On the same day that there were echoes of the controversial General Services Administration conference in Las Vegas that featured magicians and more, Republicans in Congress charged the GSA was basically demanding kickbacks from contractors who obtained a federal tax credit for energy efficiency.
Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee circulated a GSA form letter that made it pretty clear:
"GSA will allocate the deduction to the contractor upon payment to GSA of 19 percent of the deduction amount. These funds will be used by GSA to invest in additional energy-efficiency projects."
Now, let's be clear - there are agencies in the federal government who are allowed by the Congress to collect certain fees, duties and taxes and use them for operations of that department.
But judging by the reaction of a key Republican on the Ways and Means panel - which is the chief tax writing committee in the House - the GSA does not have this power.
"Requiring a cash payment in exchange for a tax deduction is a kickback, pure and simple," said Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA).
"We must ensure that this tax deduction is being used for its intended purpose and not being sold to line some government slush fund," who then verbally smacked the Executive Branch over a "wide range of abuse of taxpayer dollars being used for everything from fortune tellers to clowns to spaying pets."
Boustany also demanded to know where the money from these payments to the GSA ended up.
"In answering this question, provide a detailed accounting for the funds used, the office that allocated the funds; and the officials responsible for the allocation," Boustany wrote in a letter to the Acting GSA Administrator.
The GSA maintains nothing wrong occurred, but the fact that the agency was trying to send money back into its coffers won't sit well with some in the Congress.
