Congress Scrutinizes Spending At CDC

Report Details How Taxpayer Dollars Funded Center’s Lavish New Digs

(CBS)  The Center for Disease Control’s main mission is to prevent disease, and the agency has been credited with some terrific strides in public health. But a startling analysis from Congress says the CDC is squandering hundreds of millions of your tax dollars in ways many find hard to believe, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.

To talk about fat in the CDC budget, you can start 2,000 miles away in Hollywood, where CDC pays a liaison to help TV dramas and soap operas write accurate medical plots. The service is free of charge to Tinseltown moguls, through the generosity of $1.7 million of your tax dollars.

“That is obviously a waste of taxpayer dollars and they need to stop it,” said Sen. Dave Weldon, R-Fla.

Weldon, who is also a doctor, is member of the House committee that funds CDC. He's outraged by the Hollywood story and other examples of spending exposed in a Congressional report: "CDC Off-Center".

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Read the full report on CDC waste.

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There's the new $109 million headquarters filled with nearly $10 million in furniture, which the report says works out to $12,000 per person in the building.

It's named after Arlen Specter, a top Republican senator in charge of CDC funding. But the naming is bipartisan. A top Democrat, Sen. Thomas Harkin, gets his name on the new $106 million communications and visitors center, complete with waterfalls, plasma TV's and more.

The $200,000 fitness center rivals the most posh private clubs with $30,000 saunas, "quiet rooms" and "zero gravity chairs" complete with "mood-enhancing light shows" for stressed out employees.

As for disease prevention, your money's being spent there too, but too often with disappointing results, says the report.

AIDS grants have been given to groups who've used them for workshops on erotic writing, how to flirt, and how to throw an alcohol party.

The CDC spent $5 billion over seven years on AIDS prevention, but the infection rate didn't drop a bit.

And after it spent $269 million tax dollars on an effort to eliminate syphilis, syphilis rates went up 68 percent.

“If a private company were spending money and getting no results like that, investors would withdraw their money,” Weldon said.

CDC Director Julie Louise Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H., wouldn't agree to an interview, from CDC's new state-of-the-art television studio or anywhere else.

But the agency issued a statement saying "CDC takes seriously the need to wisely and appropriately use its resources," and that the report gives an incomplete view of its "excellent public health work."

The new facility replaces dilapidated buildings and "have led to scientific advances and strengthened our ability to respond to public health emergencies."

The CDC recently told Congress it needs $1 billion more for 2008 on top of its $10 billion budget. At least some here are saying the agency needs to do a thorough internal exam before asking taxpayers to open their wallets wider.

[radiob-2009]

More government waste time to rid them of their purse strings and make them accountable.

[tomch52]

The sad and tragic thing is even though the cat is out of the bag about the CDC's shameful spending, it will still continue because we the people have grown fat and stupid just like the govt. wants us.

[mayihavemore]

What no such perks for veterans? Was CDC responsible for communication with TB patient? Good job Gerberding!

[sjc_1]

They were going to make a movie and wanted to film at the CDC about 10 years ago, when they found out it was dilapidated and run down, they found another place to film. It is long overdue to spend money on such an important organization, I just hope they did not waste any.

[likeitis5050]

Is this supposed to shock and surprise us? Nothing the government ever gets its hands on is done with any degree of ethics.

[hungry1968]

It's become obvious that we need a complete overhaul of government from top to bottom. Every single part of our government is broken right now and desperately needs to be fixed.

[cantshutup]

I think our 4th of July activities will be a bit more somber and thoughtful this year. Time for THE PEOPLE to take OUR country back!!!

[brianbwb-2009]

to rharrin1,

He didn't pardon Paris because she did not commit acts rising to the level of treason, and her jail time doesn't pave the way for his...

[nyckate]

Jeez - Federal Government needs complete over-haul top to bottom - we have a barely literate president overriding Federal Justices and we have government agencies who fail time and time and time again - the concept that government needs to become used to us "performance driven" - if you don't perform as expected or up to par then out you go - no more "white welfare" for these bozoes

[brianbwb-2009]

Here's an idea, let's publish the spending record on TV, complete with the names of those approving such nutty expenditures. lets call the show "American Embezzler"

Whoever approved the "workshops on erotic writing, how to flirt, and how to throw an alcohol party" should repay the money from their salary, just before losing their job.

