Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

The 7 Key Moments From Wednesday’s IRS Hearing

Government

$3,500 Refrigerator, $689 Faucet…in the Interior Secretary’s Personal Bathroom — and Audit Finds You Paid for It!

Jan. 17, 2013 12:55pm Madeleine Morgenstern

Audit Finds $222,000 Renovations to Interior Secretarys Personal Bathroom

Atlanta’s WSB-TV obtained photographs of the interior secretary’s personal bathroom, which was renovated to the tune of $222,000 in 2007. (Image source: WSB-TV)

Seems the secretary of the interior is sitting pretty.

The Interior Department apparently spent $222,000 to renovate the secretary’s personal 100-square-foot bathroom, outfitting it with a $3,500 sub-zero refrigerator, $2,600 custom cabinetry, a $689 faucet and even a $65 “vintage tissue holder,” all at taxpayers’ expense.

The renovations were done in 2007 under President George W. Bush’s Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, apparently because of water leaks. They were completed before President Barack Obama or Interior Secretary Ken Salazar took office.

Image source: WSB-TV

Government auditors questioned the need for such pricy upgrades and launched an investigation, issuing memos about their findings in 2009. Atlanta’s WSB-TV filed a Freedom of Information Act request, which took more than four years to fulfill.

“A number of the items incorporated into the renovation project call into question the need for luxurious materials,” the audit found, according to WSB.

The renovations were approved and contracted by the General Services Administration — the organization that found itself mired in scandal last year after a lavish Las Vegas training conference came to light.

A GSA representative stressed to WSB that the bathroom renovations took place during the previous administration and that “greater oversight” in in place to protect against future wasteful spending.

The U.S. national debt was about $9 trillion in 2007.

Image source: WSB-TV

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (102)

noslave
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:56pm
obamas typical elite govt workers?”I GOT MINE AND IT REALLY SUCKS TO BE YOU THE TAXPAYERS??”

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- JQuentinEvermann
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 2:19pm
  It will be an interesting news day when these people are dragged through the streets and hung from the lampposts. I, of course, will have nothing to do with this sort of violence against our beloved leaders, but I may have to make popcorn.
  
  Report this comment
- jefftavolieri
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 2:23pm
  The renovations were done in 2007 under President George W. Bush’s Interior Secretary, but let’s not let facts get in the way of a good outrage.
  
  Report this comment
- aleena
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 2:41pm
  According to the article, these renovations were done under George W. Bush. Both parties have been guilty of wasting the taxpayer’s money.
  
  Report this comment
- JQuentinEvermann
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 2:51pm
  You obviously weren’t listening to me when I said the same thing about W and his kind. Our GOVERNMENT is mocking us, both sides, acting as if us not taking action against them is the same as giving our consent.
  
  As a Marine, I feel used, liked to, mistreated, abused, and guilty for helping to keep any of them in office.
  
  Report this comment
- Silvertruth
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 3:15pm
  Just goes to show that both sides of the isle are corrupt and lacking in ethical, moral and personal integrity.
  
  Report this comment
- TheePolitinator
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 3:35pm
  @JEFFRAVIOLLIEATINGPOSTER
  
  Why can’t people grasp that the two parties serve the same masters?. How many decades of no change is it going to take until you all get the fact that the Corporation of the United States has been usurped by a corrupt banking cartel? Is it that hard to get? WE HAVE BEEN USURPED.
  
  Now pull up your big boy pants and go do something. Right/Left paradigm, It’s a two party tyranny. For the love of God please forget this whole party allegiance crap and start to see we are ALL being played for fools by a corrupt bunch of heartless, Godless criminals. We must UNITE on Liberty, Freedom, and put aside all this political demagoguery and hateful pre-designed socially engineered rhetoric. You are only falling for their agenda of divisiveness.
  
  ABSORB THIS:
  
  The Department of Defense Dictionary of Military Terms defines terrorism as:
  
  The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.
  
