Gov Credit Cards Used To Pay For Lingerie, iPods, $13K Dinner

The Washington Post reports:

Federal employees used government credit cards to pay for lingerie, gambling, iPods, Internet dating services, and a $13,000 steak-and-liquor dinner, according to a new audit from the Government Accountability Office, which found widespread abuses in a purchasing program meant to improve bureaucratic efficiency.

The study, released by Senate lawmakers yesterday, found that nearly half the "purchase card" transactions it examined were improper, either because they were not authorized correctly or because they did not meet requirements for the cards' use. The overall rate of problems "is unacceptably high," the audit found.

In a separate article, the Post provides a list of other "purchase card" incidentals listed in the new GAO account:

- The Postal Service spent $13,500 on food and liquor for employees and corporate clients at a 2006 dinner at an Orlando steakhouse.

- Four Defense Department cardholders charged more than $77,000 at Brooks Brothers and other high-end clothiers for tailor-made suits and other items, including $7,000 in purchases the week before Christmas.

- A NASA employee bought two $400 iPods for the personal use of a supervisor, whose name was engraved on both.

- At the Agriculture Department, a cardholder spent $80,000 on a Toyota Land Cruiser and Toyota Sienna to be shipped overseas and used by the agency, largely to take advantage of a " large chunk of money that needed to be used before the end of the fiscal year."

The site also lets you download a pdf of the full report.

Comments

[booker52]

I have two questions? Were any of these people fired? And will any of this money be paid back?

[ellajmaxwell]

After reading stories like this, about every other day, I think WE the American people are the stupid ones. Why is there no talk of organizing a tax revolt. Why do we still pay our hard earned money to criminal conspirisies like our government. If everyone stopped paying their taxes maybe someone in Washington would notice--or on the other hand maybe they wouldn't care because the government would just print what they need.

[elbzee]

Ya know, you're right. They're pretty adamant about us paying our taxes. But they're a hell of a lot less responsible with those funds than we. When we're in the process of losing our middle class, tax payers are losing their homes, OPEC and the oil companies are gauging us on a daily basis Fed Govt employees are diving right into the feast.

We should have a right to withhold our tax money until our government shows some fiscal responsibility. Sorry, I can't afford to blow my money on frivolous items; our government sure as hell should be able to either!

[terry54]

IN A WAY WE ACTUALLY OWR BUSH A LARGE DEBT.

HE HAS GIVEN THE MEMBER OF HIS OWN PARTY A LOT OF ROPE TO SHOW HOW GREAT THEIR IDEAL PUT TO WORK COULD PAY OFF.
What has happened is that his party no only do not understand their own ideals but have no idea how to implement them or live up to them.
They have discovered what most of us already knew.

UNCHECKED GREED IS DESTRUCTIVE and the TAX CUTS DO NOT HELP THE ECOMONY ONLY THE WEALTHY. Even Warren Buffet said he did not need all those tax cut. They did not need that much money. One of the nations last gaints and they ignor his wisdom.

[NelsonR]

I heard from the GAO the figures add up to over 20 billion dollars. Why is nobody prosecuted or at the least made to pay it back with a reprimand. Unbelievable, the news gets worse daily. Bush is responsible and the Republican party should be shoved in the Atlantic ocean to drown for their acceptance of this lunatic.

[terry54]

YEAH BUT THEY HAVE THOSE SINGLE MOMS ON WELFARE WATCHED LIKE A HAWK.
Right Bush !!!!

That's what is most important can't let that 1% of the popualtion who receive welfare while raising kids relax one second and take a chance on getting a better job. Punish them quick by cutting their benifits. Only 3 or 4 government agencys watching every move they make.

We would not want those single mothers who are raising furture American Taxpyers to get anything except the bare miniumn.

[ohiomark]

I love that phrase they used "to improve bureaucratic efficiency".

Now there is an oxymoron. It is the design and purpose of a bureauracy to grow and be wasteful. Name one that isn't.

*crickets*

[wm1066]

Target Corp. made its employees use thier own credit cards and then reimbursed them months later.
Pissed off a lot of people. And if you had bad credit Target was able to find out and use it against you.

[homas]

This is obviously chickenfeed compared to the rampant scams ongoing in Iraq. But nobody goes after them, they just renew their no-bid contracts. Jail a few traitorous thieves in Iraq and I'll be impressed.

[Pookie2112]

Well, in the PRIVATE sector, these tools would have been FIRED. So ... when can we expect these assholes to be FIRED??

[writeaway]

It isn't easy to fire a civil service worker. This has been going on for years and it was a stupid idea to begin with. I've got to stop so I can go finish my income taxes.

[bbuzzard]

This is not new to anyone in the govt or DOD. We hear about folks getting caught all the time. You would think these professionals would know better. The cards even have "For Official Goverment Use Only" stamped on them.

[writeaway]

A local example some years ago involved a VA employee who used the card to buy furniture to furnish a rental house. In China, they would take them out an put a bullet to the back of their head.

[mediamarv]

This is Govt use... if you are a Republican controlled govt.
Business as usual, 'cept that the amounts are so small for Bushco.

[trinity]

How in the world did this happen? When I was still in the military, they watched our Government card use like Big Brother. We could not even use it to buy a gallon of gas if we were stranded somewhere.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Ways to deal with this

1. Term limits
2. Cut off access with lobbyists
3. Close scrutiny of CC expenses.
4. CC with low limits on it

[woodwheels]

Sometimes only satire helps me. My latest webcomic is on this latests instance of government waste. It all starts at the top.
http://facebigelow.blogspot.com/2008/04/face-bigelow-58-free-credit-cards.html

[wm1066]

When poitical hacks get next to the piggy bank they go hog wild.
They are traitors pure and simple.
I am beginning to believe the Norquist Bush plan is to bankrupt America, and they are doing it any way they can.

[billu]

These are not political hacks... these are staffers. It goes in a cycle. They can't get what they need quickly so they ease regulations on purchase cards. Next people abuse cards then they tighten regulations. It's about a 3-4 year cycle. It happens in all administrations and is rather apolitical. They need better consistant auditing and it won't be a problem. The problem is nobody wants to pay for the auditors so we go through the cycle.

[maggiemae656]

So you're basically saying our government workers don't have ethics, and need to be controlled by policies? As the next poster said, in private employment, credit card abuses are grounds for termination. What is it, government workers think it's their money until someone tells them otherwise? Totally unacceptable--one "cycle" was more than enough...no more excuses.

[wm1066]

Bush has populated our government with political hacks through and through, where have you been? They have fired all the competant people.

[drkazmd65]

I would be so fired if I did that,.... And whomever did that should be fired also and held accountable for all charges, penalties, and interest/fees.

Also - they should be for life barred from ever holding another Gov. Purchase care ever again.