Scientists Gone Wild?

From A Yacht Club Event To Cigars And Expensive Wine, Are Your Tax Dollars Going To Lavish "Research" Parties

(CBS)  Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee is a center for federal research. It also sponsors conferences that attract bright scientific minds.

Too bad the bosses running the meetings aren't so smart when it comes to spending your tax dollars, CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.

It seems they've been exploring a lot more than plasma microturbulence at their scientific get-togethers - sometimes breaking the rules.

Conference registration fees are supposed to be used to defray taxpayer costs. Instead, the Inspector General found they've been diverted for unallowed items like alcohol, parties, cigars, gifts and entertainment.

Attkisson asked Gerald Boyd, head of Oak Ridge operations: "$27,000 for a yacht club event; $13,000 for alcohol and food at a social event; $650 on cigars and wine. That sounds frivolous."

"Yes, it is," Boyd said.

If it sounds like "Scientists Gone Wild," Boyd, admits it looks bad.

"We can't allow these kinds of things to continue, and we think we've taken the steps we need to prevent that from happening," he said.

Some of the worst violations involve meals, which the inspector general called unreasonably "upscale and elaborate." At a four-day conference in Boston, they ran up a $236,000 tab to feed 318 hungry scientists.

The limit was supposed to be $61 reach. But the actual bill came to more than $230 dollars per person per day. That's almost 400 percent over budget.

When organizers were asked why they ran up such a tab, they used fuzzy math: They spent $61 on each meal - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - and don't forget the snacks.

On top of that, some attendees "claimed and were reimbursed for meals" they got for free.

All that, at taxpayer expense.

"That seems inappropriate on so many levels," Attkisson said.

"It is," Boyd responded. "We believe that when that does happen, it is incumbent on management and leaders of the department to go to those employees and say, 'you made a mistake. Don't do it again.'"

"But no discipline?" Attkisson asked. "No punishment for people who misused taxpayer money?"

"There wasn't any criminal activity that was pointed out," Boyd said. "What was pointed out was inappropriate use of funds, and that is being fixed."

Something else is being fixed: All this time, Oak Ridge had been skirting federal requirements that call for advance approval of conference plans.

Now the bosses have agreed to a more scientific approach: They'll actually follow the rules.

[babooph]

The brainwashed masses-suckered by the propaganda system are so happy the rich have already made enough from "tax reform",to pay for their Iraq costs ,gas increase & a lifetime of much more-hope they enjoy the luxury they paid for with their childrens future.

[redpsp]

Excuse me!! "It is," Boyd responded. "We believe that when that does happen, it is incumbent on management and leaders of the department to go to those employees and say, ''you made a mistake. Don''t do it again.''"

This is absolutely not acceptable!! Give me my *** money back!! Now!! I pay taxes for this and the rest this joke of a government? Heads need to roll and right now!

I repeat!!! Give me my *** money back! NOW!!!

Uh, Katie this report was a joke with the whimpy reporter not even thinking that maybe the US public should be reimbursed? CBS News? More like CBS Government Sponsored News... Not watching you anymore!

[redpsp]

Excuse me!! "It is," Boyd responded. "We believe that when that does happen, it is incumbent on management and leaders of the department to go to those employees and say, ''you made a mistake. Don''t do it again.''"

This is absolutely not acceptable!! Give me my *** money back!! Now!! I pay taxes for this and the rest this joke of a government? Heads need to roll and right now!

I repeat!!! Give me my *** money back! NOW!!!

Uh, Katie this report was a joke with the whimpy reporter not even thinking that maybe the US public should be reimbursed? CBS News? More like CBS Government Sponsored News... Not watching you anymore!

[redpsp]

Excuse me!! "It is," Boyd responded. "We believe that when that does happen, it is incumbent on management and leaders of the department to go to those employees and say, ''you made a mistake. Don''t do it again.''"

This is absolutely not acceptable!! Give me my *** money back!! Now!! I pay taxes for this and the rest this joke of a government? Heads need to roll and right now!

I repeat!!! Give me my *** money back! NOW!!!

Uh, Katie this report was a joke with the whimpy reporter not even thinking that maybe the US public should be reimbursed? CBS News? More like CBS Government Sponsored News... Not watching you anymore!

[rushlimpdrug]

1. Is this good science or bad science?

2. What conclusion will the scientist draw from this?

[sistatee-2009]

Three hundred math Ph.D''s can''t calculate a food tab? Please publish the names of the schools that bestowed THOSE degrees.

[drivelphobe]

I say let these scientists have a little fun and enjoy themselves. $230/day for food is not extravagant and I''d rather see these people get some taxpayer money instead of those filthy, scamming illegals.

If you go to any decent resort, it is easy to spend $200 or more per head for food and beverage. These are some of the best minds in the world and it shouldn''t be any concern that they get to have nice time at a meeting or convention. I''ll bet the taxpayers spend over $200 per day on some illegal popping out an anchor baby, or some illegal serving time in jail. Don''t forget the free breakfasts and food and ESOL programs. Include the free health care
and food stamps. $230 per day starts to look cheap.
Eat, drink and be merry and get all you can.

[barbaraf4]

"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn''t be called research." Albert Einstein

[sharncedar]

"eternity is as much made of me as i am of it, & so it has size in that i have size"

your body has size, but that doesn''t imply that you have size, in other words, you may be made of eternity and yet eternity has no size, if you are not your body. If for example, "you" are a derivative of your actions and thoughts over time, thus the dimensions of existence of the essential "you" is in 4 dimesional space, actually in a space in which only thoughts and actions are represented, and the way they change over time, and not physical bodies.

A person''s actual self is embodied in their self-realization, which being an observational event must occur over a span of time. To observe yourself, to know you exist, takes place as a derived response to many things happening over time. In any one instant of time you don''t "know you exist" thus you do not exist. Thus we the consciouslive outside the physical world.

Should be an easy mathmatical proof possible on this line of reasoning. But no one to sell it to ... certainly not dumb Americans ...

[kevboom]

"$27,000 for a yacht club event; $13,000 for alcohol and food at a social event; $650 on cigars and wine."

Clearly bad judgment on the part of some taxpayer-funded employees, but I bet if you dug enough, you could find some military contractor in Iraq charged the same amount or more for a BOLT! If CBS wants to investigate real fraud, they need to head east. This B.S. isn''t even a drop in the bucket.

[timdgrim]

Should be an easy mathmatical proof possible on this line of reasoning. But no one to sell it to ... certainly not dumb Americans ...
Posted by SharnCedar
*******************************
What kind of crack are you on? Before you call people dumb, you better learn how to spell!!(mathmatical!!)

[jonesforch]

Hmm? Global warming HUH.

[rudy654-2009]

I say let these scientists have a little fun and enjoy themselves. $230/day for food is not extravagant and I''''d rather see these people get some taxpayer money instead of those filthy, scamming illegals.
***********

The words above are those of a true baboso idiot.

[Hybdiesel]

I wish someone would explain to me what the heck leefnneadle said. Sounds like someone with a pocket full of degrees, or maybe forgot to take their medicine.

[cyberus-2009]

This happens in every branch of Government .. scientists, politicians, inspectors, postal officials, etc.
Nobody should be surprised ... didn''t they just have an expose about the politicians using a loophole to get around the latest batch of campaign finance rules?

[jb01201a]

Hey Jonesforch - this is ok because they are the libs prized spokespeople (can''t say man - might violate som lib!). Not surprising coming from people are not in touch with reality.

[hbevis]

This happens in every branch of Government .. scientists, politicians, inspectors, postal officials, etc.
Nobody should be surprised ... didn''''t they just have an expose about the politicians using a loophole to get around the latest batch of campaign finance rules?

Posted by cyberus at 12:27 AM : Jun 07, 2008

These government people always take advantage of a good deal. There are to many of them that have nothing to do on the JOB. Its time to start cutting some jobs. They use our tax money and we get nothing in return. What bugs me the most is that they always get a cost of living raise every year. The people in the private sector are lucky to get a raise of any kind.

[lovesamerica]

Everyone of us,those that are working that is, love to get a sponsered trip,a freebie,ect.. The trouble is with the press trying ssooo hard to find dirt. If they have a story of coruption fine, but it should not be the guy/girl that totaly uses their food allotment on a dinner drink. Yes we need people to make sure that things are done right, but research first what is a story

[jerr11]

Scientists Gone Wild?



Nothing compared to neocons gone wild.

A war based on 935 lies, fake intel.

Killed 4090 Americans so far.

Cost the country $3 trillion.

What''s a couple thousand buck compared to the $12 billion we''re wasting in Iraq!

And who''s the main beneficiary?

Bush and his Halliburton buddies.

BLOOD MONEY.

George W Bush - Son of Satan

Damned for all time!

[fireceos]

This happens everywhere, maybe not always to this extent. School systems, government, organizations, corporations, you name it. But, when you take a bunch of people on a free vacation Paradise, what do you think? They''re going to party.

These government should require any conferences to occur in locations of lesser economic wealth. Large enough to accommodate hotels and conference rooms and such for the group. Maybe more of these conferences should be held in the New Orleans area and other ''Rita-ravaged'' areas, thereby solving two issues.

Bringing people from all over the country to an economic area that really needs the help, saving on travel by bringing people (if nationwide) to a sort of ''middle'' meeting point, and certainly the goodwill of supporting economies that could use the help in general.

[stn_sage]

Well, call me niave, but---when the govt authorizes a per diem (per day) rate of $61 per person---that is a set allocation! They do NOT expect you to exceed that! Not surpassing $231 or more per day or any other damnn amount!

While terminology varies, what do they call that when you exceed your checking acct and overdraw your acct?
Fraud? Deception by check draft? Etcetera.

Now, what do you think the Fed Govt calls it when you exceed your authorized per diem amount?! A mistake?
I DON"T THINK SO! More like---a crime!

What was done here is certainly a crime. But, there''s probably zero interest in pursuing it, because they don''t want to charge, try, and bust 300 plus scientists! Not only would the legal dealings be a pain in the keester, but having to hire 300 plus replacement scientists wouldn''t be so much fun, either! But, it IS more than a ''little mistake''!

[cyberus-2009]

-----
Hey Jonesforch - this is ok because they are the libs prized spokespeople (can''''t say man - might violate som lib!). Not surprising coming from people are not in touch with reality.

Posted by jb01201a
-----
Get a grip ... this behaviour crosses all bounderies. liberal, conservative, republican, democrat, christian, jew, atheist, scientist, whatever .. if they work for the government they are likely to act like this.

[Renegade.Rivers]

What kind of crack are you on? Before you call people dumb, you better learn how to spell!!(mathmatical!!)
Posted by timdgrim

And so should you my friend, the actual spelling is (mathematical). My how easy it is to know it all.

[spinster2]

I don''t know why you people want to make everything political. These guys are ripping you off regardless of party and it''s very close to criminal.

[floydzeppl]

I don''t know why you people want to make everything political. These guys are ripping you off regardless of party and it''s very close to criminal.

Posted by Spinster2 at 07:04 AM : Jun 07, 2008
----------
The Bush administration and New Republican Philosophy have made criminal and immoral desirable traits. Why are you complaining? You should be proud. Celebrate by sending some more American tax money to Iraq or Israel.

[gkc99]

You sure can''t blame the peasants for learning from their betters in the Darth Bushit regime with their billion dollar giveaways to Halliburton, Blackwater and other cronies, now can you?

[l8c6]

Can anyone imagine the excesses if research were taken from the public sector and moved to the private sector? CBS news would have nothing to work the public up over because the public would have no say. The public would be taxed by the color of a different horse. Blackwater doesn''t call their "taxing" "taxes" , they call them profits and they would come from the "peasant''s" wallets and purses based on what few corporations would be in power says the market determines. People could complain but it would fall on deaf ears. Private companies are accountable to no one once the government is privatized and under their control.

[drivelphobe]

rudy654...

What gave you the clue? The $230/day or the invasive, parasitic, scamming illegals reference? You can''t help yourself can you!

[l8c6]

Some of the worst violations involve meals, which the inspector general called unreasonably "upscale and elaborate." At a four-day conference in Boston, they ran up a $236,000 tab to feed 318 hungry scientists


That would be 62 dollars per meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner which means they had some big dinners with appetizers and drinks. Excessive yes. Good that this is the public sector and we can complain. Remember folks, the neo con republicons have loved to point these things out but we all pay for the profits of large corporations who produce greater excesses this this by a GAPING WIDE MARGIN, and we all pay for it and in the long run end up with no innovation. The developments of these scientists at taxpayer expense gets turned over to the private companies where they pay CFOs, CEOs etc huge salaries and send them off to $500 a plate and up dinners and resorts for conferences and the public is left with less and less as innovation and research is left behind. No one complains about the private sector. The neo cons have warned, hands off the their private corporate government.

[blazercoach1]

I love how you libs see boogey-men EVERYWHERE. It''s so cute....and so dumb.

So let me get this straight, in a world in which Bush has a "war on science" you think the scientists are alo neo-cons? And you also tend to the think the media is a conservative cover-up machine.....so who wrote this story?

Is it POSSIBLE, that the scientists and government officials are of BOTH parties...and that this has nothing to do with politics? Could it be that in order to attract the top minds in the business, you have to compete in wooing them at the same level as the private sector and foreign companies? Is it POSSIBLE that THAT''S what''s going on? Of course, you''ll also be the first to whine about the brain-drain in America while decrying this use of tax-payer funds.

By the way....did any of you hypocrits check out Hillary''s extravaggant campaign food-expenses? And now she wants Obama, public funds, or kids selling their bicycles and contributing to her campaign to fund it!

[extremophil]

Scientists can be wild and crazy alright. I remember Professor Brainerd (the guy who invented flubber) and boy could he play a mean saxaphone! Then he flew his Model-T around town at night and then he made the basketball team jump real high....what a scamp.......

[mcv57]

Government White Collar crime syndicate. Their motto, "Milk the Cow very, very, slowly, and don''t let the system know what your doing."

[hypnotoad72]

Uh-oh. Attacking and disgracing scientists. Are big green lizards wearing human skin suits trying to take over _again_?

:)

[mcv57]

Posted by hypnotoad72

Civil Service science staff are not scientist; they are organized college science rejects buearcrats, who do nothing more than create war games and weapons of mass destruction - that is when they feel like working.

[fstop100]

Stealing is a crime, lets do theright thing and punish them like common thiefs!

[gkc99]

No problem. Just import a lot of Asian scientists, give them a bowl of rice and a straw mat, and fire all the Americans. Then the Asians can take all Oak Ridge''s secrets back to their own countries--OH WAIT--they''ve done that already!

[gkc99]

Dianne Feinstein is already rubber stamping all the green cards for foreign imports to replace these disgraces who pay as much as $62 (gasp!) for a dinner.

[coco0331]

Our porker incumbents politicians in Pa, travel the world on a regular basis. They can say its benefiting to the country. I say its traveling the world at tax payer expense. When Bill Shuster isn''t posing for a photo opp with his smiling face, he''s putting in his brownie points giving our money away for votes, or taking an adventure trip around the world. You don''t think the scientist know what they are doing?

[creeper00]

As if scientists don''t have enough trouble with the know-nothing in the White House, they bring even more grief upon themselves through their own greed and arrogance.

[soldat44]

Our tax dollars have been wasted for decades now anyhow, assisting the fairy tale teachings of Darwinian evolution in the "science" classroom.

www.expelledthemovie.com

Posted by notaliberal4 at 07:09 PM : Jun 07, 2008

I totally agree.

[jerr11]

Scientists Gone Wild?



Nothing compared to neocons gone wild.

A war based on 935 lies, fake intel.

Killed 4090 Americans so far.

Cost the country $3 trillion.

What''s a couple thousand buck compared to the $12 billion we''re wasting in Iraq!

And who''s the main beneficiary?

Bush and his Halliburton buddies.

BLOOD MONEY.

George W Bush - Son of Satan

Damned for all time!

[displeased]

Our tax dollars have been wasted for decades now anyhow, assisting the fairy tale teachings of Darwinian evolution in the "science" classroom.
Posted by notaliberal4

Science is based on studying objects that are real. Your religion comes from a book written by man at a time when they had very little understanding of existence. It''s obvious which one is the fairy tale.

[robes39]

Mere chickenfeed compared to what Congress does to the taxpayer every day.

[displeased]

Mere chickenfeed compared to what Congress does to the taxpayer every day.
Posted by robes39

You mean the president.

[jerr11]

assisting the fairy tale teachings of Darwinian evolution in the "science" classroom.

www.expelledthemovie.com

Posted by notaliberal4 at 07:09 PM : Jun 07, 2008

I totally agree.

Posted by soldat44 at 08:21 PM : Jun 07, 2008




Me too.

And shooting all those fake Apollo lunar landings in a parking lot in Hollywood.

And how about those atom bombs in Japan?

Never happened, The guys who made those old King Kong movies shot those mushroom clouds too.

And yes, if you sailed deep into the Pacific, you''ll drop over the edge and land in Hell!

LOL

DUMB NEOCONS!

[jerr11]

assisting the fairy tale teachings of Darwinian evolution in the "science" classroom.

www.expelledthemovie.com


Posted by notaliberal4 at 07:09 PM : Jun 07, 2008

I totally agree.

Posted by soldat44 at 08:21 PM : Jun 07, 2008



It''s amazing how selective these religious nutcases can be when it comes to science.

They have no problems using the "internet" (or "internets" as the Liar-in-Chief calls it), to express their ignorance but they would not believe in any science that do not support their "religious" beliefs.

In this regard, they are no different from their Al Qaeda counterparts in Afghanistan who trash everything Western and yet have no difficulty using a cellphone or the internet (or "internets" as the Coward of Crawford calls it.)