  Sound familiar? Watch this video. It’s our military speaking to YOU, I suggest you listen.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkJ_ZiX_Tek
  
  Report this comment
- Simple Skeptic
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:25pm
  I can certainly side with the liberals outrage on this one, despite who might have authorized this or under whose watch, this is a completely and ridiculously out of control government (going back decades)…from both sides. This bathroom renovation cost more than my house! And this is just the tip of the ice…
  
  I just wish for 4 years that politicians would spend taxpayer money like it was coming out of their own pockets. I think that alone would solve many of our problems. I think that would end a lot of resentment between the left and right…we’d still have some social issue differences, but man, wouldn’t it be nice to only have that to argue about? =)
  
  Report this comment
- noslave
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:59pm
  TO CLARIFY BOTH RULEING PARTIES SINCE JFK ERA have been useing the taxpayers as CASHCOWS one way or another they both have the same attatude?this is nothing new.
  
  Report this comment
- wordsofwisdom
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 6:05pm
  Now you know why they sell their soul’s to the Devil just to stay in office! They live like royalty while they claim to feel your pain. Yea, I believe that! This song is more like the truth called “What’s Wrong With This Song” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_9134749 it uses the word song as a metaphor of their words v’s actions.
  
  Report this comment
- joetentpeg
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:17pm
  @jefftavolieri et al
  
  I love it! For the Left, as long as it happens under Repubs, we should accept it as “OK.”
  
  Priceless. In this case, literally.
  
  Report this comment
- db321
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 1:21am
  These Fraud and Waste Reporters really have a thing for Tolet Seat and Bath Rooms. Is that all they can find.
  
  How about the 10 Million Obama phones that cost Tax Payers $200 a month for each one. Or the 100 Million American and illegals on some sort of Govt Assistance. Did you know that it Cost $80,000 a year to pay just one recipient. That means that if a person is gets $200 a month in Food Stamps or $2400 a year – it cost Tax Payers $80,000 a year to pay it.
  
  Report this comment
- noslave
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:25am
  the best song i’ve heard is “I WANT TO GROW UP TO BE A POLITICIAN”BY THE KINKS?wanted to play it during the election season,your right they will sell their soul for the chance at easy money and power,look at corzine spent millions to get a $100,000/yr?job,walks away with billions lost or misplaced??clintons broke??now multi-millionares,al gore?obamas lost or misplaced billlions in stimilus??its a common pattern by both parties,and none seem to be prosecuted??like you cant fight city hall??
  
  Report this comment
shorelineliz
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:54pm
Dang! I thought I was greedy waiting for my new Obama cell phone! Not! This guy takes the crapper! Literally!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Raging_Waters
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:52pm
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!!!

Interior secretary’s bathroom upgrades: $222,000

Shrimp on treadmills: $500,000

Bridges for endangered squirrels: $1,250,000

U.S Citizens making a public example of the corrupt, treasonous politicians in D.C. …priceless.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Xiccarph
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:51pm
Its elitist government, what would one expect?? Regardless of who investigates whom, nothing will be done about it, and everyone knows it. What are they gpoing to do, gut it and remodel it down? Of course not. It will stay as is, and everyone knew it when it was done. No responsibility, nothing to fear, no punishment. I’m sure similar expenditures are in progress right now, and consequences of getting caught are the last thing on any of their minds, cuz they know it will be a get off free deal.
If WE do something like this though, boy those little prosecutor turds and elitist bureaucrats will go to no end to make an example of us.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
michaelmoron
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:46pm
This is EXACTLY why UNAPPORTIONED TAX is UNCONSTITUTIONAL !!!!

Sales tax is Apportioned. You only pay tax on things YOU use.

We have to ELIMINATE FEDERAL INCOME TAX !!!!!!

REPEAL the FEDERAL RESERVE ACT of 1913

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- patriotpals
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 3:19pm
  Repeal the federal income tax? Hmmm I don’t think you can repeal something that was never law in the first place. Suggest something different…like auditing the Federal reserve, since it is THAT private institution and the interest it collects on the US DEBT that requires the unconstitutional IRS to claim they must collect unapportioned taxes from US Citizens…
  
  The 16th Amendment was never ratified by a majority of the states in 1913. This is a provable fact. I have a video of Harry Reid saying, with his own mouth, that “income taxes” are voluntary…”but everyone must pay their fair share”…well, something cannot be voluntary and compulsory at the same time…pick a side Harry…
  
  Report this comment
dumbugga
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:43pm
Even a pig won’t eat where it craps.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
michaelmoron
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:42pm
If I ever have to defend myself.

