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Senators call for investigation of ATFE headquarters
Senators Menendez and Lautenberg have called for a Judiciary Committee investigation of the ATFE's spending on its new HQ.
"In a letter to Carl Truscott, ATF director, the New Jersey senators questioned the need for expensive office upgrades while laws governing firearms are not adequately enforced and equipment for field agents is under the knife.
“[These] unnecessary upgrades, including nearly $300,000 in upgrades for your office suite alone, ha[ve] put this project $19 million over budget, just as the ATF is eliminating funding for 500 bulletproof vests and 300 new cars for field agents who enforce the nation’s federal gun laws,” the letter said.
A recent press report outlined extensive upgrades proposed by Director Truscott for the ATF’s Washington headquarters including such costly items as a $65,000 conference table, and $100,000 for hardwood floors. "
· BATFE
Comments
A ridiculous amount of money on a department that is larger and more powerful than it needs to be in the first place. They should cut back on it and send some of the personnel to work guarding the US-Mexico border.
Just my opinion.
Posted by: BobG at December 31, 2006 12:20 PM
Bob, you got that right. Truth in advertising - they realy should be named the Federal Tax Police.
Posted by: RKV at December 31, 2006 07:27 PM
Am I alone in thinking, "there's $300k less money directed to actual enforcement of un-constitutional laws"?
Posted by: Fuz at December 31, 2006 11:43 PM
But... but... that money comes out of a different budget!
Posted by: Kevin Baker at January 1, 2007 10:31 AM
Fuz, I was thinking the same ironic thought. Let them spend it on mahogany desks and custom-cast seals; that's one less dollar spent on enforcing laws that should have never been added to the US Code in the first place.
Talk about a *total* waste of public resources. If they aren't throwing it away on lavish decorations, than they are wasting it on enforcing laws that shouldn't even exist.
I propose a new tagline for the agency: "ATF: the place where any dollar spent is wasted."
Posted by: Poshboy at January 3, 2007 12:19 PM