,"authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}
_At the State Department, one credit-card holder bought $360 worth of women's lingerie at Seduccion Boutique for use during jungle training by trainees of a drug enforcement program in Ecuador. One State Department official later agreed that the charge was questionable and stated that he would not have approved the purchase had he known about it.
I'm confused. Does that mean that he approved it without even looking at it?
{"commentId":1672767,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}
- 1 vote
#11 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 1:41 PM EDT{"commentId":1677845,"authorDomain":"law-2436"}
So, when will we see that money paid back? They should expose who charged what and when. People should be fired/dismissed. If I stole massive amounts of money from my job, I WOULD BE JAILED. Let's have a Senate Committee Hearing about this on TV. Oh wait, who would run it? Why are they allowed to do this without consequence? Who is supposed to "police" the "policeman?"
Absolutely shameful!!!!!!!
{"commentId":1677845,"threadId":"247297","contentId":"1418999","authorDomain":"law-2436"}
- 1 vote
#12 - Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:30 PM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"247297","isPrivate":false}
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