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GSA Hearings Get Underway
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Chris Stirewalt, Charlie Hurt and Penny Lee discuss the GSA scandal
- Duration 7:02
- Date Apr 16, 2012
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Getting through and -- how widespread this.
Those are questions or believe in others we'll have to do not just this -- -- and about the culture.
We leave do you think should be able to answer these under the question you were hoping he will.
And that was house oversight committee chairman Darrell ice -- from the golden state of California talking to reporters.
Yesterday.
As he was on his way out an appearance.
And I believe CBS.
About the General Services Administration that's the sort of property management arm of the federal government that ice and his Republican counterparts.
In the house and Democrats over in the senate this week are going to be probing.
Based on an 820.
Some odd thousand dollar spent at a posh Las Vegas resort to appreciate.
The good work this of the good people.
The GSA welcome back -- -- -- and as we we're talking about before with the Charlie -- of The Washington Times.
This is not just about.
The money that's been spent if you're a Republican the Republican message here as.
Don't empower the government don't give any more Dag gone money because when you give it to -- they just wasted on commemorative coin sets and fortune tellers.
-- and Nvidia and this is what you get when you ask the federal government takeover and fix on all these problems and it and it I would also ask people.
We think it's did you say the entire G -- -- evaporated tomorrow.
Yes how long would it take for you to know.
What happens I mean if you go to work for the government you've probably noticed oh I'm sure you look at as that really and that would be that that would just.
I don't like yeah.
I always -- -- were currently employed in the GSA.
And then and it disappeared but that it it is I mean it is in the elaborate that the federal government.
-- with what -- -- a very poor record of of being able to sort of you keep track of money -- and to make sure that disorders of the stuff doesn't go on -- -- no lack of accountability.
Is what you get it's part of that the system and there's never been created a system.
And this veto at this level that isn't it -- with it.
-- -- an argument have been very predictably springs forth on this from Republicans as.
If these people cannot even people who are basically the landlords for the government if they can't even handle.
They're on 121000 employees and and relatively small budget.
How do we expect that they would be able to oversee something like on an an implementation of national health care center.
Or something like that.
And and and government employee matching -- it's everybody's favorite pass and we'll have our favorite bureaucratic going down to the -- the irreverent.
We're really wanna go -- is it was everyone's favorite pastime -- they had.
You know crazy rules that you had you know.
Fourteen different agencies -- you have a -- husbands upstream and we have all of those kind of stories but.
You know I think with the what is important here is -- -- history.
Going forward there are some people that work in the government -- are.
Very effective very patient do the job very well also there's so this is not -- through the baby out with the bath water but they really need to see you what kind.
And your -- because -- what what what they did wrong and actually see it wasn't just a rogue operation go I have direct as I applaud both sides the -- -- The opening up the books on this issue just seemed to see -- the damages -- -- that this is.
This is just beyond anything can -- often anything but pristine report me still uses amazing.
So is this I mean we've seen in the past we've seen amazing reviews before we've seen at least we go back over the -- -- toilet.
We've seen egregious abuses before -- but the question about the real -- unit.
How much this is road.
You -- lived -- inside the government and the whole for much of your professional career how much of it is road.
And how much of it is within what happens when you have big systems and you have people who have varying theories sound job -- I think adding a third of a combination -- -- and it does start from the top down.
Ounces I think that secretary and others need to be called in to make sure that this is not an atmosphere was still permeating because it either over.
Overwhelming so much to do they just off site or this is something that.
-- culture they're actually perpetuating his.
You know it's interesting to hear the regional directors say we're trying to make this more like a private sector business.
Well you don't have to.
The private sector expenses.
That you're that you're entitled to when your government so it's something that all secretaries I think need to be brought in I think you can see agency by agency especially when they go through -- appropriations budget calling on congress to give them more money money is to have this accountability put in place since the.
Symptomatic or -- Actually think that this argument did you know that that did the secretary has some control over what goes down I think you should hold them accountable.
-- -- if any have you heard this many people.
-- as you say comfortably ensconced in a job.
Was very good job security.
This it's almost impossible.
Two to sort of become the root out all of this I think it's absolutely.
Endemic to this and and that's why it's argument should be.
This is the only efficient government you'll ever find.
Is a small town government a small county government where you have people that are immediately accountable to -- didn't do that now.
-- Operations in America that are hugely enlarge it -- and mentally this is -- place to be able to protect themselves against and the road there was gonna -- that would -- 2% of rogue employees.
They're gonna go do things in but they have systems in place and that's what the government needs to do is to make sure yes we are small and efficient and effective.
But not just slash to slash just for slashing -- But but I think -- the primary to -- the primary difference here is that in the private sector it's money that people willingly have given to to be -- -- this in the government.
You this money is money he's learned that that is taken from them at -- point and if they.
-- they do not give it give that money they will be.
Since you didn't they let the private sector actually efficiencies well you could about it I'm center efficiencies which can't apply the private sector is getting confidence.
Pasadena and you can also walk away in the you know customers walk away or.
Or people that give the money to didn't harm companies will walk away you can't we can't we do.
Didn't show you this week or last week.
To be placing their -- they can be they can -- for -- fast enough.
There and there there you have -- and it we thank you both.
For being with us today spirited conversation here and by the way I'm very happy emancipation day a 150 years ago today.
President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves inside the District of Columbia and it is.
By the way you wonder why your tax bill is not do on the date normally would be good because government offices in Washington DC are closed today -- -- -- Gets -- free parking and an extra day to pay your taxes so thanks president like him.
And thank you both for being with us -- Internet we're gonna take --
