Happening Now

Apr 26 2012

Outlandish GSA Conference Underscores Out of Control Government Spending

Chuck Fleischmann

The last several weeks have given us headline after headline about the outrageous spending by government officials on conferences hosted by the General Services Administration (GSA).  In fact, the 2010 GSA “Conference” in Las Vegas that has been highlighted recently, included mind readers, lavish parties and embarrassing parodies, all paid for with taxpayer funds. 

President Obama has appointed 45 Agency Czars who he says are supposed to be watching out for just this type of abuse.  Apparently, Mr. President, it’s not working. 

Unfortunately, this outrageous behavior by officials at the GSA is only a small part of the bigger problem of out of control spending by the federal government.  We must take steps now to rein in that spending.  Every government agency and department must be held accountable for their spending and that’s precisely why I have introduced the "Agency Conferences and Conventions Operating Under Necessary Transparency (ACCOUNT) Act". 

Under this proposed legislation, the days of extravagant, out of control government conferences will quickly come to an end. It will require the head of a government agency to approve conferences, post expenses in writing and require the submission of an annual report to the Congress.  It will ensure that conferences are focused on core functions of executive agencies and that those agencies are held accountable immediately for wasteful spending.

To learn more about this important proposed legislation – ACCOUNT Act, follow the link below.  Let me know that you are standing with me in this fight and leave a comment here.

 

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  • josie williams

    05/01/2012 08:53 AM

    I think if all department had a cut in budjet of say 10/15 % they would not have sufficient funds to waste. If people in the privite sector have to live on budjets then so should the federal.

  • Daniel Bridges

    05/01/2012 06:57 AM

    I feel I don't have the time to study the Act, but I'm certainly in favor of reducing the size and power of our federal government. Killing babies since 1973, I don't see them doing much good.

  • Kris Bancroft

    05/01/2012 02:19 AM

    Dear Congressman Fleishmann:

    Having retired from Federal government I believe I can offer some valuable insight into this dilemma.

    I believe the ACCOUNT Act is a good start for not only GSA and other government entities but for certain elected representatives who live like royalty, e.g. using military aircraft to ferry them hither and yon, hire luxury automobiles to chauffer them about, and live and work in palacial settings--all on the taxpayer's money.

    Sir, such things as this are an insult to those of us who provide the revenue to operate the government.

    Respect is a funny thing; it cannot be purchased, it must be earned! I applaud those MANY people in government whom I know to be good and frugal managers but it seems those folks have become the exception rather than the rule.

    I wish you good luck in this effort and thank you for your work.

  • Kris Bancroft

    05/01/2012 02:16 AM

    Dear Congressman Fleishmann:

    Having retired from Federal government I believe I can offer some valuable insight into this dilemma.

    I believe the ACCOUNT Act is a good start for not only GSA and other government entities but for certain elected representatives who live like royalty, e.g. using military aircraft to ferry them hither and yon, hire luxury automobiles to chauffer them about, and live and work in palacial settings--all on the taxpayer's money.

    Sir, such things as this are an insult to those of us who provide the revenue to operate the government.

    Respect is a funny thing; it cannot be purchased, it must be earned! I applaud those MANY people in government whom I know to be good and frugal managers but it seems those folks have become the exception rather than the rule.

    I wish you good luck in this effort and thank you for your work.

  • Chris Lanier

    04/30/2012 08:17 PM

    Hi Chuck,

    There is some kind of Homeland Security grant Hardie Stulce was trying for Soddy daisy and did not get. That might be good to check on.

    CL
    423-997-4131

  • Raymond James Fraser

    04/30/2012 07:59 PM

    All I can say is that I am not supprised by the corruption and immoral behavior in our government. If we can`t get some decent and honest people in our government, this country will end like the Roman Empire did. We need to get all of those socialistic liberals the hell out of our government!

  • RALPH E DUDLEY

    04/30/2012 06:53 PM

    Chuck,
    Unfortunately, the GSA overspend is just the tip of the iceberg. During my 40 years in government and the private sector, I have seen many such wasteful expenditure ventures by leaders who do not know what they don't know about fiduciary responsibilities and carrying out value added services.
    Our government is too large and has too many people producing services that support a mission worth doing.
    I admire your efforts and please feel free to call on me when it is time to change the actual workings of government that are wasteful. Ralph

  • Sandra Jordan

    04/30/2012 06:03 PM

    I think that Washington should be held accountable for everything illegal that they have done or is unconstitutional! And, I believe Holder, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Hillary Clinton should be tried for Treason against the USA.

  • Roger W Catlin, M.D.

    04/30/2012 05:34 PM

    Chuck, 4/30/12
    Your ACCOUNT bill sounds like good idea. However as important as it may be, it still will reign in a relatively small expense in toto.
    Yes we need to reign in entitlement spending, now! We have to stop Obama from weekly creating a new agency that will require more money to fund, and create even more complexity. Obama's goal is to do as much damage to America as he possibly can before he leaves office. He is a Jihadist, bar none.

    Chuck, it is time to stand up and challenge the legitimacy of Obama. I am sure you are aware of Sherriff Joe's work. Joe is correct. Obama is neither a natural born citizen, or a citizen at all. It is time for his impeachment!

    Please make this comment box wider.

    Roger Catlin

  • Paul Foltz

    04/30/2012 05:16 PM

    As a taxpayer, I am fed up with these government excesses. A way must be found to fire bureaucrats who act with such brazen disregard of the public trust. Accountability MUST be restored.

  • Anne S Phillips

    04/30/2012 05:02 PM

    Extravagant, wasteful expenditures such as this occur on a daily basis, they are just not always in the national spotlight. The issue is a loss of morals and Christian values. I find it deplorable that government workers at all levels partake of such events, trips, parties and meetings when so many Americans are challenged to living within their means. Since when is it okay to spend other people's hard-earned dollars? Without a conscience and Godly virtues, our nation is doomed. We cannot legislate morality, but we can certainly shame those people who knowingly abuse taxpayer dollars. If a lawyer misuses client funds, they can be disbarred. If government employees, at any level, misuse taxpayer dollars, they should, at the VERY least, lose their jobs and any benefits associated with their jobs including their pensions. There is a severe lack of repercussions for this abuse and it should trickle down to employees, not just the top person who "authorizes" such misuse.

  • Everett M. Coon, DVM

    04/30/2012 04:29 PM

    I called both Rep Duncan and Sen. Corker and told them that since GSA couldn't control themselves privatize it and do it cheaper and less expense. I don't see anything needed from government. A sacred cow unneeded, shrink government!

  • Jackie and Diana Merriman

    04/30/2012 04:02 PM

    Sickening, infuriating, etc. Scary to think how much more of this occurs without our knowledge. Even if we do know, it appears we can't deal with it unless our elected representatives do so, which is what we would like. Kick there a-- and make all government accountable. The $$ they waste is not theirs.

  • JAMES W HURST

    04/30/2012 04:01 PM

    I AM TIRED OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT THINKS WE ARE MADE OF MONEY WE NEED TIGHTER IMMIGRATION LAWS AS WELL AND BETTER MONETARY SUPPORT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES WE DO NOT NEED ILLEGALS STEALING OUR JOBS HIGH GAS PRICES AS WELL AS HIGH FOOD PRICES ITS TIME THAT WHEN A VETERAN MAKES SOMEWHERE AROUND 40000 A YEAR THAT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES SHOULD MAKE NO MORE THAN 50000 A YEAR THAT INCLUDES CONGRESS SENATE AND THE PRESIDENT

  • Steven Lee Stafford

    04/30/2012 04:01 PM

    This is undoubtedly the most corrupt administration that has ever been in charge of the Presidency, no way to argue against it either. And the mainstream press still talk about how bad Pres Nixon was, the total of what he did in 6 yrs couldn't hold a candle to what this bunch wastes and lies about on a daily basis. GSA, the Secret Service fiasco, the hidden agenda of Eric Holder and the guns thing in Arizona/Mexico, obamacare with all its hidden agendas not to mention that it would break our country's bank, the czars from all walks of life, hardly a one of them a common ordinary thinking person.
    The whole administration centers that we owe the less fortunate people some handout. Everybody is in favor of helping out those in need of help, but not those that have no intention of every holding a job and working for what they have. The government don't owe nobody nothing, especailly me. All I need from them is to keep the country safe and keep the roads in good shape, then leave us alone to seek our American Dream. Everyone needs to create their own wealth from their own hard work. I'm sick of welfare and giveaway programs of all these people, all it does is create more just like them for generations.
    It's all about, folks, the FAMILY. I've witnessed families come to this country with hardly a shirt on their back and in 10 yrs they all have jobs and have a house. This life that the obama's want for whites and blacks,who would rather take a handout than work for their money, it don't work, and never has, and never will. Everyone of us has to step up to the plate and dig, and dig, and do your best and try your hardest to get it going on your own, not from the government. Capitalism is the ONLY way, Socialism is a non-motivator and an end to the Great Freedoms that we American's still enjoy. VOTE the whole bunch out this November and get some good common sense leadership back in AMERICA, the Land That We LOVE!!!!!
    A lot of this corruption can be accredited to POOR leadership at the top, when they see the main man vacating all the time, golfing all the time, his wife spending money like there is no stopping her all the time, then everyone else thinks, man, I'd like to have me some of that life. If he'd have stepped up to the plate like they should have, then things would have turned out better, folks would have followed the example.

    Course, it's all of us successful people's fault that we are in the mess we are in financially, yep, right.......

  • Mary Brock

    04/30/2012 03:53 PM

    they need to pay the money back and be prosecuted for wasting our money.

  • Kenneth M. Beyer, Captain USN (Ret)

    04/30/2012 03:43 PM

    Mr. Fleischmann, the GSA blunders are nothing compared to the Obama kamikaze attack on our NAVY. Please team with Mr.Romney and continue to maintain the Greatest U. S. Navy Fleet that ever put to sea. Proud to have served!
    Career officer, 1941-1968, and still fighting!!!!