Next Meeting of ‘Stimulus Waste Prevention’ Panel: Ritz Carlton Hotel, Phoenix
**Written by Doug Powers
Why the Ritz? Because the Waldorf Astoria was booked solid.
From Byron York:
Members of a key panel created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus bill, have scheduled a meeting on November 22 to consider ways to prevent “fraud, waste, and abuse of Recovery Act funds.” The meeting will be held at the super-luxe Ritz Carlton Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona.
The group is the Recovery Independent Advisory Panel, a sub-committee of the larger Recovery Accountability and Transparency board (sometimes known as the RAT board). The stimulus bill set up the Recovery Independent Advisory Panel, or RIAP, to make recommendations to identify and prevent waste of the bill’s $814 billion in stimulus spending.
So I guess that “boycott Arizona” thing is over, eh?
Rooms at the Phoenix Ritz run anywhere from around $300 to $500-plus a night, and that expense doesn’t include the signs that might be placed on Ritz grounds to alert the public that a Recovery Act project is underway.
This meeting is expected to save or create countless bellboy, waiter, maid, bartender, cab driver and masseuse jobs.
“Identify and prevent waste”? It’s probably too much to hope for that anyone on the panel will jot down “meeting at a 5-star hotel to discuss how to cut unnecessary expenditures” as waste that could be prevented, isn’t it?
**Written by Doug Powers
Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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Why Phoenix? It’s the kidnap-for-ransom capital of the world! They should have moved it to Geneva or Cannes or Rome. I’m sure they could have worked out a group rate.
What happened to the Arizona boycott?
#2? That’s like winning the World Series and ending up in second place. My name is not George Bush!
These people are DENSE. Wasting money to investigate wasting money.
Wishful thinking. Besides, Obama would probably actually pay the ransom.
Contractors have to stay under a specified lodging per diem, why not they?
I am sure the waste they find will not pay for an motel 6 !
Of course, because the Ritz Carlton in Las Vegas went bankrupt and closed last year. We the taxpayers actually caught a break got a break because even though they are gambling with our money, now they cant lose it at the craps tables.
If they’d just stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, they might’ve gotten smarter… or so the commercial says.
Wow, this is a good one, I’m not sure why they have to go anywhere to have a meeting, there are lots of fine hotels and SPAs in the Washington area, but in this case I am glad they are supporting Arizona and providing much needed tax revenue to help them fight the stupid persicution by the federal government. And on that front, perhaps Arizona should counter suing and include actual damages, legal costs and (PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE) PUNATIVE DAMAGES!!!! The DOJ should be punished for bringing a frivilous suit against Arizona. Even if the Supreme Court throws it out, it would be a big deal.
On the Per Deim, that only applies to the little people, Per Deim for thee, but not for me, is the congressional mantra, along with laws and rules for the but not for me. That should be unconstitutional. Congress should pass no law that does not apply equally to itself.
Signs, signs, everywhere are signs.
Blocking out the scenery, breaking my – BANK.
Ritz Carlton in Las Vegas went bankrupt and closed? Good,no AC or heat-that is where all gubmint brass hats should meet.
As far as Boycott Arizona I guess the NASCAR fans at Phoenix International Raceway didn’t get the message.
===
Let your sidearm be like American Express:
Don’t Leave home without it.
I would not be surprised if this committee was going to Phoenix so that they can investigate stimulous fraud in AZ (even if they make up what the fraud is). Then they head back to D.C. and strip AZ of any stimulous money due to “rampant fraud” and redirect it to SO CA or Chicago.
Modern teleconference technology does not provide filet mignon, lobster tail and vodka martinis.
….. besides, government bureaucrats are still using COBOL and 1980s mainframes. They likely never heard of a teleconference but they do understand free steak and booze.
Hey you can just back off. What is your point here?
All any REAL programmer needs is a key punch, a FORTRAN compiler, and a beer.
Java, Visual Basic, C++ and ORACLE are for sissies!
Good thinking there TrueSoldier. Also, they are probably getting a ‘government rate’ on the rooms. The mean corporate hotel may get soaked but that’s OK as long as the SEIU employees get rich on tips.
So the fat cats are back at it again.
Put up a GP large tent on a parade ground at Fort Huachuca, hang a lister bag for water, put in field desks and chairs, and serve them MRE’s for their meals.
That will motivate the group to get their work done expeditiously while incurring minimal cost.
No, they are going to Phoenix because that is where they pick up their paychecks from the drug cartels.
Stimulus – Finding activities, and joyful distractions while pretending to find ways to creatively spend money wisely on non-essential projects, programs, and other non-shovel-ready nonsense.
One man’s “stimulus” is another man’s par-tay!
Given the moral fortitude of this administration, I would politely suggest it will also create several jobs of another sort.
Sorry, bad link…
Given the moral fortitude of this administration, I would politely suggest it will also create several jobs of another sort.
And these same damn hypocrites have the gall to go after Chris Christie?
See here>.
I’d say it was unbelievable, but this IS the Øbama administration we’re talking about ………………….
Semper Fi’
DM
We still have a Commodore64 in the basement somewhere, and a tape machine that plugs into it. Add a cold beer and that should work for anyone. People are so spoiled these days.
What about tele-conferencing? Seems it would be lots cheaper.
Obama likes the teleprompter so much why doesn’t HE use tele-conferencing instead of flying off on zillion dollar conferences?
***
Looks like a good target for some TEA PARTY action. Signs and American Flags on the streets into the ritzy hotel. And some video of our “representatives” pigging out at our expense.
***
And maybe some surreptious “hookercam” cell phone videos of tradional action nearby. Maybe the guys who got Acorn could work this angle. Out them at all opportunities.
***
John Bibb
***
All efforts by the government to modernize computer programs fail. I saw Homeland Security was 1 billion dollars on E-Customs, before it pulled the plug. Most of the money went to SAP (which does not integrate very well). They also try to build these systems in the DC area where contractor rates are sky high, and resume cheating is the norm. Just think of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
I loved the old teletype printers. They sounded like miniature cotton looms. “General, we have authorization to launch all missiles!”
I’d bet there are a few call-girls who are looking forward to some new, um, “business”.
The SEIU and AFL-CIO reps went to one of those legal “cat houses” and asked if they were union. They were told, “no we’re not”. They checked out several more, and received the same answer.
They finally found a union cat house. They handed the madam their cash and each pointed to a cute little thing and said they wanted her.
The madam pointed to a couple of 70 year old hags and said they had “Seniority.”
Nice.
Don’t unplug it though – it’s running the TSA “No Fly” list for the eastern half of the US.
What they couldn’t find a 5-star hotel in DC?? They should have held it the same time as botox nan’s little celebration party…
reddog
I’ve eaten there many times. Their food sucks. One of the times I ate there I could not identify what one of the items on the plate was. One can get better food across the street at Sam’s Cafe.
What’s the matter, couldn’t get rooms at the Holiday Inn Express?
On November 12, 2010 at 12:02 pm, tre said:
LOL!!!!!1!
Why don’t they go observe how Sheriff Arpaio actually saves money for the State, and be serious in preventing “fraud, waste, and abuse of Recovery Act funds.”?
First order of the day is to defund the Stimulus bucket and shred the credit cards;
Next is to dissolve the panel. . .