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Lawmakers preparing to grill GSA over spending scandal

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    Calls mounting to scrap embattled federal agency

  • Duration 8:35
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The party's over for the GSA house hearings set to kick off on Monday at issue of course.

-- -- lavish government conference in Vegas a five day trip for a one hour ceremony in Hawaii.

A retreat.

For the agencies in turns in his Palm Springs not to mention a 300000.

Dollar bill to relocate only one employee to Hawaii.

Who ended up quitting.

The list goes on and on now summit -- say skipped the hearings just scrap the government services agency instead.

Hi everybody I'm David has been welcome to Forbes on FOX let's go -- focus we have Steve Forbes.

Dennis -- Elizabeth MacDonald Victoria Barret -- -- and John Tammy.

So Steve just get rid of the problem by getting rid of the agency.

Hey why not.

David every agency every organization over time loses sight of what they were created for loses sight of who they're supposed to serve.

At least in free market she gets caught up short if you don't pay attention to your customers.

There's a bloated government agency break it up privatize it put out for competitive bidding and get real efficiencies -- not gonna do it through hearings are memos or.

Commands from the top -- And we're gonna hurt doesn't matter who's in charge you always see these things happening -- -- it's just why you need to shrink the number of government agency strike.

Was.

Yeah let's be a little bit careful here blaming the entire agency for bad behavior a few people would be akin to blaming the entire securities industry for bringing that up.

Some bad things happen here no denying it saw -- and -- we have always.

Long list I have.

The people the people in charge were fired and not only that the woman who was running the agency took responsibility.

And she resign.

Not good things to happen should never happen and any organization which can't throw out the baby with the bath water.

We need the GSA -- the quartermaster for the entire executive branch of government.

-- Victoria there -- so many there are dozens hundreds of federal agencies do think it's any different and these other agencies I grew up in DCI -- went through those offices at five and the Agriculture Department at setter it's -- They all work this way don't -- The will -- -- hears that really sort of damaging irony here is we have the organization that is overseeing procurement.

They're setting the per -- hotel rates for federal employees.

And there are the ones that seem completely corrupted will.

They're hosting these lavish conferences.

They're making these bizarre videos about giving -- President Obama press release by going Green I mean yeah.

This isn't really broken organization and Steve is right we could weaken.

Al outsource is weakened how it automate half -- -- on -- -- So I agree with Steve.

Dennis one video is extraordinary where they show the -- standing himself with -- dollar bills I did get it did there it's like a burglar taking a video of himself what his face fully exposed it was really witty.

And really stupid I mean how could these government employees not know that this wasn't gonna make it on to YouTube in some -- but here's the thing guys.

You don't visit McDonald's for our network Fox Business has been doing great reporting on this and I wanted to cut that but I do -- -- say.

This is a nap on the back side of an elephant right now our government is spending one point three trillion dollars more -- it will take him in the coming here.

And we're worrying that they spent less than a million dollars on a retreat for employees -- -- no offense.

IE Mac it wasn't just the one free -- as you mentioned there was one Q where the wanna broke the story about that Palm Springs thing for inter arts and it went on and -- not only that but the reason for these retreats very often was to bring in.

Many federal agencies to tell them how to spend money to buy Chevy and stuff I mean that's right where the billions the millions turn into billions -- Sadr.

I mean and the GSA was responsible for policing federal spending on airline tickets and hold teleconference this.

Throughout the government the issue -- -- the president wants to raise taxes at a time when we have.

Really scandalous waste and abuses going on at a disease like the GSA.

I say get rid of it look I'm not a burn down the government type of person I think the CDC for example does a great job.

But the issue the other -- -- -- -- -- -- it didn't unload the real estate that it's sitting on at the top of the market it's like over a trillion bucks economy for US taxpayers.

That's an indication that it is completely incompetent I -- breaking out.

And John Candy this gets to the point you're not gonna really reform government that is as big as this when the only.

Answer in terms of reform is to shrink it right.

That you're.

Ever -- a reform a government that by definition can't act like a business -- doesn't suffer under market discipline mean this is what the founders thought about when they authorize the federal government.

Then severely limit its power keep its power limited we have too much government spending way too much money.

It's a bludgeoned on it real economic growth what's either return the power -- the states are returning this to someone so that they -- they can abolish organizations like.

Us and -- Conger I know that there are thousands of pages guiding federal bureaucrats in terms of how to spend money etc.

but you read the transcripts.

Of these guys -- GSA in the way that they were spending money on relocation costs 300000 dollars per employee.

On big these trips to -- And by the way five employees went to Hawaii for a five day or six day visit.

For one hour ribbon cutting ceremony I mean that's sort of stuff happens much too frequently -- BC.

Well there's there's two lessons to be drawn from that one we should all be working for the GSA I'd love to go to Hawaii for an hour every now and then be great when -- -- really -- definitely what I what I really want to know I've heard you take a shot at the Chevy more what is that you guys have against this sport car.

Because were paying for it and it's not an acorn and I think that's what we hit that.

No it's.

Usually ball big time.

Guys the guys I in his entire debate and it's going to -- probably -- a this entire debate.

Is their bigger issues you know the government -- -- A hundred billion dollar for the property in Washington they're -- 120 year old post office it is worth a hundred million dollars or more it is largely empty daily under the -- -- -- -- we can't they just by copying it.

Saves -- Steve this is a great object lesson as to what happens when you have a government as large -- are you can't monitor everybody and things get out of control right and that's the thing it's like the window -- in crime let one -- gone soon lose the whole block of small things that of the big things is -- that -- -- So I think it just brought to the -- in a way that's understandable this thing is out of control.

Broken up -- is something and this is a cultural issue because -- intern conference for example that the palm spring.

We is Riviera resort to spot those conferences went on year after year out here yeah.

One thing it's not.

Writing alimony -- Our watney now aren't what did you guys were acting like every single dollar spending is inappropriate -- -- government agency I think I'm gonna motivate your employees don't -- there was -- Yeah some of the -- is good look at what.

Hey why do you think it is to let that entering conference had a rumor two fireplaces and it's not in the world -- it's I worry earns that is Victoria road that.

Are you serious please saying so what I was an intern at -- and worked for you.

You did not send need to Palm Springs but I still came back to work for very sensitive -- it apparently knew who met.

It -- I would have done it and I don't care what -- like to.

Yeah he just threw down the guy was Steve would you ever have allowed Dennis do something like this while for Victoria yes I think she's.

But the bottom line yeah.

Yeah easy to -- and other people's money and that's what the government is doing they should be don't Johns and you live in DC you're in the belly of the beast so -- -- it does this happen everywhere and all these bureaucracies down there.

Don't insult me in that way but by definition that does and that's what the founders thought about that -- the federal government as far away from the people they can't police it.

And the problem now is capital's been destroyed an utter waste if we return these powers.

To local governments will be much more difficult for politicians do what they're meant to do -- is to -- brings.

Remember you want to update if it's if it's in your locality if it's money -- that you can -- being spent RG gonna guard at work carefully.

Well I mean I think the evidence would show us unfortunately it doesn't turn out that way there -- local officials that are wasting money.

Just as much as their federal officials wasting money wasting money is bad no one's gonna defend that.

With which gets the whole but I like -- -- I don't I don't really the point low small government not big government less waste and aren't that.

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