[davehs23]

Hearing that Julie Gerberding refused, in the public interest, an interview requested by news sources in the most credible interests, it is time that she forfeits her job at the CDC. The type of leadership I read about here, much as Chertoff's at Dept of Homeland Security, may be worthy of a third-world country, but not of the United States.

It is an outrage to hear about the funding of soap opera scripts, because certainly that is not all that is funded this way from public monies.
Not only does the federal government have to help
our poor, elderly, indigent pay prescription drug prices that are through the roof, the same government is also helping to fund their advertising. It would be almost too naive to
think otherwise, at least without any clear evidence to the contrary.

A full Congressional subpoena of all the CDC budget is called for, right away, and hard on the heels of that, a full cleaning house, starting from the top.

David H Spence

[dumbcluck-2009]

maybe the world's corporations run cdc:

http://www.cdcfoundation.org/partners/corporations/index.aspx

or maybe lobbyists in government
look at these other spendings:

open with excel

www.hhs.gov/osdbu/read/CDCMar07.xls

[j4401]

I do not know about you guys, but the federal income taxes I pay out every year hurt alot. After working for the federal government for many years (VA medical centers) I am not at all surprised by the waste that is being reported. The VA medical center in San Diego is a perfect example. The management there calls it the "churn rate" to describe the continual tax-dollars that are spent to remodel it over and over and over again.

[ianlou]

Congress,
You have better things to do than second guess spending at the CDC. $109 million is 0.02% of what's been spent in Iraq.

Further, The CDC may be the last U.S. Government agency still respected by the world.

[atwn83]

People, get real! In the "global" environment that exists today, goverment agencies need to have state of the art facilities. How can we expect the CDC to interact with groups across the USA and the world (often in emergency situations that require asap responses) if they don%u2019t have the equipment to do so?

The govt is competing for professionals who are paid at least three times their salary anywhere else AND with all the "perks" you showed, and many more. Ever heard of SAS? check out the %u201Cbenefits%u201D their workers get on top of big big salaries!!

The REAL problem is overall corporate (and personal) greed has grown and is driving up costs for everything. Shouldn't we also be asking corporations to reign in spending and salaries so our medical, drug and insurance costs go down? If CDC workers don%u2019t deserve these perks why do other %u201Caverage%u201D Americans?

At one time people actually worked to make a difference in the world, but today its all about money, status cars and big houses (paying someone else only $5/hr to clean for you).

Don't govt workers, especially those at the CDC testing and researching many diseases that can cause great disaster - and keep that from happening to here - DESERVE the BEST? They ARE taxpayers too you do realize! OR is the "American dream" just for those who work in big corporations? To me, this is a small price to pay for people who do so much to ensure our protection!

[gams5]

This story was a cheap bid for ratings. Here's what was NOT reported:

1. The new CDC campus replaces WWII-era quonset huts with leaking roofs and floors that were caving in--where CDC employees worked as recently as 2004.

2. HIV/AIDS rates during the period cited DROPPED among African/American men, a group targeted for prevention education by the CDC.

3. Having a professional ensure that TV programs portray accurate disease/treatment information is part of the CDC mission--education. Buying air time and professional production for the same purpose would be much more costly.

4. CDC cannot afford top medical professionals at government salaries; they must offer benefits to compensate. A fitness center at ONLY $200,000 (less than the price of a modest house in the area) is one of those benefits--and also dovetails with the CDC mission of health/disease prevention.

5. The TV studio allows the CDC to produce educational video and live programs less expensively. Health professionals who used to spend half the year traveling (at CDC expense) to conduct continuing medical education for public health workers now reach a much wider audience, more cheaply, than before. It is also in high demand by network news (such as CBS) who link--for free--into live conferences during breaking health news, such as the recent TB story.

Dr. Gerberding is a real doctor, not a political hack. The CDC is largely successful in its mission and is globally respected.

[gams5]

This story was a cheap bid for ratings. Here's what was NOT reported:

1. The new CDC campus replaces WWII-era quonset huts with leaking roofs and floors that were caving in--where CDC employees worked as recently as 2004.

2. HIV/AIDS rates during the period cited DROPPED among African/American men, a group targeted for prevention education by the CDC.

3. Having a professional ensure that TV programs portray accurate disease/treatment information is part of the CDC mission--education. Buying air time and professional production would be much more costly, and probably less effective.

4. CDC cannot afford top medical professionals at government salaries; they must offer benefits to compensate. A fitness center at ONLY $200,000 (less than the price of a modest house in the area) is one of those benefits--and also dovetails with the CDC mission of health/disease prevention.

5. The TV studio allows the CDC to produce educational video and live programs less expensively. Health professionals who used to spend half the year traveling (at CDC expense) to conduct continuing medical education for public health workers now reach a much wider audience, more cheaply, than before. It is also in high demand by network news (such as CBS) who link--for free--into live conferences during breaking health news, such as the recent TB story.

Dr. Gerberding is a real doctor, not a political hack. The CDC is largely successful in its mission and is globally respected.

[antoniof123]

nyckate I agree 100 percent get rid of these clowns start with the Pres and his Vice then move to the rest.

[j4401]

To: GAMS5

You sound very defensive, I understand that. I do not know if you have any government time under your belt, but those of us who do, realize the continual waste that prevails in almost all government facilities. You would have to be blind not to realize it. As tax-payers, we and the media have every right to question the waste, because it is continual increasing and many times opulent.

[gams5]

To: j4401

Part 1: I sound like a CDC employee, which I'm not.

As with all government agencies, money can be wasted since they must try to do the impossible%u2014please everyone. However, most of the items cited in the CBS news report were not wasteful or frivolous, but things most likely to push buttons with the average viewer.

The CDC employees highly-educated professionals who could be making much more money in private industry, many of whom until fairly recently worked in outdated facilities. Why SHOULDN'T CDC build nice buildings to replace those that had been in use since the 1940s? Would it have been better to build shacks? Considering how long it took to replace the previous buildings, these new ones will have to last a while%u2014they should be top-notch and state of the art.

CDC is a world-wide resource, one of the most respected agencies anywhere in any country. People come from all over to visit and learn there. It should be a showplace and a point of pride to present it well. It%u2019s not as though the buildings were built and furnished for the personal enjoyment of one person%u2014the story made it sound like CDC had embezzled the money for plasma TVs to watch sitcoms. Plasma is current video technology and would be installed in any facility designed for communications, and these are in use in the visitors center--open to the public and used for education.

[gams5]

To: j4401

Part 2: The fitness center thing is what really got me--this is something that would benefit any company, and that price is ridiculously low for the facilities described. Many companies provide workout facilities for employees; making this available is a terrific investment in employee health and morale and is cheap at the price. A $200,000 facility does not equal the %u201Cmost posh private clubs%u201D, and it ain%u2019t that private%u2014it%u2019s open to all CDC employees, who, as noted, work for less than market salaries. It should be noted that you can%u2019t build a basic house in Atlanta for that price.

We are currently involved in a highly destructive and hugely expensive war. The CDC, on the other hand, with a budget that is a fraction of war spending, promotes only constructive issues%u2014health, disease prevention, immunization, research. This is a good use of tax dollars.

I would encourage anyone who wants to see their tax dollars at work, and be proud of the results, to visit the CDC campus.

[gams5]

Last post on this subject: This is not "a startling analysis from Congress", but rather a report from Senator Tom Coburn's office. The facts cited in the report bear investigation, but the lurid writing style suggests authorship by a college-student staffer, not a responsible researcher and writer. This report would hardly be considered a definitive treatise on CDC spending.

There was a time when CBS would have used such a report as a starting point for a responsible investigation of its own; but clearly the days of responsible investigative journalism are gone.

[drawest54]

"Long time gov employee" obviously never worked at CDC. As a manager in the government for 30 years, I would have fired his butt and made it stick!

CDC scientists are sought after world wide for their abilities, knowledge, and passion for public health. Many CDC employees work 10+ hour days without any additional compensation (that is correct, NO overtime), and they do it for 30 year careers. In the past, the perks have been few. Now that CDC has decent facilities like the work-out facilties, CDC is finally catching up to the rest of the world in providing decent facilities for its personnel. That is something the taxpayer can feel good about.

You can count on your fingers the institutions in the world that have made the positive impact of the CDC. It's a bonus that they've done it for such modest investment.

[fomerworker]

Yes, you can build a basic house in this area for less than $200,000. Most taxpayers couldn't afford to spend that, even to house their families.

I have seen secretaries running up and down the halls at fiscal year end, BEGGING people buy things. They were trying to spend all the leftover money so that they could justify asking for more next year.

