Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

(Obama's) GSA Chief Resigns Over Outlandish Spending
National Review Online ^ | 04/02/12 | Daniel Foster

Posted on 04/02/2012 1:50:52 PM PDT by TonyInOhio

General Services Administration head Martha Johnson has resigned along with two of her deputies, reportedly over an impending inspector general’s report detailing lavish spending on a Vegas conference for a handful of government employees:

Organizers spent $835,000 on the event, which was attended by 300 employees. The expenses included $147,000 in airfare and lodging at the hotel for six planning trips by a team of organizers. Among the other expenses were $3,200 for a mind reader; $6,300 on commemorative coin set displayed in velvet boxes and $75,000 on a training exercise to build a bicycle.

“When the White House was informed of the Inspector General’s findings we acted quickly to determine who was responsible for such a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars,” White House Chief of State Jack Lew said in a statement to The Washington Post. President Obama “was outraged by the excessive spending, questionable dealings with contractors, and disregard for taxpayer dollars,” Lew said, “and called for all those responsible to be held fully accountable.”

The GSA is basically the federal government’s office managers, providing things like office space, desks, and cars to other agencies. One of its charges is to develop cost-saving administrative strategies. . . .


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012; corruption; democrats; fraud; grifters; gsa; marthajohnson; obama; obamasminions
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last
To: TonyInOhio

Martha Johnson

21 posted on 04/02/2012 2:33:23 PM PDT by kcvl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg

The mind reader was probably the only one there with credibility.


22 posted on 04/02/2012 2:33:48 PM PDT by morphing libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

In November 2001 thru January 2003, Johnson became vice president of the Council for Excellence in Government. She is a former official in the administration of President Bill Clinton.

Johnson's nomination languished for months after Missouri Sen. Kit Bond placed a hold on her nomination over concerns he had about why the GSA wasn't closing down the federally owned Bannister Complex outside Kansas City, Missouri and relocating staff to leased space in downtown Kansas City.

On February 3, 2010, Obama, in an unusual move for a sitting president, sharply criticized Bond and Republican senators for blocking Johnson's nomination, and complained that Republicans were blocking nominees for reasons that have nothing to do with their qualifications for their prospective jobs.

Obama said:

"Nobody can tell me that there's anything particularly wrong with her. They're blocking her because of some unrelated matter. Don't hold this — this woman hostage. If you have an objection about my health-care policies, then let's debate the health-care policies. But don't suddenly end up having a GSA administrator who is stuck in limbo somewhere because you don't like something else that we're doing."

On April 2, 2012, Martha Johnson submitted her resignation to the White House due to overspending at a training conference held in October 2010 at a Las Vegas, NV hotel.

Press Here

23 posted on 04/02/2012 2:43:43 PM PDT by kcvl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver

GSA does purchase alot of things for the Government, but DOD still buys the most.. You are correct on the other items as GSA runs it self pretty much like a business.. For the most part, they receive funding by getting agencies to buy through them and GSA bills the agency for the cost + adminstrative costs a little bit of margin to fund future investments.


24 posted on 04/02/2012 2:45:44 PM PDT by scbison
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: TonyInOhio
President Obama “was outraged by the excessive spending, questionable dealings with contractors, and disregard for taxpayer dollars”

Only the King is allowed to do such things.

25 posted on 04/02/2012 2:46:05 PM PDT by Fresh Wind ('People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook.' Richard M. Nixon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TonyInOhio

http://twitter.com/#!/marthagsa

Martha N. Johnson; @MarthaGSA
Thanks to all the participants and federal employees that joined us in #Columbus for the #WHSummit. Next up, Orlando!

Martha N. Johnson; @MarthaGSA
.@USDOL has a large presence at the #WHSummit and talking about #jobs, training, and worker safety.

Martha N. Johnson; @MarthaGSA
RT @relevanza: It’s really an amazing array of people, backgrounds, interests here at White House Summit...just like America! #WHSummit


26 posted on 04/02/2012 2:48:25 PM PDT by kcvl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TonyInOhio
Among the other expenses were $3,200 for a mind reader; $6,300 on commemorative coin set displayed in velvet boxes and $75,000 on a training exercise to build a bicycle.

I'm going to guess........

mind reader = Joe Biden

commemorative coin set = 0bama 'historic election coins'

bicycle training exercise = display by Union Government Motors employees looking to create a "green" vehicle that [hopefully] won't burst into flames.

27 posted on 04/02/2012 2:49:57 PM PDT by Repeat Offender (While the wicked stand confounded, call me with Thy Saints surrounded)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freeangel

“Why is she not in jail”?
One of Holders people???


28 posted on 04/02/2012 2:56:51 PM PDT by Joe Boucher ((FUBO) Hey Mitt, F-you too pal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

The very same one. In fact the same one who has blown millions on his vacations.


29 posted on 04/02/2012 3:04:02 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: TonyInOhio; zot; Interesting Times

Oh come on, resigning because of spending a measely $835,000! That is just “BUDGET DUST.”

And it gave Harry Reid’s union supporters in Las Vegas pay back for their support in the last election, and probably an extra bonus for every time they voted that day.

Sarcasm off.


30 posted on 04/02/2012 3:06:20 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Justaham

An idea what her husband does?


31 posted on 04/02/2012 3:07:48 PM PDT by Paratrooper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: TonyInOhio

and the RATS, take another one in the.........HA ha!!!

32 posted on 04/02/2012 3:10:45 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paratrooper
An idea what her husband does?

Looks at the pictures, rather than reading the articles, in Playboy?

33 posted on 04/02/2012 3:46:55 PM PDT by Lovely-Day-For-A-Guinness (Eenie meanie, chili beanie, the spirits are about to speak....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: morphing libertarian
The mind reader was probably the only one there with credibility.

If he asked for cash up front, yes.

34 posted on 04/02/2012 3:50:43 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: kcvl

You’d think she shouldn’t have to be told to WASH HER FREAKING HAIR before a portrait shoot....


35 posted on 04/02/2012 4:00:44 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (The only flaw is that America doesn't recognize Cyber's omniscience. -- sergeantdave)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: TonyInOhio

I am an event organizer for another federal agency. Our conference attendees barely get coffee and every single cent has to be accounted for.

The FAR and GAO set the guidelines and they apply to all of us. I don’t understand how they are able to justify this, since it’s approved in advance.


36 posted on 04/02/2012 4:01:41 PM PDT by mom4melody
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks TonyInOhio.
Martha Johnson has resigned along with two of her deputies, reportedly over an impending inspector general’s report detailing lavish spending on a Vegas conference for a handful of government employees...

37 posted on 04/02/2012 4:03:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (FReepathon 2Q time -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Cyber Liberty
And filed down those horse chompers...

But now I'm just being catty.

38 posted on 04/02/2012 4:15:08 PM PDT by IrishPennant (Are you behind a "Blade of Grass?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: TonyInOhio

If they all resigned over outlandish spending the halls of congress would be empty. Which would not be a bad thing, come to think about it.


39 posted on 04/02/2012 4:27:20 PM PDT by DallasSun (Courage~Fear that has said its prayers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TonyInOhio
$75,000 on a training exercise to build a bicycle.

Must be one o them special Al Bore wooden bicycles....

40 posted on 04/02/2012 4:34:13 PM PDT by spokeshave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson