GSA caught overspending on lavish party
By debrakcarey
@debrakcarey (19887)
United States
April 5, 2012 3:25pm CST
Martha Johnson, chief of the General Services Administration resigned and two of her deputies were fired after it was made known that a lavish conference was held in Las Vegas by her agency.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gsa-chief-resigns-amid-reports-of-excessive-spending/2012/04/02/gIQABLNNrS_story.html
[i]Obama tapped Johnson to lead GSA in June 2009 and, after waiting eight months for Senate confirmation, she took the oath of office by telephone from her Annapolis home in February 2010 during a blizzard. During a February 2010 interview, Johnson said she intended to run the agency as ethically as possible after years of scandal during the Bush administration.
Ethics “is a big issue for me,” she said at the time, adding that “it’s right and it’s good business” to be a “responsible steward of taxpayer dollars” because “they’re trusting you with their pocketbooks[/i]
Of course Obama has to be embarrassed by this when he is doing his best to convince the public that fat cat CEO's and other millionaires should pay up to 30% income tax to cover the cost of government.
How deep does this go? How much is spent friviously in Washington? Should we call Obama himself to task when he and his family (daughter's trip to Mexico with Secret Service attending) travel the globe constantly? What abou those lavish parties for celebrities we constantly are subjected to viewing on the news, complete with a presidential serenade? (not that I don't think he has a bit of talent there)Are you sick of hearing about all the money government spends on such things, including the president and first lady's over the top spending on separate and family vacations, while at the same time demanding others pay their fair share?
3 people like this
6 responses
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
5 Apr 12
Is this much different that when Bush 43 flew to Denver in his 747 (with a second 747 to carry his vehicles) to give a speech on energy conservation? Or how about all the vacations he took to clear brush on his ranch?
3 people like this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
5 Apr 12
Did I say in my post that Bush was thrifty? If not, why bring that up? Two wrongs do not make a right.
Obama promised us hope and change. I really see NO CHANGE as relates to government spending other than Obama has added trillions to the debt.
1 person likes this
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
5 Apr 12
The good news is that vacationing at his ranch cost darned little in comparison to traveling the globe with family and friends in tow, which Bush NEVER DID. He went with the First Lady and sometimes his daughters on business trips, but didn't bring everyone else along as the Obamas and Clintons were and are prone to do.
How about Pelosi going to Denmark and staying a week at $2200 a night rooms because she couldn't get rooms for less time although the meeting was no more than two days? Oh, and don't forget, almost everyone who attended that meeting went solo instead of all flying together. Ms. Pelosi took two planes for her folks at $100,000 per plane.
How about the complaints about $50 million spent for Bush's inaugural, but the lauding of how great he was when Obama's ran $150 million?
By the way, Obama and his wife take separate planes for vacations, which is far from the norm and with each of them goes a massive parade of people other than the secret service and always more than other presidents and first ladies have taken.
Obama and the First Lady have outspent everyone in every capacity thus far right up to $200 a pound steaks and guest chefs every week. What's wrong with having the White House chef do the work?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169477)
• United States
5 Apr 12
I do believe that standards need to be applied in an even handed way. It just seems to escape the idea of the politicians that the rest of us are struggling and we do not appreciate profligacy. Just as Mrs. Obama has tackled childhood obesity, politician need to tackle the fat in our government spending.
1 person likes this
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
6 Apr 12
And yet while Mrs. Obama is tackling childhood obesity, her favorite place to 'treat' her staff is Five Guys. The claim to fame of that place is the greasy bag of burgers and fries. Or, she treats them to barbequed ribs or some other diet food. I find that a bit odd since when it's in the newspapers it might set just the opposite example for the children.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169477)
• United States
6 Apr 12
I ate there once, I am not impressed. I agree, if that is publicized it is a bad example or contradiction to the message she is trying to send. OOOOh, politicians, you are always in the public eye.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
6 Apr 12
What's really funny (or really horrifying) is that the GSA is kind of like the nation's supply closet. The whole idea behind the GSA was to combine the separate supply departments from all different agencies and save money by having all these things handled by just one department that would take care of housing and supplies for all the other agencies. Yeah, like creating another bureaucracy ever results in savings.
