I Say 'Lavish,' You Say 'Reasonable'
Today’s Washington Post reports on an audit of the spending habits of the head of the Smithsonian Institution. The Post writes:
“Lawrence M. Small, the top official at the Smithsonian Institution, accumulated nearly $90,000 in unauthorized expenses from 2000 to 2005, including charges for chartered jet travel, his wife's trip to Cambodia, hotel rooms, luxury car service, catered staff meals and expensive gifts, according to confidential findings by the Smithsonian inspector general.”
In addition, the Post noted Small got $1.15 million for “making his house available for official functions.” Did Small have to reimburse the Smithsonian? Not hardly. The newspaper wrote that the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents:
“referred the inspector general's findings to its audit committee, made up of four regents. The board last month accepted the committee's decision to dismiss the findings and defended Small's expenses as "reasonable." The regents also decided to rewrite several rules to authorize many of the transactions that had been deemed in violation of policy.”
According to the Post, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), who requested the report, is “shocked at what the Smithsonian is spending its money on.” Taxpayers should be, too!