Despite Budget Crisis, CA Spends Millions on Cars and Furniture
Even as the state grappled with a budget crisis last year, bureaucrats spent nearly $45 million on new vehicles, almost $30 million on new furniture and more than $2 million on off-site meetings and conferences, a legislative panel has found.
The expenditures were outlined in a report released Monday by the Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review, which plans to call on state agency managers to explain their spending at a hearing Wednesday.
"These expenses came despite an executive order from the governor last year for each state agency to cut costs and eliminate vehicle purchases unless they were for emergency purposes," said Mark Martin, a consultant for the committee.
Some agencies said they spent only what was budgeted and necessary to do their jobs.
The report says that the California Air Resources Board spent $433,000 on furniture last year. Agency spokesman Stanley Young said much of the cost was for building cubicles for new employees at its El Monte office.
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Phrogge
Ohhhh....please help us. We've spent all of our state's money (and then some.) Now we need everybody to send us their money so we can spend it too.
Not a Pinko
LETS BREAK THIS DOWN:
INEXPENSIVE FURNITURE
CARS AT 16,500 (AND WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE BUYING CARS FOR ANYWAY)
FANTASTIC DEALS THAT POLITICIANS AND CELEBRITIES GET
COMES TO AND I'M BEING VERY GENEROUS HERE
1MIL IF THAT
Not a Pinko
THESE PEOPLE ARE LINING THEIR POCKETS BECAUSE THERES NO WAY CARS AND FURNITURE ARE WORTH 75 MIL DOLLARS. PLUS POLITICIANS COULD GET GOOD DEALS. THEIR STEALING OUR MONEY.
Duh Captain
And our childrens future!
TomYoung75
This was stimulus money. Google it or check out this link - http://stimuluswatch.org/2.0/performance_places/state/CA
Duh Captain
Now I hear that Maryland is begging our Kenyan leader for 30 Billion because of a corrupt and inept, freespending Governtment! NJ could be begging too, along with a number of other states! Take a look at Detroit. . . this could be your city next!
Do a search with the words "Detroit crime" and you will get the idea!
Duh Captain
They will continue spending because they know that the WH & Capitol Hill will NOT let them fail. More than likely they would go into Receivership just like NY City did in 1975. They are now trying to raise more taxes, which will ultimately be the State's undoing by driving out the wealthy and small businesses. In the end, we will be on the hook for California's fiscal irresponsibility in addition to the 14 trillion or so, Federal deficit by 2011. Thus, so goes the Progressive Nation! :>(
Visionist
Look to California to see what is in store for the rest of America.....
WAKE UP !!!
reform in 2010
Our wonderful liberal government at work! Take note, America: This is where we're headed if we allow Obama's policies to succeed. The U.S. government will be down in the bankruptcy toilet along with California.
saltydizzle
california was bankrupt way before the democratic WH.
moesite
salty; so what? bankrupt is bankrupt !
AProudAmericanPatriot
That's so true! Let's blame it on Bush!
BWAtl
That's the progressive way,but don't worry,they're to big to fail.
T Workman
Its time to start fireing some people. The people on the Air Resources Board
are appointed not elected. Fire them and return the furniture. Better yet have a yard sale