Your Tax Dollars at Work: VA’s Multimillion-Dollar Conference Tab
Take a couple of minutes and watch the video above, a take-off on the movie “Patton” used as a Veterans Administration (VA) training film.
Did you enjoy it? I certainly hope so, because it cost taxpayers $52,000.
That’s according to ABC News, which reports on a pair of multi-million dollar training conferences the VA held last year:
Some of the preliminary findings of the investigation include $3,000 spent for two photographers and $84,000 for VA-branded promotional items including $20-25,000 for pens, highlighters with post-it note, and hand sanitizer. The committee also found that conference attendees may have received alcohol, gift baskets, concert tickets, embroidered pillow cases, stretch limousines, helicopter rides, and spa treatments.”….
….The Department of Veterans’ Affairs responded today saying, “This parody should never have been produced and this misuse of taxpayer funds is completely unacceptable. This event took place over a year ago and we have already adopted new rules that reflect our continuing commitment to safeguarding taxpayer dollars.”
The estimated cost of the events is between $3 and $9 million.
The news has sparked questions from the House Committee on Veterans Affairs: Jeff Miller, the Republican chairman, and Bob Filner, the Democratic ranking member, have written VA Secretary Eric Shinseki for answers. Kudos to them—it’s always good to see bipartisan demands for accountability about the abuse of taxpayer dollars.
You may recall that earlier this year, leadership at the U.S. General Services Administration ended up in hot water when it was revealed the agency had spent more than $823,000 on a lavish Las Vegas conference. That scandal led to the resignation of the GSA’s chief. Maybe it’s time for a similar shake-up at VA, to send a clear message that it’s not acceptable to squander taxpayer dollars.
Concerned Veterans for America is a bipartisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization that advocates for policies that will preserve the freedom and liberty we and our families so proudly fought and sacrificed to defend.