Federal Credit Cards Misused

[babylonsister]

This used to be illegal; I wonder how many federal employees have been prosecuted, or even fired?



Federal Credit Cards Misused
GAO Cites Charging Of Frivolous Items

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 9, 2008; Page A01



Federal employees used government credit cards to pay for lingerie, gambling, iPods, Internet dating services, and a $13,000 steak-and-liquor dinner, according to a new audit from the Government Accountability Office, which found widespread abuses in a purchasing program meant to improve bureaucratic efficiency.

The study, released by Senate lawmakers yesterday, found that nearly half the "purchase card" transactions it examined were improper, either because they were not authorized correctly or because they did not meet requirements for the cards' use. The overall rate of problems "is unacceptably high," the audit found.

The GAO also found that agencies could not account for nearly $2 million worth of items identified in the audit -- including laptop computers, digital cameras and, at the Army, more than a dozen computer servers worth $100,000 each.

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), who requested the study along with Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), said that money "intended to pay for critical infrastructure, education and homeland security is instead being spent on iPods, lingerie and socializing."

"Too many government employees have viewed purchase cards as their personal line of credit," Coleman said. "It's time to cut up their cards and start over."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/08/AR2008040802718.html

[KitchenWitch]

1. I wonder how many thousands of dollars in suspect charges are on Normie's card?

[babylonsister]

2. I don't know why he'd even have a card. nt