FAA Party in Atlanta

          According to ABC News the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just spent five million taxpayer dollars for a managers conference in Atlanta.  According to one FAA manager, “Anytime you get a bunch of FAA guys together, it is nothing but a party," and this get together appears to have been no exception.  One hardworking FAA manager declared that he was about to head out "to dance on tables shortly." He continued with the boast that he was "almost arrested" for being drunk and "dancing on the tables" at a 2006 FAA conference in St. Louis.  Another dedicated public servant asked a woman reporter if she was a “hooker,” because, he added, “I was ready to reach for my wallet.”  

          Every semi-intelligent taxpayer knows what is going on here.  The FAA had extra funds in their budget and decided to spend it on a party.  Of course, they can’t call it a party, so they call it a conference and come up with a few hours work for the participants so they can justify the millions of taxpayer dollars squandered. 

          The Obama administration has rightly lambasted banking executives who took TARP money for their bonuses, questionable conferences and parties.  These institutions took taxpayer money and therefore have a responsibility to use the funds in a careful manner that insures the maximum benefit to the public treasury.  For as long as an institution, such as Wells Fargo, Citigroup or AIG uses taxpayer money they are accountable to the taxpayer for how that money is used. 

          The current administrator of the FAA, J. Randolph Babbitt, should be reminded of this fact, fire those responsible for squandering public funds and then, due to his own lack of leadership, promptly resign.