Postal officials defend $13,500 steak dinner

Sun Sentinel ^ | 4-11-2008 | Mark K. Matthews

[Cagey]

Internal funds cover the $13,500 tab for filets and drinks, they say. Auditors call it 'abusive.'

WASHINGTON - When the U.S. Postal Service rang up a $13,500 tab at an Orlando steakhouse, it spared no expense during a five-hour meal that government investigators are calling "abusive" in its extravagance.

The order -- charged to government credit cards -- included more than $3,000 for drinks, more than $500 for shrimp cocktails and almost $900 for mini crab cakes, according to the Government Accountability Office, the investigate arm of Congress.

And then there's the steak.

"The better question is probably what they didn't order," GAO investigator Gregory Kutz said Wednesday. He counted 81 entrees -- including just about every kind of steak -- from the 2006 feast at Ruth's Chris Steak House on Sand Lake Road.

Related links GAO report (PDF) Postal Service $13,000 dinner = good PR for Ruth's Chris Filet, lingerie, Web dates -- with your tax dollars Stamps, stamps and more stamps Photos The GAO cited the Orlando meal as part of an overarching audit into abuse of government credit cards. The report, released this week, found 41 percent of purchases reviewed by the GAO from 2005 to 2006 failed "basic internal control standards."

These include safety measures such as getting proper authorization or having someone other than the cardholder review the expense. A lack of oversight led to abuses such as embezzling or odd expenses such as lingerie, electronic equipment and, in one case, $77,700 worth of expensive suits bought by the Pentagon.

[muawiyah]

USPS has a monopoly on "letter mail" ~ not just First-Class Mail. However, there are exceptions ~ some of them written into the law, others under various legal theories.

Unfortunately for USPS they have some "products/services" that are COMPETITIVE.

[muawiyah]

You’ll never hear!

[muawiyah]

But did you have exclusive use of the dining room for conversation? That’ll add another $50 per person onto any tab ~ and that’d be something as simple as Houlihans.

[muawiyah]

And the Postal types would be quick to tell you “We know where you live” (if they were allowed to).

[muawiyah]

Uhh, that'd be DOD? Haven't brought home any loot lately ~ mostly expenses ~ total subsidy.

We need a government agency that TAKES MONEY FROM OTHER COUNTRIES!!!

[muawiyah]

The USPS is an independent executive establishment. It is not private. There are, of course, some folks in top management dedicated to the idea that it be operated as a private monpoly. Certain Congress critters still get their butts wiped by these guys. That’s not changed.

[Doohickey]

Which cut of steak did you have? :)

[muawiyah]

USPS is the most efficient postal operation in the world ~ bar none. It has had phenomenal and unending productivity improvements going on 45 years.

And your claim is based on what information?

[Doohickey]

...and the rest were private sector people being entertained for business purposes.

I would never, ever, let one of my customers pick up the tab for a business dinner.

[Doohickey]

Having done some work with USPS on the IT side of things - while there are certainly things that can be done better, I can’t disagree with your there.

[bannie]

...and, in one case, $77,700 worth of expensive suits bought by the Pentagon.

If they were Kevlar vests and Nomex suits for soldiers, I'm ok with this part...but ONLY this part!

(I know...I know...)

[dbwz]

more than $500 for shrimp cocktails

Are you sure YOU weren't there?

[Brucifer]

Love your tag line!

[Brucifer]

Painting with a broad brush is something that comes naturally to far too many freepers. Ask the teachers and cops and lawyers. I'm sure I'm leaving some folks out, but those few pop out right away.

It's too bad the bosses didn't invite you to the wing ding. Sounds like you deserved it more than they did.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Technically speaking, you're correct, BUT:

The History of Postage Rates in the United States

[muawiyah]

We once had a community party/meeting (about 100 families) where we roasted a lamb and roasted numerous chickens (as in teriyaki chicken), plus provided soda pop and non-alcoholic drinks, etc.

We spent $5,000 easy ~ and without the shrimp.

Lot of it depends on what you like to eat. However, with American caught shrimp running at $12.00 per pound (by the bushel) around here, $500 worth would be about 42 pounds.

That's nothing for 81 guests. In lawziana that'd be an embarrassment.

Maybe the GAO would prefer shrimp raised in Chinese Communist over medicated, lead infested shrimp farms?

[muawiyah]

Considering inflation, postage rates at the moment are roughly equivalent to those in effect in 1958.

[Species8472]

Just wait for Hillarys healthcare. Can you imagine the bill that a table full of doctors and "government" health care officials would run up!

[jughandle]

Ok, but it was worth it......and I’d do it again.

[Big Giant Head]

And the sniper fire. Don’t forget the sniper fire!

Okay, now that's funny!

I'm not defending the steak-house festival, but the USPS cannot be the most inefficient and disorganized part of the Government. It is being run supposedly as a free-standing business, changes coming down constantly to help cut costs, increase productivity, and improve the mail flow.

Compare this effort to Congress, for example. Which do you get your money's worth out of?

I'm trying to point out to you supposedly smart freepers that blanket statements deriding the entire operation based on ONE possible abuse is not freeper-quality thinking, and frankly embarrassing to read. It's fun and games smacking around the post office, but it's not based on a fair examination of the whole affair. I used to think like that too, until I started working there.