These are our “Public Servants?”

More like privileged and perverted “swamp” rats serving themselves!

Ah yes…, “the swamp” rears its ugly head yet again.

Judson Berger of Fox News reports of, “More GSA [General Service Administration] debauchery: Probe finds ex-official had sex on agency’s roof with White House staffer!”

Well isn’t that special?!

I like that word “debauchery!”

The perfect word in this case, meaning “excessive indulgences.”

But before we look into this exemplary behavior…, what is the GSA, and what exactly is it supposed to be doing?

According to on-line sources, “The General Services Administration (GSA), is an independent agency of the United States government that was established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of other federal agencies.”

Ok…, now I must ask, what is an “independent agency,” as opposed to regular old run-of-the-mill agency?

“Independent agencies of the United States federal government are agencies that exist outside the federal executive departments (those headed by a Cabinet secretary) and the Executive Office of the President.  [These] agencies, while constitutionally part of the executive branch, are independent of presidential control, usually because the president’s power to dismiss the agency head or a member is limited.”

In other words, the GSA answers to no one and has no accountability.

So what we have here is an unaccountable “agency” managing other “agencies,” thus making them unaccountable as well.

Brilliant!

Hmmm.  Nothing potentially wasteful or “sketchy” about this arrangement!

“Manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies” how, exactly?

“The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. government offices, provides transportation and office space to federal employees, and develops government-wide cost-minimizing policies and other management tasks.”

I’d like to see some examples of these “government-wide cost-minimizing policies.”

I have the feeling that the GSA doesn’t really understand the meaning of the word “minimize,” nor do they particularly care.

“The GSA employs about 12,000 federal workers and has an annual operating budget of roughly $20.9 billion. GSA oversees $66 billion of procurement annually. It contributes to the management of about $500 billion in U.S. federal property.”

12,000 employees?!

That’s a lot of “managing and supporting of the basic functioning of federal agencies!”

These federal agencies must all run with the utmost efficiency and effectiveness!

I hate being so skeptical all of the time, but really, how can you not be?

“The GSA’s business lines [Business lines?!] include the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) and the Public Buildings Service (PBS), as well as the Office of Government-wide Policy, the Office of Small Business Utilization, and the Office of Mission Assurance. The GSA’s Technology Transformation Services (TTS) helps federal agencies improve delivery of information and services to the public.  Other initiatives include the USA.gov platform, the U.S. Web Design System, and IT Modernization.”

Were these guys involved with the “ObamaCare” website?

Just sayin’.

Judson Berger continues, “This same agency that sparked a firestorm during the Obama administration for lavish spending at a Vegas conference – complete with a widely mocked photo of a grinning fed lounging in a hot tub – is back in the headlines.”

In case you don’t recall, here is a little summary of their “all expenses paid” 2012 Las Vegas conference (Keep in mind that the meal and incidental expenses allowance was $71 per day at the time.  $71 X 300 attending employees would = $21,300 allowable in total.):

$31,000 on a “networking reception” that featured $19-per-person “American artisanal cheese display” and $7,000 in sushi.

$3,200 on a session with a mind reader.

$5,600 for in-room parties.

$100,405.37 in employee travel costs to scout the event–meaning, these people returned to the Las Vegas area multiple times to visit hotels before settling on the fancy M Resort and Casino.

$3,700 for T-shirts.

$2,800 in water bottles.

$1,500 each for a “Boursin scalloped potato with Barolo wine-braised short ribs” dinner, and a $525 bartender fee for a cash bar.

Three officials spent almost $400 for rented tuxedos.

$1,840 for vests for the 19 “regional ambassadors” and other employees.

$146,527.05 was spent on catered food during the entire conference.

$6,325 was spent on commemorative coins in velvet boxes to reward all participants for their work on stimulus projects.

$75,000 for a “team-building” exercise.

And no…, I’m not kidding.  All of this was on another Inspector General’s report and further reported by The Washington Post and the Associated Press.

Today’s headlines pertain to “an incident involving a former [GSA] official, vodka and … yada yada yada, and some sex on a roof.”

“The details from the 2017 liaison emerged in a newly released inspector general report. The watchdog’s investigation found multiple violations committed by Brennan Hart, a former associate administrator and acting chief of staff at the General Services Administration.”

How many “inspector general reports” are going on out there, and is anyone ever actually held accountable for what they uncover?

“According to the 2018-dated report, Hart admitted to investigators that he kept a bottle of vodka at his desk, while stating he only drank after business hours.”

Oh…, well, that’s alright then!

“In the same interview, he also admitted to having ‘sexual relations’ at GSA headquarters in July 2017 with a White House staffer, whom the report does not identify.”

“The visit began with Hart fixing a drink using the bottle of vodka after business hours, of course). The encounter developed from there.”

“He said, ‘their sexual activity began in the Administrator suite area and culminated with oral sex on the rooftop of the Central Office,’ the report said. ‘Hart stated this occurred on only one occasion.’”

Thank you, Mr. Hart.  I believe once is enough.

More questionable spending by GSA employees has also come to light recently.

Fox News reports that, “Nearly 100 high-ranking General Services Administration employees assigned to work from home reportedly still spent $750,000 on travel over nine months, according to records submitted to Capitol Hill committees, prompting the agency to respond Saturday to a request for more information.”

“The GSA said the agency has already begun ‘conducting an extensive review of our agency’s operations, which includes our travel policy. Our agency remains committed to eliminating any excessive spending and promoting government efficiency.’”

Bwahahahahahahahahah!

Please…, don’t insult our intelligence any more than you already have!

“An agency spokeswoman [further] said in a statement the GSA holds ‘all employees to the highest ethical standards and takes appropriate actions to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.’”

Bwahahahahahahahahah!

These people are funny!

What we need is a GSA reality TV show!

Now that would be worth watching!

“In addition, GSA Administrator Emily Murphy told investigators she ‘often permits the consumption of alcohol in her office … by her immediate staff after business hours on Fridays,’ though she is ‘very careful about such approvals.’”

I’m sure you are Emily…, I’m sure you are.

 

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