Audit Finds $16 Muffins at Justice Department Conferences
EmailIn these tough economic times when austerity and budget cuts are daily discussions in Washington, D.C., and on Main Street, the Justice Department didn’t seem to get the memo on spending for agency-sponsored conferences, including buying $16 muffins and $10 cookies, according to a new Justice Department Inspector General audit released Tuesday.
The cost may be tough to swallow considering an Inspector General audit from 2007 found that a DOJ-sponsored conference spent almost $5 per Swedish meatball.
The review found that DOJ employees attended or participated in 1,832 conferences with a total cost of $121 million in fiscal years 2008 and 2009. The Inspector General analyzed 10 specific conferences which cost $4.4 million.
The report revealed, “one conference served $16 muffins while another served Beef Wellington hors d’oeuvres that cost $7.32 per serving. Coffee and tea at the events cost between $0.62 and $1.03 an ounce. At the $1.03 per-ounce price, an 8-ounce cup of coffee would have cost $8.24.
“For event planning services, DOJ spent $600,000 (14 percent of costs) to hire training and technical assistance providers as external event planners for 5 of the 10 conferences reviewed. This was done without demonstrating that these firms offered the most cost effective logistical event planning services. Further, these event planners did not accurately track and report conference expenditures,” the audit noted.
The report highlights two examples where the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) spent over $32,000 in planning meetings in Palm Springs, Calif., for two conferences.
In another instance at an Office of Violence Against Women conference, “OVW conference attendees received Cracker Jacks, popcorn, and candy bars at a single break that cost $32 per person.”
The $16 muffins were served at a conference hosted by the Executive Office for Immigration and Review (EOIR). “The EOIR spent $4,200 on 250 muffins and $2,880 on 300 cookies and brownies. By itemizing these costs, we determined that, with service and gratuity, muffins cost over $16 each and cookies and brownies cost almost $10 each,” the audit noted.
Although the nearly $5 meatball was revealed in the 2007 audit, and new guidelines were implemented in 2008, the Inspector General concluded, “DOJ components hosting conferences in FY 2008 and FY 2009 did not adequately attempt to minimize conference costs as required by federal and DOJ guidelines.”
The Inspector General’s report made 10 recommendations to cut conference expenditures. These include reviewing hotel service charges, logistical and salaries for conference workers, and conducting cost comparisons.
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But aren’t $16 muffins and $10 cookies economically “stimulating”? If you believe that, audit Pelosi. They’d probably find $16 cupcakes and $10 crackers.
Posted by: newcountryman | September 20, 2011, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
At least it was all green though eh? Don’t worry about the spending, we’ll just use class warfare to pay for everything. The government should always be allowed to take whatever they wish from the people for whatever they want. Tea Partiers are scolded when they stand in the way of this kind of policy though.
Posted by: TexBork | September 20, 2011, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
At least the audit didn’t reveal any Government waste like employees going back for seconds. It’s great that the Government can operate so frugally.
Posted by: Tired of Idiocy | September 20, 2011, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
I bet the bakery that made those $16 muffins and $10 cookies has great benefit packages. After all, they have to pass security protocols in making those muffins and cookies. Don’t want any naughty ingredients getting in there. It’s not like the hotel staff could run across the street and buy whatever Walmart has on special.
Posted by: Wayne | September 20, 2011, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm
The amount of waste in our government is outrageous.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | September 20, 2011, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
Wayne – How do we know the bakery made the muffins and cookies? They may have gone across the street to the Wal-Mart, bought the stuff, brought it back to the bakery and arranged it nicely on serving trays. The coffee may have been “Folgers” in a 5 lb. can and the tea could have been “Lipton” flow through bags. They spent $32 for cracker jacks, popcorn and candy bars that probably averaged 50 cents each in initial cost. Nobody in the Government bothered to find out what the cost of the ESSENTIAL food and beverages were. Government regulation at it’s best – it just doesn’t apply to them – and so we need more Government.
Posted by: Tired of Idiocy | September 20, 2011, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
everyone needs to pay their fair share so gov employees can eat 16 dollar muffins. The US governement is criminal or fellony stupid. if government spent wisely, i’m sure many would not mind paying taxes. When obama says we need to tax the whealthy he really means tax the whitey. He cleverly uses class and racial warfare in the same sentence. This is his backdoor reperations, just like his back door imigration policy. impeachment time.
Posted by: bcc | September 20, 2011, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
What an amazing example of waste and abuse of the system. I doubt much has changed since these events occurred in fiscal year 2008 and 2009……..
