
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2007
NASA’S Luxury, At Your Expense
Extravagant Awards Ceremonies And Posh Hotels, Funded By Tax Dollars
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NASA posted an online notice few people saw - seeking four-star hotel bids for its December awards show. (CBS)
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That very same day, NASA also posted an online notice few people saw - seeking four-star hotel bids for its December awards, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.
The awards are to honor workers who've contributed to flight safety. But it's not just a low-key dinner for a handful of the best and brightest.
Try five days and four nights at a luxury Florida hotel for 300 honorees and their guest. Fancy receptions and front-row tickets to the most exciting show in the space business, the shuttle launch.
All paid for by your tax dollars.
“I think it’s kind of ironic that they’re gonna be extravagant at how they spend money and they’re coming to us saying they want more money,” Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said.
Former astronaut Bill Nelson made the case for NASA.
“Right now we’re at a critical point because NASA has been starved of funds,” Nelson, who is also a legislator, said.
At least they won't go hungry at the awards.
There's a reception to feed 750, with a "carving station with beef and turkey,” coconut fried shrimp, spring rolls, shrimp wrapped with bacon, 5-6 desserts, antipasto plates to include assorted meats, cheeses, grilled vegetables and assorted marinated vegetables, breads. And in case anyone's still hungry, that’s followed by a three-course sit-down dinner.
And most of the honorees? They're not NASA employees. They're from Boeing and other billion-dollar contractors that aren’t picking up the tab.
Bryan O'Connor is a NASA spokesman. What does he say to the criticism that these events are frivolous or extravagant?
“I think what I would do is ask the people who we have honored to give me an idea if they think this thing was reasonable, if they felt they were honored properly,” he said.
Attkisson said: “I wouldn’t ask the honorees, I would ask the people who pay for it: taxpayers.”
“It’s the cost of dinner and putting people up in a hotel for a couple of days,” O’Connor said.
What is the cost? Counting the reception ($64,000), dinner ($35,000), awards ($28,000), ground transportation (tour: $7,700; launch: $20,200), airfare ($105,000), hotel and food ($135,000 together), you’re talking $400,000 to $500,000.
If you think that's pricey, consider this: the NASA holds its big awards every time there's a shuttle launch. December's extravaganza will be the third one in 2007. Honoring all those people is costing you about $4 million a year.
If they'd have half as much money to honor people, would they be able to do it?
“If we were told that we had to reduce it I think we would reduce the number of honorees rather than trying to go to a poor place or a place that doesn’t have good service,” O’Connor said.
No risk of that anytime soon. All systems are go for NASA's December conference at a luxury Orlando hotel.
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See all 136 CommentsAnd the Parties for NASA employees, those people more then likely work fifty plus hours a week, from the moment one shuttle takes off to when it lands then the whole thing is repeated. Scientists, engineers, IT, R&D all of those work hard; I personally have no problem with my taxes paying part of their pay checks. If NASA wasn%u2019t around life today would be deferent. Shame on you.
I understand that this is paid by taxpayers and the private sector costs are paid ultimately by us as consumers. Therefore, we are paying one way or the other for these ceremonies. If these awards motivate persons to find new discoveries and better ways to accomplish the objectives, this appears to be a minor cost considering the benefits to mankind. I would hope you would be more objective in the future.
I have generally agreed with your theme, and some of the things you have uncovered have been mind boggling. However, when doing one of these investigations, like in Watergate, it is important to stay on track. A story like this invalidates your entire series.
The folks at NASA seldom work a 40 hour week, and traditionally have been paid before industry averages for their positions. These people are among the few heroes we have. A celebration after a mission like a shuttle mission? As a tax payer fine by me. Do you know that even with the safety improvements, how dangerous space exploration still is? I think the current risk is that 1 in 100 launches will end in disaster. If necessary, the monies spent on NASA can be justified in real world advances. It is a shame that so many of their victories no longer even get our attention. Recently a moon of one of the planets was found to have water, and other conditions that might support life.
Ever think about the NASA budget in proportion to missile defense budgets, or a budget to intercept every foreign call made out of this country. You work in Washington. Perhaps you can find (if it isn%u2019t classified) what the Incremental budget is for Mr. Cheney%u2019s staff, which is 5-10 times as large as any previous Vice President.
I like your style of journalism, and have watched you for many years. This time you just got it wrong.
When we stop discovering, then we will be finally lost.
I understand that this is paid by taxpayers and the private sector costs are paid ultimately by us as consumers. Therefore, we are paying one way or the other for these ceremonies. If these awards motivate persons to find new discoveries and better ways to accomplish the objectives, this appears to be a minor cost considering the benefits to mankind. I would hope you would be more objective in the future.
I understand that this is paid by taxpayers and the private sector costs are paid ultimately by us as consumers. Therefore, we are paying one way or the other for these ceremonies. If these awards motivate persons to find new discoveries and better ways to accomplish the objectives, this appears to be a minor cost considering the benefits to mankind. I would hope you would be more objective in the future.
I understand that this is paid by taxpayers and the private sector costs are paid ultimately by us as consumers. Therefore, we are paying one way or the other for these ceremonies. If these awards motivate persons to find new discoveries and better ways to accomplish the objectives, this appears to be a minor cost considering the benefits to mankind. I would hope you would be more objective in the future.
I understand that this is paid by taxpayers and the private sector costs are paid ultimately by us as consumers. Therefore, we are paying one way or the other for these ceremonies. If these awards motivate persons to find new discoveries and better ways to accomplish the objectives, this appears to be a minor cost considering the benefits to mankind. I would hope you would be more objective in the future.
I understand that this is paid by taxpayers and the private sector costs are paid ultimately by us as consumers. Therefore, we are paying one way or the other for these ceremonies. If these awards motivate persons to find new discoveries and better ways to accomplish the objectives, this appears to be a minor cost considering the benefits to mankind. I would hope you would be more objective in the future.
When you''re on the government''s dime, and crying for more money, you better show that you can manage money effectively. If not, these hotshots should be working for somebody else.
I understand that this is paid by taxpayers and the private sector costs are paid ultimately by us as consumers. Therefore, we are paying one way or the other for these ceremonies. If these awards motivate persons to find new discoveries and better ways to accomplish the objectives, this appears to be a minor cost considering the benefits to mankind. I would hope you would be more objective in the future.
I understand that this is paid by taxpayers and the private sector costs are paid ultimately by us as consumers. Therefore, we are paying one way or the other for these ceremonies. If these awards motivate persons to find new discoveries and better ways to accomplish the objectives, this appears to be a minor cost considering the benefits to mankind. I would hope you would be more objective in the future.
I understand that this is paid by taxpayers and the private sector costs are paid ultimately by us as consumers. Therefore, we are paying one way or the other for these ceremonies. If these awards motivate persons to find new discoveries and better ways to accomplish the objectives, this appears to be a minor cost considering the benefits to mankind. I would hope you would be more objective in the future.
There is nothing easy about building the first and only International Space Station "in flight".
The Space Program brings many positive things to our lives -- from velcro, rechargable batteries, and most importantly medical advances. Many more advances are TBD...as we progress.
I believe that it''s irresponsible of CBS News to air such a story without providing the "other side".
These "event participants" what was their contribution? Maybe the value of their trip is minimal compared to their worth to the space program and it''s advances to improve our life on Earth.
I love Katie -- but this story may have put me "over the edge". At least report "both sides". I will go back to NBC.
Lane -
Huntsvile, AL
Anaheim, CA
Houston, TX
Do you know where 80% of the money for basic research into human disease comes from? A portion of the government called the National Institute of Health. The work that they do, and Nasa does are inextricably intertwined.
When you or your family have something terrible happen like Alzheimer''s, we will see how you feel then.
Global warming will affect the ocean levels of this planet in a lot less than 100 years. Any idea how we monitor that? Yes, through the satellites that NASA has put in orbit.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I''m not sure about the former." A. Einstein
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." M. Luther King, Jr.
Posted by lanelane2 at 07:55 PM : Nov 09, 2007
The outer layers of the earth''s atmosphere is not space. International Orbiting Station is more like it.
Do you know where 80% of the money for basic research into human disease comes from? A portion of the government called the National Institute of Health. The work that they do, and Nasa does are inextricably intertwined.
When you or your family have something terrible happen like Alzheimer''s, we will see how you feel then.
Global warming will affect the ocean levels of this planet in a lot less than 100 years. Any idea how we monitor that? Yes, through the satellites that NASA has put in orbit.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I''m not sure about the former." A. Einstein
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." M. Luther King, Jr.
Big ideas and money has gotten us into space, yet only 5% of the ocean has been explored.
Where''s the $100 computer for poor countries? How come SPAM and computer viruses are still a problem? There''s hundreds/thousands of smaller problems that these people should be working on that aren''t being addressed.
As of late, NASA hasn''t been doing much that seems to be making much of a difference in our lives. I''m beginning to think their purpose isn''t so much to "fix" the world we live in now as to give us the ability move the chosen people to a new planet as soon as we''ve messed this one up bad enough.
What I am trying to say is that everything that NASA does is redundant. We as taxpayers are paying twice sometimes quadruple for the same thing.
If you have ever worked for the government you know that everything is budget driven. When one agency uses the services of another there is an exchange of funds. When the Army uses the services of an Air Force plane to deliver a tank or let a bunch of troopers jump out of it, they pay for it. When the National Institute of Health uses the services of NASA they pay for it. Imagine the advances in their research if they could save on their "space science" bill by hireing out the requirment to a cheaper and more reliable service. And then there is the deception to the taxpayer of how the alloted funds to an agency are spent. (spin) (exaggerate) So it is NOT OK with me if the National Institute of Health pays NASA $4,000,000.00 annualy for space science stuff and NASA uses the money for Parties for people/corporations that they have lucritive contracts with.
So when the National Institute of Health and NASA co to congress (the people we vote into office) to justify their budgets, I don''t want to see National Institute of Health and NASA both saying they need $4,000,000.00 for space science stuff for the same thing. Then you have all the other agencies that experiments need space science support wanting $4,000,000.00 to pay NASA for services.
It''s amazing that 300 honorees were able to decide on just one guest. She must be really hot! It''s funny when the people commenting on the story are more literate than the person who wrote the story.
600 people. 300 honorees and each had one guest.
In short, government wastes all sorts of money for all sorts of things. Nor does it often say "I''ve accounted every penny!" Then comes election year when candidates say "I want to run government like a business!", get elected, and then... nothing changes.
At least space research is useful. Since when does hitting a ball with a stick and running around a large square amount to anything? :)
600 people. 300 honorees and each had one guest.
Posted by itgrammy
Wow, at the cost it took to throw those parties for that many people 4 million (correction CBS news, it didn''t cost any of us individually 4 million) Katie Couric''s salary alone who take care of at least 3 times that many. The CEO''s and the illusive no need for public account of the "american'' corporations could throw a parties for all american citizens severals times a year. How about some real math in america instead of these stupid stories from a pathetic PRAVDA style media.
How much is booze on the space station anyway?
NASA''s budget is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
small compared to the big picture -- the US budget.
These rewards are kitty food; really mice food.
It sadden''s me that CBS News feels this is a worthy story.
Space Exploration is the future; honor those that put out the extra effort!!!
Posted by hypnotoad72
Well, that''s o.k., remember? The stadiums make jobs. The real enemy is that one woman that Ronald Reagan referred to that is draining us dry, you know, the "welfare queen" as he called her. Anyone find that bit*ch? Last I heard she was fictitious.
Posted by lanelane2
As americans we ought to seek accountability for the private sector. It''s been raping and pillaging behind the scenes with a bizarre right of immunity. How about CBS news talk about the millions they spend on some of the lavish lives they embellish their staff with. People are either stupid or in a serious state of denial if they don''t think these excesses that line the pockets of a few americans don''t come at a price to the greater society.
No by-line. Huh? I do not who to GTH.
The engineers at NASA work hard at a stressful, thankless job, and deserve to be honored with a nice ceremony at a 4-star hotel. Frankly, they could make much more money in the private sector, so I''m all for giving an extra $5 million a year to keep them happy.
As an aside, NASA should be the LAST place some overly-zealous investigative journalist looks to uncover wasteful government spending...Hint: it has five sides, and got hit by an airplane in 2001.
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Well, I am a tax payer and I think this is a small drop in a small bucket. To be fair, I think we need to contrast this with the amount that the taxpayers foot everyday for members of congress, their trips, jets, parties, the lavish Whitehouse shindigs, etc.
If the people at NASA want to have a celebration once in a while, well, so be it. That 500,000 is probably about fifteen minutes in Iraq.
Lemmings!? Let''s all be government workers in every facet of every enterprise! Talk about lemmings....
WE WANT MORE GOVERNMENT. GOOooo Government!
Unbelievable.
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