Professor Elam

Monday June 3 2013

Republican lawmakers briefed on the report on conference spending released details from select portions, highlighting a $4 million gathering for 2,600 managers at three hotels in Anaheim, Calif., in August 2010. Several IRS employees stayed in presidential suites, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee said. About 15 outside speakers were paid $135,000.

The report includes details about IRS training videos that were produced ahead of the conference. One
video features IRS employees learning the "Cupid shuffle" line dance. The IRS in a statement said the video "was unacceptable and an inappropriate use of government funds."

In advance of the report's full release, Danny Werfel, the IRS acting commissioner, said the conference spending "should not have occurred." He added that new spending restrictions have led to an 87% drop in conference costs from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2012. Mr. Werfel also referred to the Anaheim event as "an unfortunate vestige from a prior era."

Monday June 3 WSJ Page A4

Remember the revelations over the GAO pulling similar stunts with lavish conferences in Hawaii?  Well here we go again. In the Accounting Ethics course I teach we emphasize that the tone is set at the top. Well here is tone on display.

The WSJ has an excellent half hour show Saturday 1 PM and Sunday 2 PM on Fox in our market. They pointed out this weekend that the IRS is such a target of disdain the brou haha continues to grow.

There is of course no accountability at the Federal Government level. No one has lost their job over delaying approval for 501c4 status for groups.

I wonder if the dance instructors were staff employees or contractors, inquiring minds want to know.

I am recommending that you take advantage of the heavily discounted WSJ student subscription, good stuff in that paper every day.