Mica & Denham Set Date for Hearing on GSA Vegas Junket
Washington, DC – The Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, chaired by U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), will hold a hearing on Thursday, April 19 to assess the General Services Administration’s (GSA) out of control spending and waste of taxpayer dollars.
The hearing, which will take place the first week Congress returns from Easter recess, will examine the egregious spending habits of the GSA, specifically related to an $800,000 lavish training conference in Las Vegas that included a clown and mind reader for entertainment. The agency has made a habit out of mismanaging taxpayer dollars, and the Committee has been watching its spending practices closely throughout the 112th Congress.
U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-FL), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sent a letter yesterday to the GSA Inspector General (IG) in response to findings included in a report on their overspending which led top agency leaders to be removed. In the letter, Mica requested a briefing for committee staff on the revelations of the IG report, as well as additional information relating to the 2010 training conference it references.
“This outrageously lavish training conference, which was held on the taxpayer’s dime, is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the spending habits of GSA,” said Chairman Mica. “This agency is sitting on thousands of underutilized and vacant properties across the country which cost Americans $1.7 billion to operate every year. The revelations in the IG report represent just one example of the agency’s routine mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.”
Subcommittee Chairman Denham added, This type of waste and abuse is outrageous. As Chairman of the Subcommittee overseeing GSA and as I've stated before, 'business as usual is over'. I expect detailed explanations on how and why these abuses occurred from those who have been fired or placed on leave and the Committee is prepared to request subpoenas, if necessary. The taxpayers have a right to know the truth.
WHAT: Hearing of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), Chairman:
GSA’s Squandering of Taxpayer Dollars: A Pattern of Mismanagement, Excess and Waste
WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 19, 2012
WHERE: 2167 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515
The hearing, which will take place the first week Congress returns from Easter recess, will examine the egregious spending habits of the GSA, specifically related to an $800,000 lavish training conference in Las Vegas that included a clown and mind reader for entertainment. The agency has made a habit out of mismanaging taxpayer dollars, and the Committee has been watching its spending practices closely throughout the 112th Congress.
U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-FL), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sent a letter yesterday to the GSA Inspector General (IG) in response to findings included in a report on their overspending which led top agency leaders to be removed. In the letter, Mica requested a briefing for committee staff on the revelations of the IG report, as well as additional information relating to the 2010 training conference it references.
“This outrageously lavish training conference, which was held on the taxpayer’s dime, is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the spending habits of GSA,” said Chairman Mica. “This agency is sitting on thousands of underutilized and vacant properties across the country which cost Americans $1.7 billion to operate every year. The revelations in the IG report represent just one example of the agency’s routine mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.”
Subcommittee Chairman Denham added, This type of waste and abuse is outrageous. As Chairman of the Subcommittee overseeing GSA and as I've stated before, 'business as usual is over'. I expect detailed explanations on how and why these abuses occurred from those who have been fired or placed on leave and the Committee is prepared to request subpoenas, if necessary. The taxpayers have a right to know the truth.
WHAT: Hearing of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), Chairman:
GSA’s Squandering of Taxpayer Dollars: A Pattern of Mismanagement, Excess and Waste
WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 19, 2012
WHERE: 2167 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515