Posted on 09/20/2011 9:06:05 AM PDT by IbJensen
U.S. Justice Department agencies spent too much for food at conferences, in one case serving $16 muffins and in another dishing out beef Wellington appetizers that cost $7.32 per serving, an audit found.
“Some conferences featured costly meals, refreshments, and themed breaks that we believe were indicative of wasteful or extravagant spending,” the Justice Department’s inspector general wrote in a report released today.
The inspector general reviewed a sample of 10 Justice Department conferences held between October 2007 and September 2009 at a cost of $4.4 million. The Justice Department spent $73.3 million on conferences in fiscal 2009, compared with $47.8 million a year earlier, according to the report.
The muffins were served at a conference of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the beef Wellington was offered at a meeting hosted by the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys. A conference of the Office on Violence Against Women served Cracker Jacks, popcorn and candy bars at a single break, costing $32 per person, according to the report.
The report is a follow-up to one from 2007 that found the Justice Department had few controls to limit the costs of conference planning, food and beverages. That audit cited a reception that included Swedish meatballs costing $5 apiece.
In April 2008 the Justice Department issued policies and procedures designed to control conference spending.
The new report found that agencies were able to “circumvent meal and refreshment cost limits” when conferences were planned under cooperative agreements, a type of funding awarded by a Justice Department agency.
Justice Department agencies “did not adequately attempt to minimize conference costs as required by federal and DOJ guidelines,” the report said.
Well no damn wonder they can’t find the time to investigate the hard stuff. They are looking for overcharging in the coffee/muffin business. . . . . . . .
“Hey, bro! Have another of these $16 muffins, while we figure out how to git Whitey!”
“Yeah! First we gotta disarm them. We need to rev up this Operation Gunwalker thing some more, so we can shut down the gun dealers!”
Were they entire muffins or just the tops?
I trust the vendors were on the Govt’s list of “approved race, gender, and sexual preference” businesses.
Jackasses.
“A conference of the Office on Violence Against Women served Cracker Jacks, popcorn and candy bars at a single break, costing $32 per person, according to the report.”
Just fattening them up to cushion the blows.
Looks like Mooshell’s missive on healthy eating wasn’t delivered to DOJ. As to her own diet, she could use a look in her ‘rear view mirror’ before throwing stones at anyone.
“I trust the vendors were on the Govt’s list of “approved race, gender, and sexual preference” businesses.”
Here in Seattle I think it was the head of the school district got fired for not keeping tabs on the costs. Most of the huge, unaccounted for costs were with black, disadvantaged businesses. So in spite of my joke above about the folks eating $32 worth of candy - they probably ate $4.50 worth but were charged $32. (Of course she got “fired” and was payed the $200,000 left on her contract).
I do some government jobs, and I have never figured out how they are able to do this. I always figure I have to bid things trying to be competitive. I suppose you have to have an “in” with the right person - or be on the “preferred list” as you say.
Just the tops.
Whole muffins are only $1.25 each.
Anymore, the United States feels like a dying carcass, with the Obama administration picking off any last remnants of value.
What the hell does a $16 muffin look like?
One thing’s for certain — I want that catering gig if they can get away with charging those kinds of prices!
Government in general needs more transparency. All data like this should be made public routinely.
No increase for military retirement or VA Disability for the past two years, but they can pay $16 apiece for muffins? At least they’re not wasting money.
Don’t feel too good for the muffin vendor though. Probably at least $8 out of each muffin has to be paid back as a kickback. That’s gotta suck for them.
In 1867 the Reconstruction Legislature of Louisiana spent $267,000 on Christmas hams.
The way this generally works is that a huge share of the overpriced muffins is then donated to the political organization of the democrats choice. It's the spoils system from yesteryear brought back to life.
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