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Senate panel urges GSA to clean house

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    Former Bush administrator weighs in on new cases of questionable spending

  • Duration 5:35
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Back to one of our top stories new fallout from a lavish taxpayer -- government conference in Las Vegas a senate panel.

Is now urging the General Services Administration to clean -- house.

We understand investigators have uncovered even more questionable spending by the GSA and calls to a tip line -- Are now triggering all kinds of new inquiries -- rated down -- the former USA administrator under president George W.

Bush thanks so much for being with us.

He does not just Las Vegas now but we're learning.

Hawaii south Pacific islands Napa Valley Palm Springs I mean my goodness the list goes on and on do you think these people at GSA -- specially.

Commissioner Jeff nearly.

Who you know is immortalized now in this famous hot tub picture with a couple of glasses of wine do you think these people.

Are using government money as their own personal piggy bank.

It became actually clear that that is what happened but what's really -- is the money that they're using is not just.

Taxpayer money it's also the stimulus money which was intended to shovel ready infrastructure project which was intended to create jobs and it didn't happen.

And what the three hearings proved is that and management the poor management started at the very top.

Of GSA with the political leadership appointed by president.

-- -- this week we've learned of alleged fraud theft misuse of federal taxpayer money even kickbacks and bribes according to the inspector general.

-- leaves out wife apparently had a -- parking space -- a federal building even though she isn't a federal import ploy in of course she was accompanying.

Nearly on all of these so Germans.

Are you just stunned at the breadth and depth.

Of corruption.

I am stunned by these particular findings as Sarah a lot of terrific career employees who are -- say every day.

Well what I do see is a culture of excess that comes from the top.

That comes from a political leadership that was appointed to watch the agency and they absolutely delegated all their responsibilities away you and -- know -- One -- -- Obama administration is blaming a culture of corruption on view.

I mean what they say that it did -- happened originally under the bush administration and in particular under your watch and in fact they site.

Some statistics that Vegas type conference.

Was originally at a cost of low five figures and it mushroomed under your watch to 655.

Thousand dollars.

That was the conference -- -- that's.

Absolutely not true and not let.

What we and what we have our numbers that are being used in completely different circumstances that completely different numbers.

A attended but what's really important about this is what the Obama administration doesn't talk about is the fact that -- budget within GSA doubled between 2009.

And 2011 and I can tell you Greg.

I would never have approved these kinds of excesses especially the fact that they're using taxpayer money for personal use this never happened under the Bush Administration.

My question -- Our conference is even necessary I must tell you I spent several hours digging in.

To the purpose of this particular Las Vegas conference and here's my conclusion it was simply about sharing ideas.

And strategy my goodness ms.

-- Why do you need a conference for that we have this thing called the Internet and emails and and telephone conferences.

Why do you have to have conference -- to Begin with.

Greg you have to take that up -- the current TSA management which allowed this to go completely out of control US conferences to -- had company did not have conferences that this price.

I conference and unmarried couples -- says there.

You cannot -- conference -- I don't -- I'm not here but I'm not great.

I've never been to an off site conference in my -- if we want to have a conference here and share ideas and strategies.

We get together or we get on the telephone or we send each other emails it would be a whole lot we did a lot of layers to do that wouldn't end.

We did that during the Bush Administration but we also if there was a conference it was an outward reaching conference it was reaching out to small businesses trying to help them find ways to create new jobs and grow this economy it was not designed for personal -- -- -- which is what -- -- but there's a more important thing Greg that we have to look at and that is.

It took the idea over eleven months to get the report out it took another eleven months for the White House to act.

If there -- thirty plus more investigations going on which is what the ID currently says he needs to be a little bit faster and getting this information out there.

Because what's happening in the meantime.

Is taxpayer dollars are being wasted -- and I'll tell you he has a history of being very slow to get these reports out so while.

They are -- solely.

You know miss using taxpayer dollars IG needs to help the new TSA management get this information out -- and -- -- -- address any.

GSA manages all kinds of buildings all of the United States and beyond mind.

Why not have a conference if you're gonna have an off site conference one of those empty buildings and Arab fund.

I agree I absolutely -- and you know I'm concerned about senator -- but senate chairman Barbara Boxer and was having -- hearing yesterday.

And the one question she -- -- was the most important question.

How did you pay for it what of the building fund money did you use for this and what projects did not get done.

Because you did this particular Las Vegas extravaganza -- the -- extravagant or the whole why extravaganza right.

Or -- one of the the -- rated -- low rated down former GSA administrator tolerated thanks so much for being with us Greg.

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