Wasteful Spending

“The Administration should have disclosed these emails directly to Congress and the American people. The Department of Energy failed to produce many of these emails, but the Committee received them from other sources."

“Now, more than ever, the American people demand real accountability of how their tax dollars are being spent,” said committee chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. “It’s clear from our investigation into GSA’s lavish conference spending that accountability and increased transparency is needed. Through the bipartisan DATA Act, we can improve our oversight of federal funds by mandating clear, consistent reporting standards.”

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is examining California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) operations and use of federal funds. Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) wrote April 9 to all current and former board members as well as current and former executive leadership asking them to preserve documents, records and communications so that CHSRA and other entities can comply with future document requests from the Committee.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., today announced a hearing examining last week’s General Services Administration Inspector General report, which detailed wasteful spending related to 2010 Las Vegas Convention costing nearly $823,000. In the wake of the report, GSA Administrator Martha Johnson resigned, and the agency dismissed her top deputies. The hearing, titled “Addressing GSA’s Culture of Wasteful Spending”, will take place at 1:30 ...

From the taxpayer-funded video: "Obama better prepare, when I’m Commissioner. I’d have a road show like [Acting Regional GSA Administrator Jeffrey] Neely, every time you see me rolling on 20s yeah, in my GOV. Spend BA 61 all on fun. ATF can’t touch GS-15 guns! Cause I buy everything your field office can’t afford. Every GS-5 would get a top hat award. Donate my vacation, love to the nation, I’ll never be under OIG investigation."

“After President Obama lectured the private sector about not wasting funds on Las Vegas conventions, it’s hypocritical that such a large agency with critical management responsibilities across government would hold this luxurious conference at the height of the recession and even spend thousands on custom made coins touting the stimulus," said Chairman Darrell Issa.

The Obama Department of Energy (DOE) has overseen a process wrought with misdirection, changing and expanding requirements, unexplained delays, gross mischaracterizations, and a never-ending cycle of excuses. Not only does it appear that DOE purposely directed taxpayer funds at a failing enterprise, DOE’s action robbed taxpayers of genuine investment toward renewable energy.