Waste, possible fraud reported at TSA

[Martrae]

From Jeanne Meserve
CNN Washington Bureau
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 Posted: 4:04 AM EDT (0804 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Transportation Security Administration official spent $500,000 on art, silk plants and other decorations for a new operations center and then went to work for the vendor after leaving the agency, according to a report from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general.

The report found that self-imposed deadline pressures, combined with "inappropriate decision-making by individuals who operated with unchecked autonomy" led to waste and abuse in the construction process.

The operations center, located just outside Washington, has a 4,200-foot fitness center with a towel laundry service for 79 federal employees. It also has seven kitchens equipped with refrigerators, microwave ovens, ice makers and dishwashers.

The report said that the center's offices and work stations were larger than federal standards allow and that most had cable television.

The inspector general found that the project manager and other TSA employees routinely violated agency policies to buy furniture, leather briefcases, coffee pots and other items.

They concealed purchases of more than $2,500, including one for $47,449, by splitting them into several credit card transactions, the report said.

The report said that higher-ups at the TSA "quashed" efforts by procurement managers to exercise control.

A project oversight board eventually was formed, but it "did not provide control and oversight to ensure adherence to applicable procurement regulations and policy," the report said.

TSA spokesman Mark Hatfield said an internal audit uncovered the "waste and procurement shortcomings, and even potential fraud," and officials asked the inspector general to investigate.

Hatfield said the $500,000 purchase of decorations has been referred to the U.S. Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution. The report didn't identify the former official allegedly involved.

Hatfield said that even though the project was done under "aggressive deadlines," there was "no justification for intentional fraud."

He said procurement controls, which were fledgling or nonexistent at the time, are now in place to "ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars and the most competitive procurement practices in the federal government."

[Arlos]

$5000 hammer and $20,000 toilet seat redux.

-Arlos

[Captain Insano]

This is exactly why we need more government run programs... you fucking stupid liberals.

[labbats]

I just love the fact that we can't jump behind and enter from cargo anymore in some smaller cities. (This is as of a couple months ago.) Some moron at a desk decided that the very people in charge of the controls of an airplane needed to be x-rayed so we can be sure of everyone's safety. So now I have to wake up another 10 minutes earlier at outstations. TSA is ridiculous.

[Diekan]

I just love the fact that we can't jump behind and enter from cargo anymore in some smaller cities

what? speak english for us non-pilot types, man.

[labbats]

At smaller outstations like Knoxville, there's the ticket counter where you buy your tickets. There's a locked door behind that leading to where the luggage goes. Behind that is the tarmac to the plane. We used to be able to have one of the locals check our IDs and unlock the door to the back and get to the airplane to preflight it that way, bypassing security.

Now some fag behind a desk decided that it was in the interests of safety to make us go through TSA screening like all the passengers. It's not like we don't have control of the airplane already. What, am I going to sneak on a paperclip to assault someone to get to the flight deck that I already work on? It's ridiculous and it's costing me sleep.

[Harrison]

!ohnoz

[veeneedefeesh]

This is exactly why we need more government run programs... you fucking stupid liberals

hmmm was the TSA created by the liberals? I thought that this came into being when the "Patriot Act" (aka Big Brother) passed...

I have a "Homeland Security" officer working in our organization, the amount of CRAP he has purchased using Federal Gov't grant money (most of which he got at the express directive of the National Dept of Homeland Security) is un-freaking-believable. He has a laptop computer. Printer, blackberry, beeper, cell phone (2 of those actually), a digital camera, and some sort of UHF radio thingy that he carries with him at all times, now this is a man that cant work either one of his cell phones consistantly. Computers, printers, scanners, fax machines, digital cameras etc. are purchased at least once a year for his entire staff and then the last years models are "retired" to other departments. Of course we also have to replace the switches and routers that provide his office with internet service when we do the upgrades, because well.... we can. He also pays for satelite internet for my building (only broadband availableat that location). There are remote cameras set at various "strategic locations" throughout the county, each group of cameras each has a transmitter tower which beams a constant stream of data to my building. These data streams are captured, displayed on a monitor in his office (think the security desk at Walmart) and also recorded to be kept for a certain time period. I have seen this man pick up a phone and call a local military base and get 3 truckloads of gasoline delivered to his prefered location. (This actually happened during a emergency situation, but I say it to illistrate the amount of power he has at his fingertips). We are currently in the process of getting priority phone service for many of the elected officials' cell phones, and land lines in the name of "Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security" Which basically means that if the cellular network is full (which happens every friday around 5'o'clock, you can just about imagine what it is like during a real emergency) these elected officials can call their wives/mistresses and tell them what to cook for dinner that night while you the tax-payer get the little boop-boop-boop sound saying you are denied.

In an obscure way I benefit from this, because I get to research, order, setup, and operate this stuff, and probably at some point I will inherate some of the "retired" equipment. Your tax dollars are furthering my career, thanks America!

[Martrae]

If I remember correctly (and I may be completely wrong) it was the liberals that decided that TSA needed to be another government division.

[Tossica]

About TSA
History of TSA

President Bush Signs Aviation Security Legislation
Remarks by the President at Signing of Aviation Security Legislation at Ronald Reagan National Airport on November 19, 2001



Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) Public Law 107-71
On November 19 2001 the President signed into law the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) which among other things established a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) within the Department of Transportation.



