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View Full Version : Secretary of Interior's private office bathroom renovation cost $222,000




Confederate
01-22-2013, 02:11 AM
Interior Department's 2007 bathroom renovation cost $222,000 (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-34222_162-57564279-10391739/interior-departments-2007-bathroom-renovation-cost-$222000/)


In 2007, the Interior Department wasn't skimping on its own interior. The department spent $222,000 that year to renovate the bathroom in the interior secretary's private office.

Under the direction of President George W. Bush's Interior secretary, Dirk Kempthorne, the department made a number of lavish renovations to the 100-square-foot bathroom: New wall panels cost more than $1,500, while custom cabinetry was installed for $26,000. The bathroom was outfitted with a $689 faucet, a $65 vintage tissue holder and even a $3,500 refrigerator. (What the heck do you need a fridge in the bathroom for?!?!)

The renovation was pricey enough to spark an internal investigation in 2009. Cox Media's Washington bureau filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain the results of the review and finally received those documents this year.

"A number of the items incorporated into the renovation project call into question the need for luxurious materials," government auditors wrote in the 2009 report.

The Interior Department said the renovations -- which were approved and contracted by the General Services Administration -- were needed because of water leaks in the bathroom. The GSA told CBSNews.com, "These renovations began in 2007, which predates the current leadership at both the GSA and the Department of Interior. Under the current leadership, we have greater oversight to ensure the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. The renovations were part of a larger restoration project at the historic facility."

"The country is broke," David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, told Cox. "We can't afford, as taxpayers, the remodeling of bathrooms or any rooms that don't need to be remodeled."

When it isn't renovating bathrooms, the Interior Department is responsible for the oversight of federal lands, natural resources and programs relating to Native Americans.

Warrior_of_Freedom
01-22-2013, 03:33 AM
The freezer is for the babies

FSP-Rebel
01-23-2013, 12:48 PM
Even though it's minutia, stories like this should be an easy way for both sides to agree that spending is out of control. All depts can handle a 10% cut off the top, at minimum, just for starters.

Lucille
01-23-2013, 12:50 PM
Only the best for the Ruling Class.

gwax23
01-23-2013, 01:21 PM
He must take some expensive shits. Tax payer paid shits of course. AMERICA!

Philhelm
01-23-2013, 01:26 PM
Even though it's minutia, stories like this should be an easy way for both sides to agree that spending is out of control. All depts can handle a 10% cut off the top, at minimum, just for starters.

Should be...

Brian4Liberty
01-23-2013, 01:58 PM
were needed because of water leaks in the bathroom

Lol. $220,000 to fix water leaks? Valves, faucets and (a standard) toilet could be replaced for less than $200.

kcchiefs6465
01-23-2013, 02:31 PM
The government's spending money on frivolous, ridiculous shit? :eek: I would be more shocked if the story said they fixed the bathroom for $200. I still want to know how much money they spent on their little ale making adventures. I take that back. I probably don't.

kcchiefs6465
01-23-2013, 02:34 PM
Should be...
Well it was under George W. Bush.... maybe we could get a consensus that this is crazy? Two hundred thousand is small potato waste anyways. They literally can't find billions of dollars. Said they might as well have thrown it out of an airplane for all they know what happened to it. We are talking of incompetence and fraud on the scale of which you could not imagine.