Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman says the General Services Administration (GSA) spending scandal is helping the city, not hurting it, according to a report in the
Las Vegas Sun.
National media outlets have come in to cover the story, giving city officials another opportunity to tout the gambling mecca’s attractions, Goodman noted at a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon Tuesday.
Furthermore, she said, the extravagant conferences sponsored by the GSA at taxpayer expense show that excessive spending can extend well beyond Nevada to anywhere.
In addition to a conference it sponsored in Las Vegas, the GSA is now under congressional investigation for wasteful spending on a number of trips, including conferences in California, Hawaii, and the South Pacific.
Earlier this month, GSA Administrator Martha Johnson was forced to resign over the scandal, which included the tab for an $820,000 training session for agency employees in Las Vegas.
The 300-person conference featured a mind reader, bicycle giveaways, and lavish after-hour receptions.
“Don’t make us a scapegoat for how our tax dollars are misspent,” Goodman said at the chamber luncheon. “Darn it, Washington. Get your act together and don’t waste our dollars.”
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