Audit: Taxpayer money used to pay for $222K renovation to official's bathroom

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**Frazzled**

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/audit-taxpayer-money-used-pay-222k-renovation-offi/nTxjQ/

Audit: Taxpayer money used to pay for $222K renovation to official's bathroom
The renovation was done on the interior secretary's private office bathroom. The bathroom is approximately 100 square feet and cost about $222,000 to renovate, making it more expensive that many homes. The renovation was done on the interior secretary's private office bathroom. The bathroom is approximately 100 square feet and cost about $222,000 to renovate, making it more expensive that many homes.

MacFarlane obtained photos of the renovated bathroom through the Freedom of Information Act.

The photos show wall panels were installed that cost about $1,500. Other features include a sub-zero refrigerator, costing about $3,500, custom cabinetry at a cost of about $2,600, a faucet which cost $689 and even a "vintage tissue holder" that cost $65.

Internal government auditors got wind of the bathroom and investigated.

"A number of the items incorporated into the renovation project call into question the need for luxurious materials," the audit found.

Some of the features of the bathroom were bought at the Weaver hardware store in Washington, D.C., just down the street from the U.S. Interior Department.

The items the store sells would be considered top-shelf. But the shop owners said it's not often that the government does this kind of shopping.

David Williams is the president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

He said the Interior Department, then under the direction of former Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, should have settled for a more humble office bathroom.

"First and foremost the country is broke. We can't afford as taxpayers the remodeling of bathrooms or any rooms that don't need to be remodeled," said David Williams of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

The Interior Department said the renovations were needed because of water leaks in the old bathroom and said upgrades happened before President Barack Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar took office.

The upgrades to the bathroom happened in 2007. Internal auditors issued memos in 2009 about the renovations.

It took a Freedom of Information Act request and four more years for the details to come light.

MacFarlane found the renovations were both approved and contracted by the government's official landlord, the General Services Administration.

A General Services Administration representative said the work happened before the current administration took over and said "greater oversight" is in place now to protect against waste in the future.

**d-usa**

Hey, if the Government is going to poop on the people at least let them do it in style and comfort.

**Medium of Death**

Who needs a fridge in the bathroom? Pretty... unsanitary... bleurgh.

As for the whole issue; I'm assuming nobody can be held accountable for this?

**Frazzled**

Of course not. Its government.

**Easy E**

2007? So, this was a Bush era thing.

I guess Republican administrations aren't the fiscal hawks they want us to believe.

**Frazzled**

Easy E wrote:
2007? So, this was a Bush era thing.

I guess Republican administrations aren't the fiscal hawks they want us to believe.

You are correct.

**whembly**

Medium of Death wrote:
Who needs a fridge in the bathroom? Pretty... unsanitary... bleurgh.

As for the whole issue; I'm assuming nobody can be held accountable for this?

Insulins maybe?

Will they be held accountable... no.

**Snrub**

What an obscene waste. Somebody slap that man.

**sebster**

It was for Bush's Interior Secretary, Dirk Kempthorne.

Dirk Kempthorne... ever noticed how many American politicians have names that sound kind of made up?

The most disappointing thing is that it isn't even that nice.

I mean, it's nicer than my bathroom, for sure, but I've been in plenty that were much nicer, and I'm pretty sure none of them got close to $200k.

**whembly**

sebster wrote:
It was for Bush's Interior Secretary, Dirk Kempthorne.

Dirk Kempthorne... ever noticed how many American politicians have names that sound kind of made up?

The most disappointing thing is that it isn't even that nice.

I mean, it's nicer than my bathroom, for sure, but I've been in plenty that were much nicer, and I'm pretty sure none of them got close to $200k.

Yeah... if I were spending that much, it'd look like this:

**sebster**

whembly wrote:
Yeah... if I were spending that much, it'd look like this:

Now that's a place where a man can take a dump.

**dogma**

A bathroom needs only 3 things: a toilet, a sink, and a 360 degree shower with digital temperature control and a built in TV.

**Ouze**

I've always wondered how a digital temperature control for a shower would work. I mean, you'd think in theory that just punching in your ideal temp - lets say 105 or whatever - would be ideal. But your own body temperature fluctuates constantly, right? So on any given day I'd have to imagine that same temp would be a little too hot or a little too cold, and you'd wind up dicking with it just as much as you do with an analog control. But, I've never used one, so I'd like to find out, or hear from someone who has one.

So far as the OP goes, all I'd really like in my bathroom other then the required appliances would be a higher pressure shower, I'm plagued with low pressure due to having a well.

**KalashnikovMarine**

I hear tell about these showers that get at you from multiple shower heads, so it's like a full body massage. I'd take one of those!

**Frazzled**

sebster wrote:
whembly wrote:
Yeah... if I were spending that much, it'd look like this:

Now that's a place where a man can take a dump.

If you're spending $222,000 it SHOULD look like that. Government can't even get the most bang for their incredibly overspent dollar!...