A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that there is (gasp) waste in government spending.
Over a fifteen month period from 2005 to 2006, the GAO found that nearly 41% of credit card purchases – in the amount of $14 billion – were not billed out according to procedure. For purchases over $2,500, 48% were either not authorized or the items were improperly received.
In one random sample of goods, the GAO found that agencies could not account for nearly two-thirds of all purchases including iPods, digital cameras and laptops.
This unchecked spending brings to mind a conversation that I had with a government employee who explained that his “toys” from work were the result of trying to meet budget. Apparently, according to my source, if an agency does not match its spending as outlined in the budget, the budget will be trimmed the following year. To combat this, the agency would practically go shopping at the end of the fiscal year – merely to preserve the budget.
It’s not just the agencies that are spending money like wildfire. Investigators found that individual federal employees double billed for some goods and expensed such items as internet dating – these expenses were not even challenged by supervisors. The lack of enforcement from within the system was deemed “unacceptably high.”
So, as you’re writing out that tax check this season, take solace in the fact that you might be buying an iPod – or a date – for a federal employee…
I am shocked, shocked, shocked to learn that there is government waste. But, now that it is tax time, all that aside. A new tax scam is set to trigger right after tax deadline, April. Just wrote a blog piece on it.
So, I guess such things as government waste are just going to have to wait for the time being, as we get set to fend off the scam artists who will soon be out in force.
What is the link to the GAO report?
Bruce –
Here’s the html link to the summary of the report. If you’re interested in reading the entire report, the link to the pdf is at the top of the summary.
http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-08-333
I can’t believe anyone’s actually surprised. Congress is full of some of the biggest liars, criminals, thugs, and cheats (and at least one murdering Kennedy).
And we’re surprised when our tax money is “wasted”?
Hi, I just wanted to ask did they ever change the law and when did they do it you really inspire me taxgirl and i would love for you to post more stories up so i can write current events.