$13,000 for brownies and cookies at the Justice Dept.
Today, an internal Justice Department audit exposed excessive spending on lavish DoJ parties and events. Some highlights:
An internal Justice audit, released Friday, showed the department spent nearly $7 million to plan, host or send employees to 10 conferences over the last two years. This included paying $4 per meatball at one lavish dinner and spreading an average of $25 worth of snacks around to each participant at a movie-themed party.
There was plenty, too, for those needing to satisfy a sweet tooth.
More than $13,000 was spent on cookies and brownies for 1,542 people who attended a four-day “Weed and Seed” conference in August 2005, according to the audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine. And a “networking” session replete with butterfly shrimp, coconut lobster skewers and Swedish meatballs at a Community Oriented Policing Services conference in July 2006 cost more than $60,000.
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93 Responses to “$13,000 for brownies and cookies at the Justice Dept.”
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“Weed and seed” parties?? Where can I apply?
September 14th, 2007 at 6:26 pmMan I am in the gig.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:28 pmHaven’t they ever heard of Keebler?
September 14th, 2007 at 6:30 pmThis reminds me of when Congress was writing rubber checks and buying elaborately expensive hammers. The rippling effect of those shenanigans lasted a looong time.
I look forward to it!
September 14th, 2007 at 6:31 pmHaven’t they ever heard of Keebler?
Comment by BARTLEBEE
Gonzales does kinda look like an elf.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:33 pm$4 per meatball? Gannon’s prices must have dropped.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:36 pmFor the Record, they were expensive, because they were “Laura Bush’s ‘SPECIAL’ Brownies”, just like the ones she sold to fund her way through college!!!
September 14th, 2007 at 6:44 pm$13K for 1542 people over four days works out to $2 per person per day. It is hardly excessive. If that is all they got, it is downright spartan. Conferences in hotels get old fast, and having a decent cookie and cup of coffee makes being away from home slightly more bearable. Find something big to pick on, like first class seats and $700/night luxury hotel rooms.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:45 pmAnd I’d be willing to wager that the food sucked.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:45 pmBut, but, but only Democrats are big spenders - this must be a mistake, Republicans are careful with our tax dollars - they tell us so all the time.
Snark
September 14th, 2007 at 6:47 pmcaption:
“Here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into, Gonzo!”
September 14th, 2007 at 6:49 pmAs much as I usually like Think Progress’s posts, I have to ask: have any of you ever booked a meeting space at a hotel or conference center? Usually the hotel or conference space limits you to their preferred caterer, and $13,000 for cookies and brownies over 4 days isn’t as outrageous as it sounds.
13000/(4*1542)=$2.11 per person per day
That’s a low-to-average per-person cost for a dessert tray at catering prices. I can’t really evaluate the other items without more data, but it doesn’t sound lavish by corporate meeting standards to me.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:49 pmGross.
I simply can’t get past that disgusting, wet looking meatball(s).
“Mama-mia!”
September 14th, 2007 at 6:50 pm- photo looks like the aftermath of an IED
September 14th, 2007 at 6:53 pmIt must to have been quite a party, to have left their pair behind.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:56 pm“Your nads on Repubs”
September 14th, 2007 at 6:57 pmThe DOJ spends $13k on brownies at a 4-day “Weed and Seed” conference? Damn these punchlines write themselves.
AF
September 14th, 2007 at 6:59 pmHow about this, Verbal?
A report distributed to Congressional offices in March, but not made public until now, reveals that Department of Commerce employees have been indulging in unauthorized, improper first- and business-class travel. ABC News notes that, “Ironically, the inspector general responsible for discovering the improper travel, Johnnie E. Frazier, resigned in June, facing multiple investigations into numerous allegations of abuse and mismanagement, including that he fraudulently charged the government for improper travel.” (ABC News)
September 14th, 2007 at 6:59 pmsee… it’s stories like this that make people HATE government…
i just listened to david sirota on rachel maddow…
there is a reason why we need government and
we need it to work well…
and THIS story is the reason why government needs oversight…
read his latest, NOW SYNDICATED WEEKLY COLUMN:
The Lesson Of The DMV
Like most people, I dislike spending time at the Division of Motor Vehicles.
But during a recent attempt to obtain a driver’s license, I discovered The Lesson of the DMV — one that flips economic dogma on its head, and that America should keep in mind as our state legislatures convene this winter.
[…]
http://www.creators.com/opinion/david-sirota.html
pass it on.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:05 pm.
All I remember was cookies on a table.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:07 pmHey! Three billion a week for a war; what’s $4 for a Swedish meatball?