The Service Commitment of TSA
The ultimate goal of TSA Service is to create an atmosphere that aligns with our passenger's need to be secure while ensuring the freedom of movement for people. In doing so our employees will assure customer confidence and ultimately establish a standard for passenger satisfaction.

[veeneedefeesh]

The Service Commitment of TSA
The ultimate goal of TSA Service is to create an atmosphere that aligns with our passenger's need to be secure while ensuring the freedom of movement for people. In doing so our employees will assure customer confidence and ultimately establish a standard for passenger satisfaction.

you gotta be shittin me right? create an atmosphere that aligns with our passenger's need to be secure while ensuring freedom of movement. yea right. Here in New Orleans several TSA employees were arrested for stealing shit out of peoples bags, I got on a plane once with my coworker who had a switchblade in his carryon bag....but they took his cigarette lighter that he had in his pocket even tho he told them he had another lighter just like it in his carryon bag. They x-rayd his bag, they HAD to have seen the knife AND the butane lighter, but they never took it away from him or even had him stow it in his regular bag. TSA is jsut another slush fund for politicians to funnel money out of federal coffers and into their supporters coffers and/or generate kickbacks

[Martrae]

The TSA bill was sponsored by Ernest F Hollings, Dem from SC. So I was right.

[Arlos]

And people from South Carolina are so noted for being radical liberals. Riiiight.

-Arlos

[Narrock]

[Martrae]

Someone mentioned 'radical' liberals?

[Rust]

The TSA bill was sponsored by Ernest F Hollings, Dem from SC. So I was right.

And cosponsored by 30 other Senators, including John McCain (R-AZ), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) among others.

What was your point again?

--R.

[Martrae]

Why not name some people that aren't RINOs?

Want the full list? It's a who's who of the rabid.

Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 9/21/2001
Sen Breaux, John B. [LA] - 9/21/2001
Sen Brownback, Sam [KS] - 10/1/2001
Sen Burns, Conrad R. [MT] - 9/21/2001
Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] - 10/9/2001
Sen Carnahan, Jean [MO] - 9/21/2001
Sen Cleland, Max [GA] - 9/21/2001
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 9/21/2001
Sen Daschle, Thomas A. [SD] - 9/21/2001
Sen Dayton, Mark [MN] - 10/1/2001
Sen Dorgan, Byron L. [ND] - 9/21/2001
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 10/4/2001
Sen Edwards, John [NC] - 9/21/2001
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 9/26/2001
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] - 9/21/2001
Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] - 9/21/2001
Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] - 9/21/2001
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 9/21/2001
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] - 10/15/2001
Sen McCain, John [AZ] - 9/21/2001
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] - 9/21/2001
Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] - 9/21/2001
Sen Reid, Harry [NV] - 9/21/2001
Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] - 9/21/2001
Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] - 9/21/2001
Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] - 9/24/2001
Sen Stevens, Ted [AK] - 9/24/2001
Sen Warner, John [VA] - 10/1/2001
Sen Wellstone, Paul D. [MN] - 9/21/2001
Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] - 9/21/2001

[Rust]

John Warner's a RINO? Ted Stevens?

What planet are *you* on, and how is the weather?

--R.

[Eziekial]

Looks like a majority of Dems to me. But in any case, the bill was passed so that means Republicans voted for it as well. It's a stupid department and will be folded into Homeland Security soon anyway. Not that I am happy about that department, what a waste...

[Martrae]

Quit being so contrary Rust and admit that the majority of it's sponsors were liberal, either by party affiliation or inclination. Which was my point.

It never should have been made into a government institution. If there's a way to screw it up the government will find a way of doing it and it looks like they did.

[Narrock]

I can't stand Barbara Boxer.

[Diabolik]

If I remember correctly (and I may be completely wrong) it was the liberals that decided that TSA needed to be another government division.

Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) Public Law 107-71
On November 19 2001 the President signed into law the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) which among other things established a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) within the Department of Transportation.

[Scoota McGee]

Any bill sponsored by:
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA]
or
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA]
is liberal.

imho... any bill that seeks to increase the amount of government in my life is liberal and should be shunned.

[Narrock]

Any bill sponsored by:
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA]
or
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA]
is liberal.

imho... any bill that seeks to increase the amount of government in my life is liberal and should be shunned.

Liberalism is tantamount to evilness. It's no longer about being "open-minded" and "progressive" but has warped into a hybrid fusion of indecency, immorality, and bad economics.

[Gidan]

Liberalism is

liberalism, philosophy or movement that has as its aim the development of individual freedom. Because the concepts of liberty or freedom change in different historical periods the specific programs of liberalism also change. The final aim of liberalism, however, remains fixed, as does its characteristic belief not only in essential human goodness but also in human rationality. Liberalism assumes that people, having a rational intellect, have the ability to recognize problems and solve them and thus can achieve systematic improvement in the human condition. Often opposed to liberalism is the doctrine of conservatism, which, simply stated, supports the maintenance of the status quo. Liberalism, which seeks what it considers to be improvement or progress, necessarily desires to change the existing order.

It in itseld if not evilness. That is as bad as saying Religion is tantamount to evilness, because some people are so fanatic about their religions that they beleive any who do not agree with them are idiots who have been corupted by propoganda or a bad upbringing.

The theory has not changed, the actions of some have changed. I am a liberal and proud of it.