The Federal Times reports that Jeff Neely, the guy who directed the gross misuse of hard-earned tax dollars at the GSA, retired this week. Retired? In the private sector, he would have been escorted out the door as soon as the fiasco came to light.
The report found Neely wasted tens of thousands of dollars in government funds on unnecessary trips, parties, activities and swag. GSA Inspector General Brian Miller said Neely fostered a culture of “putting people down” who objected to his spending decisions.
“One employee told me he ‘squashed someone like a bug,’ ” Miller told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in April. “Spending was part of the culture of Region 9.”
In addition, Miller’s office found thousands of dollars of equipment — iPods, gift cards and other items bought by Neely’s Region 9 office for an employee awards program — went missing or was stolen. Miller said his office tracked one of the missing iPods to Neely’s daughter.
That committee’s chairman — Rep. John Mica, R-Fla. — one month ago called for Neely to be removed from the federal payroll.
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That quote comes from a smoker in New Zealand, where the tobacco tax has been hiked again, and where retailers must now hide cigarettes under the counter. It’s all part of the country’s effort to force smokers to stop. Well, actually, not quite stop, because that would mean giving up the tax revenue. Here’s reaction from smokers:
Read full article » No Comments »Chris Hobman said the cost is “horrendous” and could drive some low-income people to commit crimes to support their habit. He said the government needs to provide more support and alternatives to smokers if it’s serious about making them quit.
Wellington resident Hayley Mauriohooho, who has smoked for about 20 years, said that although it would be good if more people quit, higher taxes won’t stop her.
“It’s quite ridiculous for the government to be concentrating on that,” she said. “They have bigger things to worry about.”