Quonset huts? Where? Certainly not on the main
campus!

How many plasma screens does it take to have a studio? How many auditoriums does the CDC need, anyway? It's not enough that local Fox Five brings a van over almost every day of the week?

Take a real good look at how much money CDC forks out to industry, THEN tell me it's about the taxpayers.

Want to guess how many workers actually have access to that gym and those quiet rooms? Many works don't even work on the main campus. Contractors comprise about a third of all workers, but are accorded no privileges at all. They don't even get flu shots when everyone else does.

As taxpayers, we were completely disregarded and disrespected. If workers at CDC feel they are underpaid and underprivileged, they are always welcome to seek employment in real jobs in the private sector. I know that's a little scary for those who went straight from college to the agency, but regular people do it every day. They even live in regular houses and work at places that don't have gyms at all. All this sounds like is a gi-normous sense of entitlement.

[fomerworker]

Yes, you can build a basic house in this area for less than $200,000. Most taxpayers couldn't afford to spend that, even to house their families.

I have seen secretaries running up and down the halls at fiscal year end, BEGGING people buy things. They were trying to spend all the leftover money so that they could justify asking for more next year.

Quonset huts? Where? Certainly not on the main
campus!

How many plasma screens does it take to have a studio? How many auditoriums does the CDC need, anyway? It's not enough that local Fox Five brings a van over almost every day of the week?

Take a real good look at how much money CDC forks out to industry, THEN tell me it's about the taxpayers.

Want to guess how many workers actually have access to that gym and those quiet rooms? Many works don't even work on the main campus. Contractors comprise about a third of all workers, but are accorded no privileges at all. They don't even get flu shots when everyone else does.

As taxpayers, we were completely disregarded and disrespected. If workers at CDC feel they are underpaid and underprivileged, they are always welcome to seek employment in real jobs in the private sector. I know that's a little scary for those who went straight from college to the agency, but regular people do it every day. They even live in regular houses and work at places that don't have gyms at all. All this sounds like is a gi-normous sense of entitlement.

[fomerworker]

Yes, you can build a basic house in this area for less than $200,000. Most taxpayers couldn't afford to spend that, even to house their families.

I have seen secretaries running up and down the halls at fiscal year end, BEGGING people buy more things. They were trying to spend all the leftover money so that they could justify asking for more next year.

Quonset huts? Where? Certainly not on the main
campus!

How many plasma screens does it take to have a studio? How many auditoriums does the CDC need, anyway? It's not enough that local Fox Five brings a van over almost every day of the week?

Take a real good look at how much money CDC forks out to industry, THEN tell me it's about the taxpayers.

Want to guess how many workers actually have access to that gym and those quiet rooms? Many workers don't even work on the main campus. Contractors comprise about a third of all workers, but are accorded no privileges at all. They don't even get flu shots when everyone else does.

As taxpayers, we were completely disregarded and disrespected. If workers at CDC feel they are underpaid and underprivileged, they are always welcome to seek employment in real jobs in the private sector. I know that's a little scary for those who went straight from college to the agency, but regular people do it every day. They even live in regular houses and work at places that don't have gyms at all. All this sounds like is a gi-normous sense of entitlement.

[fomerworker]

Yes, you can build a basic house in this area for less than $200,000. Most taxpayers couldn't afford to spend that, even to house their families.

I have seen secretaries running up and down the halls at fiscal year end, BEGGING people buy more things. They were trying to spend all the leftover money so that they could justify asking for more next year.

Quonset huts? Where? Certainly not on the main
campus!

How many plasma screens does it take to have a studio? How many auditoriums does the CDC need, anyway? It's not enough that local Fox Five brings a van over almost every day of the week?

Take a real good look at how much money CDC forks out to industry, THEN tell me it's about the taxpayers.

Want to guess how many workers actually have access to that gym and those quiet rooms? Many workers don't even work on the main campus. Contractors comprise about a third of all workers, but are accorded no privileges at all. They don't even get flu shots when everyone else does.

As taxpayers, we were completely disregarded and disrespected. If workers at CDC feel they are underpaid and underprivileged, they are always welcome to seek employment in real jobs in the private sector. I know that's a little scary for those who went straight from college to the agency, but regular people do it every day. They even live in regular houses and work at places that don't have gyms at all. All this sounds like is a gi-normous sense of entitlement.