Posted by: Searambler | September 20, 2011, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
“When obama says we need to tax the whealthy he really means tax the whitey. He cleverly uses class and racial warfare in the same sentence. This is his backdoor reperations, just like his back door imigration policy. impeachment time.”
Bwahahahahahahahahaha! Thanks, that was truly the funniest post I’ve read today. Completely devoid of fact, and replete with bad spelling and grammar. Republican to the core…………
Posted by: Searambler | September 20, 2011, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
“What an amazing example of waste and abuse of the system. I doubt much has changed since these events occurred in fiscal year 2008 and 2009……..
“I’d say the change has been at least another $535 million…
Posted by: GK | September 20, 2011, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
they attended the equivalent of 2.5 conferences per day during 2008-09 at a cost of $121 million? what on earth are they learning at these conferences? and does anyone at the DOJ have time to do any actual work? what a joke!
Posted by: grumpopolis | September 20, 2011, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
50 CENTS FOR THE MEATBALL, $4.50 FOR THE RELATIVE THAT SERVED IT.
Posted by: LIBBY WOOLBRIGHT | September 20, 2011, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
What? There aren’t any meeting rooms available in DC?
Posted by: Dawn | September 20, 2011, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
Meetings are usually a waste of time. I retired partly because I was tired of them.
Posted by: newcountryman | September 20, 2011, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
WOW! WE SHOULD BLAME OBAMA BECAUSE EVERYTHING DIDN’T CHANGE IN WASHINGTON AS SOON AS HE WAS ELECTED!
Or, we could take note of the people who want to try and blame this on him… and never take what they say as worth reading or replying to.
Posted by: Dewbacaa | September 20, 2011, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
Obama has no special intesrest in Solyndra. He bought their stocks just to set an example that how much he believe in green energy. Good investment, Obama espcially with taxpayers’ 500 million dollars.
Muffins ? it does not sound like Obama’s style. During the recession, Nancy Pelokio’s investment portfolio goes up some forty percent when most others’ does not.
Posted by: acdc2012 | September 20, 2011, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
And people wonder why those who pay taxes are against getting them raised?
Posted by: david | September 20, 2011, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
If our government can afford to pay $16 for a muffin …. they have Plenty of money! Don’t need to raise taxes.
Obama, just look around you – you will Find the money — its there. You haven’t been spending it wisely.
No more tax increases on anyone.
Posted by: Paul | September 20, 2011, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
So, we’re going to complain like crazy about maybe $1000 worth of groceries , but $ 4 bil a year in oil subsidies to the already mega-rich oil companies is something we can afford , this according to conservatives . You people are about stupid .
Posted by: jackfrosted | September 21, 2011, 4:54 am 4:54 am
jackfrosted…as if the two things are even remotely related. more partisan sandbox spitting nonsense. and as if the one being absurd makes the other not so. great logic.
Posted by: grumpopolis | September 21, 2011, 7:17 am 7:17 am
This sort of thing goes on…….because our government doesn’t care what it pays for anything………because they are spending OUR money to pay for it!
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | September 21, 2011, 9:19 am 9:19 am
What is not mentioned in the audit is that most hotels give agencies deep discounts on blocks of rooms for hotel attendees, as well as discounts for renting multiple conference rooms for break-out sessions. In addition, a lot of hotels will not ALLOW outside food to be brought in for conference attendees – they are required to use the hotel caterers or whatever food source the hotel has contracted for such events.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 21, 2011, 11:07 am 11:07 am
They had to order them throught GSA and we know how that works where you order using all the certain specs, size weight, color and etc… It cost a fortunate to try and create to spec.
Posted by: David | September 21, 2011, 11:08 am 11:08 am
Oh yes $16 muffins are much more scandalous than the investigation into the Fast and Furious Operation and the subsequent killings with the guns that DOJ and ATF bought for Mexican Drug Cartels. Come on ABC report on that.
Posted by: Phil Whirley | September 21, 2011, 11:33 am 11:33 am
I bet if the gov’t would cut out alot of these “conferences” and stop using fashionable/expensive designer companies to provide the food, we could find a lot of money to balance the budget. Here’s another idea. How about lawmakers/congress and senate people pay for their own air fare and gas for their cars? Tear up these govt credit cards that give them cart blanche to spend the taxpayers money on frivilous things such as this.