September 14th, 2007 at 7:09 pmWell it may sound like alot, but that was $2.11 a day per person for cookies and brownies for them…..and I don’t want any SEEDS in my brownies.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:10 pmIt also found that three-quarters of the employees who attended the conferences demanded daily reimbursement for the cost of meals while traveling - effectively double-dipping into government funds.
Justice is
blindgreedy?Crime never pays, cookies do!!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:11 pmDisgusting! The taxpayers want their money back! They can buy meatballs and cookies on their own dime. Frauds - every last one of them ripping the people off either literally or figuratively.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:12 pmCaption for picture
September 14th, 2007 at 7:12 pmTurdblossom or Karl Rove
Guess that’s the only way these Bushitco sycophants can have any “balls” at all - the meatball kind! Emasculated pimps.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:13 pmHow about Rove’s “cooked balls”??
September 14th, 2007 at 7:13 pmor Alberto’s brown salty balls..
September 14th, 2007 at 7:16 pmThree trillion in added government debt in the last six years, as well as three million manufacturing jobs outsourced. That should worry you! When are we going to learn?
September 14th, 2007 at 7:21 pmAnd you people think healthcare should be run by the government?
September 14th, 2007 at 7:22 pmAnd you people think healthcare should be run by the government?
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Not a Republican government!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:26 pmNothing but the best for the best!
sarcasm/off
September 14th, 2007 at 7:27 pmOT - Moonbats stomp on American flag at 9/11 memorial : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZMgIKZUvFQ&eurl=
September 14th, 2007 at 7:30 pmAnd you people think healthcare should be run by the government?
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
They are doing well with Medicare Plan B. As an old fart, I know.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:30 pmMore than $13,000 was spent on cookies and brownies for 1,542 people who attended a four-day “Weed and Seed†conference in August 2005, according to the audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine.
You’re supposed to take the seeds out before you make them. Geez, Republicans.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:30 pmComment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Trying to change the subject? You failed!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:31 pmNot a Republican government!
Comment by JoeCaribe
—————————————–
So I assume you would prefer a one party state then?
September 14th, 2007 at 7:33 pmHow much did it cost the taxpayer’s to support fatass KKKarl’s “ice cream Fridays”?
September 14th, 2007 at 7:33 pmTrying to change the subject? You failed!
Comment by JoeCaribe
————————————————————–
Alright, let’s talk about over-priced government meatballs then.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:35 pmThe “13000/(4*1542)=$2.11 per person per day” from above is a bit misleading.
That cost is only for cookies and brownies during the convention, not a total food/catering bill. Just the sweets.
It makes me wonder what to total bill ended up looking like.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:36 pmSo I assume you would prefer a one party state then?
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
#
I would prefer multiple parties, just none of them republican. We could have the dems vs. the SEP vs. the Green Party vs. the VPA. See, four separate political parties, no republicans involved.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:37 pmMaybe they’ll use the “twinkie” defense when they are tried for their crimes.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:39 pmI would prefer multiple parties, just none of them republican. We could have the dems vs. the SEP vs. the Green Party vs. the VPA. See, four separate political parties, no republicans involved.
Comment by Chris L
———————————————–
Well who would conservatives vote for in your little dream world?
September 14th, 2007 at 7:41 pmSo I assume you would prefer a one party state then?
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
well, you clowns have tried that, and made a fine mess of it. I’d bet anything we can do it right.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:42 pmOT - Code Pink nutter goes berserk at Heritage Foundation debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaKok5mloHA
September 14th, 2007 at 7:42 pmWell who would conservatives vote for in your little dream world?
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
Admittedly. it would be tough for conservatives to find someone to screw them as reliably as the Repigs have done. But, they’re rather stupid, so they’d figure out who was worst for them, and go that way. As it ever was.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:43 pmThey are doing well with Medicare Plan B. As an old fart, I know.
Comment by WaltTheMan — September 14, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Explain what Medicare Plan B is; if it works, I”m all for it because it would also benefit my parents. Keep in mind that Ron Paul, someone whom I admire for his anti-war position, would also do away with any social(ist) laws such as Madicare and Medicaid.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:44 pmThosa balls are a tooa big!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:44 pmOT - Code Pink nutter goes berserk at Heritage Foundation debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaKok5mloHA
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
Once again you come out against free speech. On top of it, that was no nutter, just the truth, which is always against conservatives, thus the characterization.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:45 pmOnce again you come out against free speech.
Comment by smokey joe
———————————————————————-
How so?….I even provided a link so that the her crazy rant could be heard by everyone here.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:48 pmHow so?….I even provided a link so that the her crazy rant could be heard by everyone here.
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
crazy rant? that wasn’t Bush in that vid, that was a citizen speaking truth to traitors. no wonder you don’t get it.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:50 pmLooks like cow sh!t to me.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:50 pmOn top of it, that was no nutter…..
