More Fraud And Waste From The Bloated Homeland Security Dept.

NATO AIR · Oct 14, 2004

the TSA wasted a half million dollars on an awards ceremony... yay for responsibility and defending the homeland!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6243299/

AP exclusive: Report faults TSA spending
Airport security agency cited for lavish banquet, bonusesThe Associated Press
Updated: 9:30 p.m. ET Oct. 13, 2004
WASHINGTON - The government agency in charge of airport security spent nearly a half-million dollars on an unnecessarily expensive awards ceremony at a lavish hotel, including $81,000 for plaques and $500 for cheese displays, according to an internal report obtained by The Associated Press.

Awards were presented to 543 Transportation Security Administration employees and 30 organizations, including a lifetime achievement award for one worker with the 2-year-old agency. Almost $200,000 was spent on travel and lodging for attendees.

The investigation by the Homeland Security Departments inspector general, Clark Kent Ervin, also found the TSA gave its senior executives bonuses averaging $16,000, higher than at any other federal government agency, and failed to provide adequate justification in more than a third of the 88 cases examined.

The report said lower-level employees were shortchanged, with a far lower percentage receiving bonuses.

A substantial inequity exists in TSAs performance recognition program between executive and non-executive employees, the report said.

Agency justifies expenses
TSA spokeswoman Amy von Walter said the agency believes the bonuses and party were justified given the hours and productivity of the work force during this critical period.

This year, said von Walter, the TSA will conduct awards ceremonies at individual airports, as well as a much smaller and less expensive event at its headquarters in November.

Congressional skeptics have criticized the TSAs hiring and spending practices during its short existence. Republicans say the agency has grown far larger than they envisioned when it was created following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Ervin also is investigating why the agencys private recruiters worked out of lush resort hotels with golf courses, pools and spas.

The awards banquet, which cost $461,745, was held at the Grand Hyatt, which bills itself as one of the most magnificent hotels in the nations capital. According to the report, the agency chose that site because it was the only hotel available on Nov. 19, 2003, the agencys second anniversary. It also was one of the few places that could accommodate about 600 honorees and as many guests.

While the inspector general noted the agency sought competitive bids for the party planner and chose the company with the lowest estimate, it found the costs of the ceremony and reception were higher than necessary.

Finger food: $33 per person
The event planning company, MarCom Group Inc. of Fairfax, Va., was paid $85,552 for its work and given an additional $81,767 for plaques, $5,196 for official photographs, $1,486 for three balloon arches and $1,509 for signs.

The reception included finger food, coffee and cake that averaged $33 per person. Seven cakes cost a total of $1,850; three cheese displays, $1,500.

In a written response, the TSA said the costs were neither extraordinary nor incurred without careful consideration of the amount, the reasonableness of the cost, and value the activities would have to the employees.

The inspector general also expressed concern that the TSA was more generous than most other federal agencies in awarding bonuses to executives. Federal agencies on average gave cash awards to 49 percent of their executives in 2002, while 76 percent of TSA executives received them in 2003.

Boilerplate justifications
The inspector general reviewed 88 employees files and found that 38 percent had no individual recommendation and justification for the performance award.

The legitimacy of such large awards is called into question by the lack of an appropriate selection process and the reliance on boilerplate justifications that could be applicable to anyone, the report said.

The report also noted that fewer than 3 percent of nonexecutive employees received bonuses in 2003.

In its response, the TSA said that executives who got a bonus didnt get a pay increase and werent eligible for a presidential awards program that can amount to as much as 35 percent of their base pay. The agency agreed, however, that more could be done to equalize treatment of top executives and lower-level employees.

© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Zhukov · Oct 16, 2004

I can tell you first hand, the government wastes money like you would not believe.

When the Federal government budgets anything, in any department, expect this sort of waste at the highest levels.

You don't like it?

Run for a Congressional seat.

NATO AIR · Oct 16, 2004

Zhukov said:

I can tell you first hand, the government wastes money like you would not believe.

When the Federal government budgets anything, in any department, expect this sort of waste at the highest levels.

You don't like it?

Run for a Congressional seat.
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true, i can't lie that good to be a politician though.

Zhukov · Oct 17, 2004

NATO AIR said:

true, i can't lie that good to be a politician though.
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Sure you can.

If not, work at it.

Political power is what you want, so do what you must to get it.

Never lie enough to be caught, but bend the truth enough to be elected.

If, in the end, you have done good then you are justified.

NATO AIR · Oct 17, 2004

that is true

i'd rather be in humanitarian law though, helping to influence politicians to take action

Mainframe · Oct 18, 2004

Zhukov said:

I can tell you first hand, the government wastes money like you would not believe.
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So is this why the Army buys..say.. a screwdriver and pays 150 bucks?

What tha huh?

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