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'Appalled' former GSA administrator accuses Obama officials of disregarding procedures put in place under Bush 43
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Have heard about the GSA's waste of your money in Vegas so now you get to see it up close.
This is one of those examples of of GSA spending ms.
Johnson under your leadership.
Includes the conference logo and everyone was given one of these.
This is apparently I'm told a blackjack dealers best so that everybody could feel -- if they're in character when they when they get the conference.
Edition that they were given a participatory directory that is everybody's picture.
And and it their assigned characters and rolls on the page -- I've opened here from one is assigned share when it's assigned Sammy Davis junior Elvis and Celine Dion.
-- additional items were given to the people that were there including -- then and now.
Book -- on Las Vegas signed by mr.
nearly himself thank him for being there by the way this was printed in China the -- was made in China.
They were given other party favors while they were there all GSA spending taxpayers' dollars spending.
They were given echoing a commemorative coin -- -- call -- gambling chips for this aspect.
It say -- it's a commemorative coin commemorating the yum the stimulus.
-- and don't wasn't GSA administrator under President Bush she joins us good evening and your thoughts about today's hearing it's.
Those appalling there was absolutely shocking but it was shocking maybe for different reasons to need then maybe -- other American side and I saw.
The question of confidence because we just saw the leaders of GSA the administrator the chief of staff calls saying.
They really didn't know what was going on they really didn't think it was their responsibility and figure out what was going on.
And even though after they were told it was OK to award bonuses to folks that they knew it had violated the public.
Outside explains it in me if I'm a regional director and I'm going to hold a conference.
Tom would do I submit a budget in advanced -- -- -- submit a bill after the fact.
-- I have to tell you you should be submitting budgets and get approvals in advance however it's very clear after today's hearing.
That the current Obama administration appointees and you say have radically departed from.
The procedures that were put in place at least during my time in -- the Bush Administration.
I have does it -- signed up to me who's the top one who US and I guess CFO who to assign someone -- -- -- but actually it should be the administrator because of the what I had put in place is a procedure where.
Budgets are reviewed every month within the regions.
The commissioner's -- the regional budgets and the commissioners and the regional administrator sit down with the administrator GSA in this case it would have been Martha Johnson.
To review the budget so you're looking at the budget and many different levels and you should be catching.
Penny out of -- spending and beyond that like to talk on the phone that's what we were doing.
He is a during the bush announced.
Tries to -- former.
-- -- Martha Johnson.
She says tests front and bad paraphrase it that she have for the rest of her life she's always going to regret that that -- losses appointment or something that fact.
And I thought to myself that's a leased to bureaucrats -- -- that think think think of what this amount of money to have this culture.
Except for the American people attach -- think that money could have done to people in this country who we know whether it's a school or firefighters.
He would talk all the time but -- open about firefighters and teachers being cut full wouldn't have to we -- Chinese lavish parties it's.
Incredible waste of the taxpayers dollars and -- seemed to be no realization across the entire group of -- -- being interviewed.
Five by the congressman about the ways that -- cost.
But what was more incredible to knew it would want the Johnson was that she didn't seem to understand that she had completely delegated away.
All of her responsibilities for statutory responsibilities.
For financial management -- -- NASA management.
For personal management.
And also her responsibility to meet with the IT she did not even meet with her inspector general let me get some rise as the head of the organization can expected to every -- -- athletics ethics what do you do we have -- responsibility and accountability for how -- performed.
Hi I'm tell me -- -- this said didn't mr.
read nearly nearly when he took the fifth and hadn't gotten any thought about that about him.
What I saw was that.
You saw a lot of the Democrat congressman looking for.
They needed to circle the way continued to tennis on someone and by Jeff Neely has a career.
But SES senior executive service employees saying I'm taking the -- That was a person they're gonna depend on them and sort of cordon off the White House for many blame.
I don't think that they succeeded because I think congressman -- didn't get to the point.
But the White House knew and knew for eleven months and took no action how how to get rid of -- government play.
You have to be tough.
But you have to do is you have to pick up the phone you -- John Barry at opium and office of personal management and you say.
I've got an employee who is way -- -- he's a career employees and it's going to be tough but he is violated the public trust he is stolen taxpayer dollars and use abuse.
Really good good reputation of the agency here's what I've I've documented it and I need -- to take action on this and I needed to be immediately.
I would say he hit it he -- very hard and you will be blamed.
But it's the right thing -- -- what he's on leave his game paid how do you stop someone from getting paid does it is that cost -- -- have to wait there is a guy is he -- presumed innocent which have in my dad I think I can think people should be presumed innocent but.
-- this could go on forever that is on the payroll gonna get another job I -- all it took the idea lemon it's actually get the report in the reports in semifinal it's conclusive there was abuses and his name is on it they they should be on leave without -- the government does have the option to make someone go on leave without -- they've simply takes an option -- can do it -- to me and said she SA IG SA GSE database justified to the Office of Personnel Management -- And so GSA let -- the wonders had a GSA now the acting head as the one who decided that -- he would be on leave with pay.
Not believe Martha Johnson may have done it which is once again in my mind just another example of her delegating that responsibility in other words there's a lot of ducking and dodging that seem like it was going on here.
Which is at some point you have to stand tough and you have to say this is wrong and I will not tolerate the bonuses are perfect example of what -- -- what took inspector general -- Well that is an excellent question because.
What would like to think that if you are pro active on these things and alerted folks in advance she could actually stop the abuse -- happening stop the waste of taxpayer money.
Yes they sent out letters to recover funds but that's only a few thousand dollars home we're talking about almost a million that was wasted on one event.
And by the way what's happened in the subsequent eleven months.
I take a look at the inspector general I guess we're -- inspector general as a firefighter because of hot day a place that have burned down in the -- inside -- now with the way that the speed which is satellite do you think we have to be concerned because he did say at one point very quietly but he did say that he was looking into other mismanagement.
Of the funds.
He is looking into drives is looking into potential kickbacks.
And the problem is -- it took an eleven months on a conference that was clearly a no brainer don't do it it was wrong.
I worry about how long -- taken to uncover the rest thanks very much thanks so much history.
