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<< In a letter to Senator Barbara Mikulski (D–Md.)--who had called for an explanation--Justice Dept. officials wrote that if their accusers had examined all the receipts they would have found the actual price was $14.29 per person per day, and included breakfast and rental fees for the workshop space and conference rooms.
<< Not a bad deal at all, especially in downtown Washington. "If you're talking D.C., you certainly can't have any basic continental breakfast for $16," says Krista Minitelli, president of Hudson Event Group, which plans conferences around the country. "A very basic breakfast is at least $25--and they just have bread and coffee, maybe fruit. In New York, a continental breakfast is in the thirties." Minitelli called the prices cited in the government audit--including $1 per ounce for hotel coffee--"absolutely standard." In a statement to Bloomberg Businessweek on Tuesday, the chastened Inspector General's office conceded that it might not have been in possession of all the facts. "Since our report was issued, the Capital Hilton has stated that other food and beverage items, such as coffee, tea, and fruit, were included in the charged amount." >>
Source:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/revisiting-the-16-muffin-09292011.html
Will the media devote as much time to the true story as they devoted to the false story?
First, Hilton's unsubstantiated CLAIM does not equal a true story. They sent a letter claiming that $14.29 all inclusive breakfast price. They did not actually send evidence. Second, you left out an important quote from the story you decided to link.
<< But not always. Muffins aside, the IG’s report points up other instances where the Justice Dept. overpaid for sweet treats. At a 2009 Justice conference in San Francisco, the government was billed $32 per person for a snack of popcorn, Cracker Jack, and candy bars. Department officials didn’t jump up to dispute that part of the audit. Says Gina Talamona, a Justice spokeswoman: “We agree that excessive spending of the types identified in the OIG report should not occur.” >>
The government is wasteful. This is an indisputable fact. Of course, that waste crosses party lines and is not just a Democrat issue.
<< But not always. Muffins aside, the IG’s report points up other instances where the Justice Dept. overpaid for sweet treats. At a 2009 Justice conference in San Francisco, the government was billed $32 per person for a snack of popcorn, Cracker Jack, and candy bars. Department officials didn’t jump up to dispute that part of the audit. Says Gina Talamona, a Justice spokeswoman: “We agree that excessive spending of the types identified in the OIG report should not occur.” >>
The government is wasteful. This is an indisputable fact. Of course, that waste crosses party lines and is not just a Democrat issue.
<< The government is wasteful. This is an indisputable fact. Of course, that waste crosses party lines and is not just a Democrat issue. >>
One of the worst abusers at the Justice Department was Chris Christie, who was a U.S. Attorney before he became governor of NJ.
<< "In terms of the percentage of travel, U.S. Attorney C was the U.S. Attorney who most often exceeded the government rate without adequate justification," the report found. "The U.S. Attorney provided insufficient, inaccurate, or no justification for 14 of 23 trips (61 percent) that exceeded the government rate."
<< The fiscally conservative Republican governor was one of a "relatively small number of U.S. Attorneys" who did not comply with federal travel regulations or provide appropriate justification for his lodging costs which exceeded the government rate. He was just one of five U.S. Attorneys identified "who exhibited a noteworthy pattern of exceeding the government rate and whose travel documentation provided insufficient, inaccurate, or no justification for the higher lodging rates."
<< One footnote mentions that Christie set up and had the government pay for a prearranged car service for a four-mile trip back and forth from the Boston airport at a price of $236 round trip. "In another example of excessive transportation costs, his car service from a London airport to his hotel in central London cost $562 round trip," the report added. >>
Source:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/chris_christie_no_1_us_attorney_in_wasting_govt_travel_money.php
One of the worst abusers at the Justice Department was Chris Christie, who was a U.S. Attorney before he became governor of NJ.
<< "In terms of the percentage of travel, U.S. Attorney C was the U.S. Attorney who most often exceeded the government rate without adequate justification," the report found. "The U.S. Attorney provided insufficient, inaccurate, or no justification for 14 of 23 trips (61 percent) that exceeded the government rate."
<< The fiscally conservative Republican governor was one of a "relatively small number of U.S. Attorneys" who did not comply with federal travel regulations or provide appropriate justification for his lodging costs which exceeded the government rate. He was just one of five U.S. Attorneys identified "who exhibited a noteworthy pattern of exceeding the government rate and whose travel documentation provided insufficient, inaccurate, or no justification for the higher lodging rates."
<< One footnote mentions that Christie set up and had the government pay for a prearranged car service for a four-mile trip back and forth from the Boston airport at a price of $236 round trip. "In another example of excessive transportation costs, his car service from a London airport to his hotel in central London cost $562 round trip," the report added. >>
Source:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/chris_christie_no_1_us_attorney_in_wasting_govt_travel_money.php
