Sex, Lies And Videotaped Government Scandals...

[paulitician]

Good article from Melanie Sturm


Why the Public Sector is more likely to waste money than the private sector.


What do you get when you cross George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” with John Belushi’s “Animal House”? “Government Gone Wild”!

No, that’s not the title of a porn movie about U.S. Secret Service agents cavorting with prostitutes in foreign countries or employees of the U.S. General Services Administration whooping it up in Las Vegas at taxpayers’ expense.

The hard truth is that the larger government grows, the more Orwellian and “Animal House” its conduct becomes. Belushi’s character, Bluto, exercised no greater restraint around free beer than did GSA Regional Director Jeff Neely and his employees, whose exploits at their $823,000 Las Vegas “team-building” soirée were videotaped, only to dominate newscasts this month. Bluto couldn’t have carpe diem-ed on his parents’ allowance better than Neely, who wrote in an invitation to friends, “We’ll pick up the room tab. … I know I’m bad, but … why not enjoy it while we have it? … Ain’t gonna last forever.”

Since government depends on resources drawn from the real economy, consider these facts: After the GSA’s inspector general reported Neely’s misconduct, Neely still received a 2011 bonus; the average GSA salary is nearly $92,000, about $40,000 more than the median household income; and the GSA’s budget rose 119 percent in 2011. Furthermore, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported in January that federal employees enjoy greater job security and earn significantly higher compensation than comparable private-sector workers.

Having worked in a large bureaucracy (the World Bank), I believe most public servants are decent, skilled and dedicated, though rarely are “per-diem” allowances unspent or self-justifications un-uttered. It’s a truism that people won’t spend other people’s money as carefully as they spend their own. Unlike households, which strive to boost savings by minimizing expenses, government bureaucracies spend what they’re given while justifying more for next year. They also lack the expertise and market discipline to invest wisely, as evidenced by the “green investments” in now-bankrupt companies such as Solyndra.

Here’s the ultimate question: Why transfer more money from the real economy to those who are intrinsically more wasteful, negligent and indifferent to its ultimate good?...


Read more: GSA | Secret Service | Sex, lies and videotaped government scandals | The Daily Caller

 

[paulitician]

And Big Government just keeps getting bigger & bigger.

 

[waltky]

Neely gets the boot at GSA...

GSA parts ways with executive who hosted $823,000 Las Vegas conference in 2010
May 24`12 WASHINGTON — The General Services Administration executive who was responsible for a lavish, $823,000 conference in Las Vegas is no longer with the GSA, the agency confirmed Thursday.

GSA spokesman Adam Elkington would not say whether Jeffrey Neely resigned or was fired from the agency that is in charge of federal buildings and supplies. The GSA inspector general previously referred Neely’s case to the Justice Department for a possible criminal investigation. Neely’s departure would have no effect on the Justice Department’s inquiry. Neely had been placed on administrative leave in April as buildings commissioner for the Pacific Rim region. An inspector general’s report on waste and abuse at the 2010 Las Vegas conference sparked hearings by several congressional committees. Neely angered lawmakers by refusing to testify and asserting his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.

The Las Vegas conference featured a clown, a mind-reader and a rap video by an employee who made fun of the spending. The scandal led to the resignation of GSA Administrator Martha Johnson, the firing of two top aides and the placing of nine others on administrative leave. A GSA official who was not authorized to be quoted by name on personnel matters said four others have left the agency following their participation in the 2010 conference. The GSA has proposed to remove another four. “GSA is in the process of completing its review of activities associated with the Western Regions Conference and pursuing all available avenues for appropriate disciplinary action against those responsible,” the GSA spokesman said. “Jeff Neely was placed on administrative leave based on his involvement in the WRC (Western Regions Conference). As of today, he’s no longer employed with GSA.” Calls to Neely’s attorney were not immediately returned late Thursday.

Former employees like Neely can be prevented from participation in federal contracts and grants. Such action is under consideration in Neely’s case, the official said. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said he would introduce legislation to deal with federal executives who refuse to cooperate with Congress. “After some delay, Mr. Neely is rightfully no longer on the taxpayers’ tab,” Mica said. “In order to deal with this type of situation in the future, I plan to introduce legislation that will allow the immediate termination of senior level executives who violate their oaths of office by refusing to cooperate with congressional investigations or to testify before Congress.”

Source

 

[paulitician]

Neely gets the boot at GSA...

GSA parts ways with executive who hosted $823,000 Las Vegas conference in 2010
May 24`12 WASHINGTON — The General Services Administration executive who was responsible for a lavish, $823,000 conference in Las Vegas is no longer with the GSA, the agency confirmed Thursday.

GSA spokesman Adam Elkington would not say whether Jeffrey Neely resigned or was fired from the agency that is in charge of federal buildings and supplies. The GSA inspector general previously referred Neely’s case to the Justice Department for a possible criminal investigation. Neely’s departure would have no effect on the Justice Department’s inquiry. Neely had been placed on administrative leave in April as buildings commissioner for the Pacific Rim region. An inspector general’s report on waste and abuse at the 2010 Las Vegas conference sparked hearings by several congressional committees. Neely angered lawmakers by refusing to testify and asserting his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.

The Las Vegas conference featured a clown, a mind-reader and a rap video by an employee who made fun of the spending. The scandal led to the resignation of GSA Administrator Martha Johnson, the firing of two top aides and the placing of nine others on administrative leave. A GSA official who was not authorized to be quoted by name on personnel matters said four others have left the agency following their participation in the 2010 conference. The GSA has proposed to remove another four. “GSA is in the process of completing its review of activities associated with the Western Regions Conference and pursuing all available avenues for appropriate disciplinary action against those responsible,” the GSA spokesman said. “Jeff Neely was placed on administrative leave based on his involvement in the WRC (Western Regions Conference). As of today, he’s no longer employed with GSA.” Calls to Neely’s attorney were not immediately returned late Thursday.

Former employees like Neely can be prevented from participation in federal contracts and grants. Such action is under consideration in Neely’s case, the official said. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said he would introduce legislation to deal with federal executives who refuse to cooperate with Congress. “After some delay, Mr. Neely is rightfully no longer on the taxpayers’ tab,” Mica said. “In order to deal with this type of situation in the future, I plan to introduce legislation that will allow the immediate termination of senior level executives who violate their oaths of office by refusing to cooperate with congressional investigations or to testify before Congress.”

Source

Time to boot the GSA completely. Another corrupt useless bureaucracy the People don't need.