Comment by smokey joe — September 14, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
————————————————————–
You think she sounded sensible?
September 14th, 2007 at 7:50 pmLooks like cow sh!t to me.
Comment by ForTruth
————————————
For once we agree.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:51 pmJingo sez:
More sensible than you’ve ever been able to manage, Jingo.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:51 pmThere’s a pair to draw to, eh Ringo?
September 14th, 2007 at 7:52 pmYou think she sounded sensible?
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
certainly more so than Bush and Betrayus in the last few days. or years.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:52 pmWhat are you talking about? Ringo.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:53 pm‘nite moonbats.
See you on Monday.
And all you North-Eastern moonbats, don’t miss the big tantrum in DC tomorrow:http://www.answerla.org/
September 14th, 2007 at 7:54 pmOh, don’t go yet, your meatballs are just coming out!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:57 pmAnd all you North-Eastern moonbats, don’t miss the big tantrum in DC tomorrow:http://www.answerla.org/
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Too bad you’re missing the big tantrum in iraq, coward.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:57 pmJingo sez:
Run away, Jingo…after all, that’s one of the few things you trolls are good at….
September 14th, 2007 at 7:59 pmThose are blobby looking meatballs. You couldn’t pay me to eat them….wait, maybe that’s how they spent so much…..
September 14th, 2007 at 8:01 pmExplain what Medicare Plan B is; if it works, Iâ€m all for it because it would also benefit my parents. Keep in mind that Ron Paul, someone whom I admire for his anti-war position, would also do away with any social(ist) laws such as Madicare and Medicaid.
Comment by JoeCaribe — September 14, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
Medicare Plan B pays for doctor’s visits and hospitalization for those over 65 or disabled. There is a deductable, but one can get private insurance that puts an upper limit on that deductable. Plan B does not cover drugs - that falls under Plan D. At the current time, Plan D is useless as the current law does not allow negotiation in pricing drugs. What that boils down to is that individuals who select Plan D as opposed to those who go to private plans actually end up paying more in premiums and drug costs.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:05 pm“Well who would conservatives vote for in your little dream world?”
Comment by Ringo
How about Lyndon La Rouche? He’s just nutty enough…
September 14th, 2007 at 8:19 pmLet’s put this in perspective folks. Look what we got for Alberto Gonzales’ salary.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:19 pmwonkette posted yesterday that Regina Schofield, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, resigned from the doj. one of her proud accomplishments:
“We helped crime victims through Katrina and watched new successes in Weed and Seed sites across the country.”
i wonder …
http://wonkette.com/ politics/ more-time-with-family-dept%27/ top-doj-official-resigns-v-quietly-299755.php
September 14th, 2007 at 8:24 pmRingo’s a n*tless wonder, folks. hat’s why i always ask him how the neuticles are working out.
Apart from that little PSA, I’ve heard more than once that the secret GOP plan is to bankrupt the Federal govt, make it sell off all its assets (read - NAt parks…) and then contract permanently.
THAT would certainly explain the size of the f-in’ deficits Bru$chCo has obligingly run up the last 7 yrs, and when you factor in the % of the national debt Ronnie and W’s papa helped run up too, it certainly gives credence to that theory, no?
$13,000 for brownies and Swedish meatballs? F-in’ traitors.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:28 pmBy the way TP. That photo doesn’t look like food. At least not the undigested kind.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:38 pmHow much taxpayer money does Feminism waste?
September 14th, 2007 at 9:59 pmNone.
Run away, Johnny.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:14 pm“Johnny Bravo”??? Don’t you realize, Johnny, that your “hey there, little momma” gig on Cartoon Network was over about 10 years ago? Crawl back to your two-dimensional hole, moron, and leave the real discussion to we adults.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:24 pm$13K taxpayer money on brownies and cookies for parties?
Haven’t any of those brainiacs at the DOJ ever heard of freakin’ potluck?!
September 14th, 2007 at 10:25 pmJohhny Bravo is now a porta-potti company.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:38 pm“Well who would conservatives vote for in your little dream world?
Comment by Ringo”
Whoever Diebold decides should win.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:48 pmHow much taxpayer money does Feminism waste?
Comment by johnny bravo — September 14, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
Gee I don’t know. Next time I see Gloria Steinam I’ll ask her for you.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:49 pmSo does “Weed and Seed” party mean they ate pot laced brownies?
September 14th, 2007 at 11:26 pmSo I assume you would prefer a one party state then?