Have a look at the GSA website. They have obviously been the recipient of some good 'stimulus' money. They are not just finding office space for government agencies, they are finding "GREEN" office buildings. And not just finding them, they are creating them.
Just looking at the website would tell you that this government agency is just one great big hole in which to pour money. The party is probably the least wasteful thing they've done with tax dollars thus far.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
6 Apr 12
To be honest, I had no idea what they did or why they even existed.
I have a theory on this Green Movement, but I'll save it for a discussion. I am very much in agreement with being a responsible steward of our resources. BUT, this has become a 'religion' to some and that I do not agree with.
Thanks for the input!
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
5 Apr 12
Believe me after hearing over and over from the President that everyone else should be civil - except him and his party, and that everyone else should tighten their belts, except him and his party, and that...oh, you get the picture.
I just wish he would take a tiny bit of his own advice and get a real sense of humor. Not gonna happen.
1 person likes this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
5 Apr 12
He does get a bit testy when questioned about his decisions or his actions.
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
5 Apr 12
this is about the same as Nancy Pelosi who was Speaker of the House and she was using her government airplane for friends and family to take trips. And lets not forget she loves those 48.00 a pound chocolate covered strawberries placed on the plane for her when she rides around.
Hell I can make a batch of 2 lbs of strawberries dipped in chocolate for 10.00 and took to my drs office and they were in heaven.
I just did it as a nice gesture for all they have to put up with on a daily basis.
Oh and don't forget, after the girl come back from Mexico momma just took them on a trip to Vegas.
I got an off the wall paper couple of weeks ago just for kicks, cause the first lady was on the front page and I just had to read it. Evidently the prez wanted the lady to quit taking vacations that she was hurting his election. Evidently she told him to not ever tell her what to do.
Wouldn't you love to be a mouse in the white house? (wow that rhymed LOL)
Government is not going to stop. Think about it. Once you are in you have all the perks for the rest of your life. A five star general does not have it that good after serving all his life.
And the supreme court are in for life. We have a serious problem with our government. all of them need to be set a certain amount of time in office.
Do you ever watch any of the congress in action? Some of them look older than people look when I visit the nursing home to my MIL.
Until laws are changed (if they could be changed) you cant expect the Government to help us when they are using our money.
Its just plain sad!
1 person likes this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
5 Apr 12
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/23988
Obama is acting like the fabled Marie Antoinette when she said 'let them eat cake'. A total lack of concern for the American people who couldn't even buy Halloween candy for their kids let alone have Johnny Depp drop in for a party.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
6 Apr 12
I hate to say it, but for a couple of years now I've wondered if the main reason B.O. wanted to be president was so he could see the world in luxury on the tax payer's dime. I have to confess I do know many parents who won't fly on the same plane because if one crashes, they don't want their children to be without both parents. Of course, if the entire family flies together, they'd all go together if the plane went down.
As to having a plane with the Presidents vehicles flown to where he's going, that was explained when I went to the Reagan Library last year. It's a Secret Service thing. If the President has his own vehicles, the Secret Service knows that they are secure and have the best protection possible for the President. I'm sure Obama also has his motorcade vehicles flown with him when he leaves the country. Many other presidents have spent their vacations at home or at Camp David where the secret service already has security measures in place and they don't need to practically redo a hotel room or other temporary home for the first family.
I think it sets a bad precedent for the President to talk about how struggling people need to tighten their belts when they see their leadership living a lavish lifestyle. It's almost like having a royal family, and this is not a good time for that.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
6 Apr 12
I can't disagree about the Canadian company building the buses but as it turns out the same company has built campaign buses for others, including Republican candidates such as John McCain. I'm not sure who is to blame for this; maybe it's not the fault of the candidates or the President?
Annie
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
6 Apr 12
Maybe it's not, but in such a time, maybe you'd think that the president would make it his business?
Do candidates get to use taxpayers money for their transportation costs?
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
6 Apr 12
That is an interesting explanation. Thank you.
It is what the liberal press told us about the money spent on a fleet of buses bought from Canada for the president. It has to be secure and that costs money. Of course, we weren't told why it had to be a Canadian company that built them when American companies are hurting, and American people out of work. 
