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GSA's lavish conference sparks congressional hearing

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    Power Panel weighs in

  • Duration 5:30
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Come back employees from the General Services Administration enjoying the highlights on the tax payers dime.

At a conference in Las Vegas standing over 800000 dollars on things like -- -- to alcohol.

Even hiring a clown.

But now the fun is all over here -- some of the YouTube -- -- -- were competing in this you know some them bragging about how much money -- spent.

But now the head of the agency had to resign in GOP led congressional committee is planning to take a closer look.

At all of the GSA spending so let's bring in our power panel to talk about it.

Julie against each is a former communications director for democratic senator Jon Corzine -- New Jersey.

And Judith Miller Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter and author and -- -- Green.

Former president of the women's media center all three -- Fox News contributors thank you so much for joining us thank you -- you -- -- yes happy Easter to -- -- and also blessed patent for this weekend.

The first of all -- it with the controversy that's going on we should say that the Obama administration.

Has come out they said you know hey.

This problem did not Begin with us in fact -- began under the bush administration and the increases in spending were more under the Bush Administration.

Then that of the Obama administration to be fair we should point that out -- I'll Begin with you my question is why -- they -- conferences to Begin with still the a lot of companies don't even did it especially on the taxpayer time.

Cleanly they were busted -- and this is just absolutely a misuse of taxpayer money.

I think -- we should give credit to -- Brenda who was the deputy administrator who was the whistle -- on this and I think in the east.

When these topics come up a lot of times we overwhelmingly forget that.

There are so many good at public servants out there like this -- woman Susan -- who signed a light Imus.

And there are those who are going to continue to behave like this unless we hold them accountable so I don't want the people fired to just be political appointees.

I also want some career government workers because they need to understand that this type of behavior is is just absolutely unacceptable but we can't demonize all public servants because it was a public servant who said this is going on.

It needs to stop patent and what -- to -- -- ballots as can't we put in place.

Judy it's -- -- from continuing to happen.

Well there is this thing called congressional oversight in one of the things that congressman Mike is gonna be looking -- when he holds these hearings.

It's not just an 830000.

Dollar conference now that's.

A lot of money but it's not nearly as much money as the one point seven billion dollars worth of what.

-- claims is underutilized.

And vacant property that the GSA has been sitting on.

What -- have a problem like a conference like this.

There are usually other problems -- an agency Martha Johnson who was the head of that agency did the right thing to resign or.

President Obama didn't OK thing to fire her.

But once again you've got to look at the overall agency and say what's going on how does that happen one point seven billion dollars in either on occupied -- under utilized building is just sitting there.

You know got a huge government bureaucracy Jeanne moos -- the point that out these people are career people have been there and -- you know she leveled genius level what are they are.

And you know for those of us who worked in government and then and release I worked on the hill you know there's accountability for political appointees.

There's public accountability for a lot of the bureaucrats down there and and Tim who was right to point out that you really need to have some more accountability.

-- -- -- career at this because you don't have and there's no excuse for making the rap videos about.

I'm not gonna get -- -- inspector general you know and Barack Obama is not gonna bus me.

Could happen to be protected by some sort of service clause and it's you know it enough already it's in reflects badly and everybody yeah.

It wasn't the first time that this agency has at BO didn't dealt with a scandal now there is a culture of corruption that I think has been festering.

And when it first came out under the Bush Administration clearly what ever was put in place at that time.

Didn't trickle down.

To the people who needed to really hear and that -- that this was unacceptable so that's why hopefully.

What we've seen that there was a public servant who you know said this was happening.

The Obama administration has acted forcefully doing and this time it will stop.

But it was the first time nearly a million dollars was and it's been in a conference in Las Vegas exact.

I'm 44 dollar breakfast and I would do.

Well and I'm ready.

That didn't and -- going into this hearing as well on the outside looking into this isn't the congress of the 12% approval rating.

And now they're going to have hearings on what are they going to -- I always questioned -- Why is it's so much that.

Did they are not the ones leaving the -- -- -- mind.

And as they idol winners I think it's chase this that it stays that president Obama's problem and there job as congress this congress has to oversee it.

And when something like this happens the American taxpayer has every right to say.

How is my money being spent -- yeah there's insulin to process how come on that's -- congress is -- again.

That inspector general McCain did his job I mean her her job and made sure that this actually on their list when they're having these hearings we will not -- -- 44 -- -- hasn't.

Yeah.

And senate dining room which is very and it affects that I think -- yeah on that but thank you very much you.

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