Comment by Ringo
That is what you and your ilk have been attempting for many years now. It wasn’t until 2006 when the Right was handed it’s walking papers that we came close to being a two party system again. I guess you forgot all those years where the Democrats were completely shut out of the legislative process. I guess you forgot that the Republicans wouldn’t even allow the Democrats to hold a hearing in chambers, but made them go to the basement. I guess you forgot your God Karl Rove’s plan for a permanent Republican majority. Instead what he has caused may end up in a permanent Democratic majority.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:42 pmExplain what Medicare Plan B is
Medicare Plan B is welfare for the big pharmaceutical companies who weren’t making enough profit before then and need an obscene injection of profit straight from our pockets.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:45 pmHow much taxpayer money does Feminism waste?
Comment by johnny bravo
Whats the matter johnny, did your woman leave you? Poor baby. Suck it up, you can always go pay for it.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:47 pmExcuse me, but what happened to TP’s troll problem? I’m not trying to summon them…
September 14th, 2007 at 11:50 pmAnd you people think healthcare should be run by the government?
Comment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
They are doing well with Medicare Plan B. As an old fart, I know.
Comment by WaltTheMan
the whole problem w medicare is that it bankrupt us before social security. The whole problem w people not being personally responsible to try to control costs because someone else is paying for it. The government is the worst person who should pay for anything- look at our national debt, look at who holds a lot of our debt securities, look at how much of our budget goes just to pay interest, republicans used to be more conservative fiscally, but now many of them think they can get reeleected by spending money for their districts. Thomas Jefferson said a democracy will cease to exist when the government takes away more from the producers and gives it to the consumers (essentially) I work in the medical field and we treat many many Canadian pts who cant wait for care in the overtaxed country of canada. gOVERNMENT. run healthcare is doomed to fail. anything the goverment trys to give people the people end up ruining it. Public housing, public transportation, blah blah blah
September 15th, 2007 at 12:43 amKevin–it sounds as if YOU are part of the problem. Used to be that people in the medical field went into that kind of work because they CARED about helping people. The other part of the problem is big pharma and the insurance companies….everyone sees what kind of bucks they’re raking in and wants a piece of it too.
September 15th, 2007 at 7:13 amThe only reason anyone in medicine would dislike Medicare is that pricing is more controlled and the patient cannot be bullied into paying more for a service than it has been determined it’s worth.
Hell, most doctors LOVE Medicare as the payments are made faster–and are usually correct, as there are GUIDELINES. You defraud the government, you’re in big trouble. You defraud a patient, most likely not. You defraud an insurance company–they just RAISE the premiums on everyone else.
Weed and seed….hmmm….a networking party….hmmm….was it intended to weed out possible liberals and seed with true believers like Monica Goodling?
On healthcare: my son was gouged by a passing bicycle. It took less than 40 minutes (after 4 hours waiting in the emergency room) to give him 16 stitches. Cost? $1600. I’m a self employed single parent. My insurance rate is over 7 grand a year. Insanity.
September 15th, 2007 at 10:09 amtest
September 15th, 2007 at 10:10 amPublic housing, public transportation, blah blah blah
Comment by kevin — September 15, 2007 @ 12:43 am
So there is no way the government could provide for the nation’s defense in your scenario?
September 15th, 2007 at 10:34 am“for the record” you can get two balls in your mouth for 4$ from jake, if your a member of the bush administration. jake sells his love cheap to the saviours who had saved us from the imminent threat of saddams non existent nuclear weapons, whose existence + subsequent removal by aliens has never been disproven.
September 15th, 2007 at 11:01 amAt a “weed and seed” convention, I think we can all imagine what kind of brownies those were.
As for the lobster, etc… they’re GONNA get the munchies, right? Use logic people!
;-)
September 15th, 2007 at 11:47 amHey, it’s only our money, after all.
Comforting to see how it’s all being spent. Only the best for our competent DoJ employees.
September 15th, 2007 at 2:21 pmThey must have done a heckuva job on those brownies.
September 15th, 2007 at 2:57 pmOh, I thought the money for cookies and brownies was for our troops…you know, the Girl Scouts. Why don’t Boy Scouts sell cookies?
September 16th, 2007 at 9:30 pmI thought that the money for cookies and brownies were for our troops…the Girl Scouts. Why don’t Boy Scouts sell cookies?
September 16th, 2007 at 9:33 pm13k for 1.5k over 4 days isn’t that bad, actually.
13k/4=3.25K. Assume that there were three meals/day, and two snacks– average for a business convention. So that’s 3.25/5=$650 per meal or snack break. Now take into account the number of people attending– 1,542. So that’s 650/1542=42 cents/per person per meal. Assume everyone got a cookie and a brownie– so that’s 21 cents per cookie or brownie.
Which is cheap compared to what you pick up in the mall, and really cheap compared to average catering costs.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:03 am