United Liberty

For an government entity that will lose $7.8 billion in 2010, the United States Postal Service doesn’t seem all that concerned about cutting back to save some money, as Tad DeHaven writes over at Cato:

A recent audit by the USPS inspector general found $800,000 in unjustified and “imprudent” purchases, most of which occurred in just a five month span.

The following are some highlights lowlights:

• “No business justification was provided for $355,451 of food provided at a September 2008 national sales educational conference attended by over 600 employees…We noted that beer and wine were served on one occasion, a bartender charge of $500 was included on one occasion, and one dinner for 650 guests totaled $62,714, which is $96 per guest.”

• “A postmaster installation celebration and reception held in October 2008 included unallowable food purchases totaling over $17,000. The menu included crab cakes, beef wellington, shrimp, and scallops.”

• A two-day meeting in September 2008 that cost $27,567, including a per dinner cost of $93. In addition, employees were provided paid lodging “even though their official duty station was within nine miles of the conference facility.”

• Five employees purchased gift cards from unauthorized vendors totaling $31,791. Two districts purchased almost $15,000 worth of movie tickets. Another district purchased thirty retirement watches at $216 a pop.

• “Three meetings included expenses for flowers, linens, candles, and red carpets totaling $4,579.”

These are not rare lapses by a usually frugal USPS management. The inspector general has issued fourteen audits in the last three years with similar findings.

If this were a private entity that was losing billions and took federal funding for a bailout, such as TARP, or a “loan” similar to what automakers got, the Obama Administration would be pushing for congressional hearings, executive pay caps and warning them not to go to Las Vegas for their conventions.