IRS official in Star Trek spoof apologizes for lavish conference

[Stephanie]

APOLIGY not accepted.

SNIP:

ReutersBy Kim Dixon and Patrick Temple-West | Reuters – 46 mins ago..

By Kim Dixon and Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top official at the U.S. Internal Revenue Service on Thursday acknowledged that it was "embarrassing" how much the tax agency spent on training videos, including a Star Trek spoof, and other lavish expenses during a 2010 conference in California.


YOUR tax dollars at work
[ame=http://youtu.be/fjYrursFkJQ]Appalling IRS Star Trek Spoof 2013 HQ - YouTube[/ame]

Faris Fink, commissioner of the agency's small business and self-employed division, told lawmakers the videos, which cost more than $50,000 to produce, were well-intentioned but in hindsight inappropriate.

"It's embarrassing. I apologize," said Fink, who played the character Spock in the Star Trek parody that included a tax-themed skit. "I regret the fact that they were made."

The IRS, already under a cloud of scandal related to the targeting of conservative groups, this week faced fresh criticism over a Treasury watchdog report on wasteful spending.

The report released on Tuesday found that the IRS used money originally intended for hiring enforcement employees to partially fund a $4.1 million conference in Anaheim, California, that included luxury hotel rooms and a speaker paid $17,000 to talk about leadership through painting.

Republican Representative Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight Committee holding the hearing on Thursday, accused the IRS of grossly mismanaging taxpayer money with conference spending that was "at best maliciously self-indulgent."

Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the committee, said he was up at 3 a.m. watching the Star Trek video trying to find a way the cost could be justified.

"I swear I do not see the redeeming value," Cummings said.

all of it here
IRS official in Star Trek spoof apologizes for lavish conference

 

[boedicca]

Does this mean if somebody makes a mistake on an income tax return, all that is needed is an apology?

 

[Oddball]

Bet those assholes aren't sorry enough to reimburse the treasury for the money they pissed away with their hijinx.

 

[boedicca]

I remember when Geithner claimed that the IRS spent only $500,000 on conferences - the actual amount was $50,000,000. It's rather scary when TresSec can't do math...but maybe that explains the debt. He thought the amount of money he was spending was 1/100th of the actual.

 

[Stephanie]

and some still wonder why people call FOR this out of control BLOATED Government BE CUT down to size AND don't accept calls from the Dear leaders in it FOR NEW taxes on the Amercian people so they can pay for this kind of crap..

this should give them a clue or not

 

[Jackson]

I remember when Geithner claimed that the IRS spent only $500,000 on conferences - the actual amount was $50,000,000. It's rather scary when TresSec can't do math...but maybe that explains the debt. He thought the amount of money he was spending was 1/100th of the actual.

He should have been replaced from the get go.

 

[Jackson]

People are caught but it doesn't stop them or other agencies from doing the same darn things. Then they ask for an increase in budget.

 

[Stephanie]

People are caught but it doesn't stop them or other agencies from doing the same darn things. Then they ask for an increase in budget.

yep, they think a simple apology is all people need then it's back to business as usual..

 

[Katzndogz]

It wasn't that long ago that the head of the GAO was drinking champagne in his bubble bath. Someone should do an accounting of how much fun washington has at our expense.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

It's always better to ask for forgiveness then permission. If you plan on screwing the tax payers that is.

 

[RoadVirus]

Faris Fink, commissioner of the agency's small business and self-employed division, told lawmakers the videos, which cost more than $50,000 to produce, were well-intentioned but in hindsight inappropriate.

Well-intentioned? Shove it Fink.

 

[RoadVirus]

It wasn't that long ago that the head of the GAO was drinking champagne in his bubble bath. Someone should do an accounting of how much fun washington has at our expense.

Wrong Alphabet agency. You're thinking of the GSA.