Posted by: max | September 21, 2011, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Who said they have great benefits if muffins cost that much… think again… This was at a hotel and they’re notorious for goughing… Where they get you is if you need space for a large number of people you need the hotel… then if anyone eats or has a cup of coffee at all during the day you have to buy it from the hotel. Go online and check what these hotel wackos charge! As for those benefits… yeah ask a maid cleaning rooms… you practically starve while the hotel pleads they can’t afford a better wage for staff. Then let’s look at part time, insurance and the rest to survive. The hotel system is a mess… and you know what you pay for a room in a large city… if you don’t- price em out online… this was in DC>
Posted by: Say it isn's so | September 21, 2011, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
The muffins were expensive because they had to be vetted. Only Top Secret muffins can be used!
Posted by: Larry | September 21, 2011, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
Looks like they didn’t use a “mandatory source” for the muffins and therefore did not get the best buy for the government. Ever hear of video conferencing? In this economy, why not a potluck, everyone bring something to eat? Brown bag conferences. I have been to many “brown bag” training sessions. If you want something to eat, the vending machine is down the hall. Geez, our agency is so strapped we bought our own desk calendars last year.
Posted by: Elaine | September 21, 2011, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
While eye-opening, your piece on DOJ expenditures needed additional facts, like when these audits were performed. Everyone I speak to about this is quick to blame the Obama administration. In fact his administration inherited this situation along with the rapidly escalating debt from two wars and the cost of fear mongering in America. Having said that, Obama’s administration has done little to stem the tide of government waste. Perhaps we can kill two birds with a single stone here. Add more jobs by hiring more accountants at GAO. They apparently can’t keep up or don’t care either.
Posted by: Irve Towers | September 21, 2011, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
I watched an ABC News Nightly broadcast with D. Sawyer tonight that reported the DOJ sponsored a conference where muffins were supplied to attendees at a cost of $16 per. While this offends my sensibilities as a tax payer, what offends me more is the Republican Congressman attempting to capitalize on a supercilious expenditure of $1000. compared to the illegal invasion and approximate $8,000,000,000,000. cost of the war in Iraq and the tens of thousands of good lives sacrificed in the name of George Bush, Dick Cheney and the throngs that elected these yahoos (no offense to yahoo.com).
Posted by: Christopher Bearden | September 21, 2011, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
These prices are not unusual, all hotels charge outlandish prices for the most meagre of refreshments. I also believe that at many of these events the DOJ received free conference space. While it wat not proved that this was more cost effective it is quite normal as well. This just goes to show how much mark up the hotels are charging on their food and beverage operations. Training and networking events for staff are sometimes necessary, where else should they go? It also did not mention in the report if the attendees gave up any of their per diem/expense entitlements for meals in return for the refreshments provided.
Posted by: JT | September 22, 2011, 6:46 am 6:46 am
There is nothing out of character with the prices, and is pretty typical when you figure the costs for serving that muffin. You have the Pastry Kitchen, Chef, Ingredients, and O/H….then you have Banquet and Setups, Staff, Banquet Inventory, O/H then you have Catering, Setup, Glassware, Linens, Perishables, O/H. The you have Room Rental costs, free meeting room for F&B for 250 people. (Estimated 8-10k sq/ft room.) could rent for 10K a day ++ easily.) Then add on Hotel Profit…
Posted by: Karl Nybergh | September 22, 2011, 11:43 am 11:43 am
This just proves how spending is out of control …it used to be the 100 dollar hammer we were woried about spending.Put Susie Orman as the Money person for Gov. and she will say NO!
Posted by: M R | September 22, 2011, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
They were probably bought from some more of Obama’s and Eric Holders donors and fundraisers.
Posted by: Freedom | September 22, 2011, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
the reason this keeps happening is that……. wait for it……. no one is held responsible. when people start going to JAIL for this guess what, it will stop! Instead we just keep laughing and making jokes because it’s not our money right?? It’s just our Tax $. We are stupid, or at least the Politicians think so.
Posted by: Tiimm71 | September 22, 2011, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
These people should be told to bring their own food and drinks to work, like the rest of the working world. Are these people actually doing any work? Attending conferences every day with free food and drinks doesn’t sound like work to me. We are being so ripped off, as taxpayers! This is so bogus and some of you people can’t even see it!
Posted by: toinette | September 22, 2011, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
These are not muffins if they are $16 apiece- at that price they would more apptly be called “naked cupcakes”, well worth the price.
Posted by: ImissRonaldReagan | September 22, 2011, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
16$ muffins!? Shouldn’t it be 16$ apples and carrot sticks? MIchelle!?
Posted by: LIttle Ruthie | September 27, 2011, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm