FEMA refuses audit
As an extension to Boyd's excellent post below on gubmint waste, I wanted to link to a fine NOLA blog called Wet Bank Guide, which points to the latest FEMA absurdity. Believe it or not, Louisiana is getting penalized for being fiscally responsible, and wanting to do an audit of costs.
The Wet Bank Guide explains:
FEMA, found by the GAO to have squandered hundreds of millions in fradulent payments and wasteful spending, has refused a demand by the state of Louisiana that costs charged back to the state be subject to state audit, the Associated Press reports.Louisiana is facing an unprecedented $338 million bill for its share of Hurricane Katrina relief. The state legislature appropriated $500 million to cover the bills, but inserted a requirement that FEMA's co-pay amounts be reviewed by the state auditor.
FEMA's response: to refuse to submit to even a spot audit, and to threaten Louisiana with penalties for being so, well, damned honest. The federals really need to make up their minds. Either they want honest government in Louisiana, or they dont.
Obviously, the state of Louisiana has an interest in reducing its share of costs as much as possible. But why should FEMA oppose and penalize a request for an audit? Don't catastrophe-stricken taxpayers deserve an accounting? Aren't these the type of fiscally responsible "best practices" that should be encouraged at every level (especially in Louisiana)?
Dude! Of course they did. We'll probablt need a dem congress before we see any real taking of responsibility
July 30, 2008 10:51 PM | Reply | Permalink