This article will be entered into evidence as to why I would refuse to pay an Unconstitutional unapportioned Income tax.

Since I have hundreds of other sold remedies to protect myself, I would never even have to get to into that argument.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- michaelmoron
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:49pm
  *Bad edit
  
  Solid Remedies, in addition to a punctual and structural error.
  
  Report this comment
- American_Christian_Capitalist
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 6:26pm
  Very interested in your other remedies! Please share, sir!!
  
  Report this comment
- michaelmoron
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 11:32pm
  lol. k.
  
  One is that NO ONE OWNS ME, therefore NO one had the Right to pledge myself or my property to the Federal Reserve Private Bank. Especially for the Debt of another person (Legal Fiction/Corporation). I am not doing business as. I have a right to a private two party contract. I am not legally obligated to bring forth a third party. I never signed the Federal Reserve Act of 1913.
  I am removing the presumption of law by stating that I am NOT a U.S. Citizen.
  The IRS or it’s agents are a foreign owned private company and are not licensed to do business
  in the States. I have not Contracted. Any Adhesion Contract is a Unconscionable Contract.
  I am not a public servant. Show me the Law (evidence) that I must pay you Federal Reserve I.O.U.s
  Show me how a PRIVATE COLLECTION AGENCY has authority over me, when there is no CONTRACT. On the Federal Reserve Note it states that this IOU is for all debts Public and Private.
  Is the IRS claiming I have no right to private debt under the fourth amendment ?
  I am the Administrator of Person (corporation). I appoint the judge TRUSTEE to absolve this matter
  with predjudice. Unapportioned Taxes are Unconstitutional. Show me that the 16th Amendment was ratified by 2/3s Congress. This isn’t money. These are overdrawn checks written on a closed account.
  Show me a legally binding contract to perform. I am also a Beneficiary to this Corporation called the ‘United States’, Only trustees pay income tax.
  
  Report this comment
- michaelmoron
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 11:44pm
  * I am the Administrator of MY Person (Legal Fiction/Corporation). I appoint the judge TRUSTEE to absolve this matter with prejudice, since there is no Cause of Action and therefore no subject matter jurisdiction. The only way I am obligated to a Private Company is Breach of Contract or Damage.
  
  I have more, I have to save some of my best. You understand ;)
  
  Report this comment
- michaelmoron
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 11:50pm
  BTW.
  
  I am the 1% that you would not want to bring into court (if you were one to be contemplating it)
  
  It would be in your best interest to go for the other 99%. Trust me.
  
  lol.
  
  Report this comment
- michaelmoron
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 12:42pm
  Want to touch on a few points, just in case some dumb@$$ IRS agent or Federal Tax Attorney wants to go after me. lol. Clowns.
  
  How one prefaces a statement is key.
  
  That is why my comment includes the following:
  a) “If I ever have to defend myself.” , meaning IF there EVER WAS a FUTURE issue. I have not Claimed that there is one at this time.
  b) “as to why I would refuse”. WOULD is key here. I never claimed that I refuse.
  I claimed there might come a time that I WOULD refuse. Would denotes a future action.
  
  I never touched upon EVIDENCE and TRIAL by JURY. lol.
  
  Prove that the Person (Legal Fiction) in question ( With no evidence to substantiate your Claims)
  is indeed ‘MichaelMoron’.
  
  Report this comment
m14guy
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:40pm
The Apparatus run by the Aparachik paid for by the Bourgeoisie to maintain control over the Proletariat. That about sums up everything “they” are and what has been going on forever. It’s just now we are near the tipping point for many reasons.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
environmentalandawake
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:31pm
Yet one more example of the Drunken Teen-agers run amok with the family credit card…..Would you allow your drunken teen make decisions about your gun choices while having explosives at their disposal???

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
coyote1hell
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:19pm
He must eat fronzen crapsicles…wonder whats in his home, we paid for..?….

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
dcgirl
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:18pm
At that price you could have custom home in Texas.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
MarianF
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:18pm
Forget about government waste for a moment, that is not new. A refrigerator in the bathroom? Really, food stored where you (well you know) for gross!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Southernsoul
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:32pm
  That’s what I was wondering. Why do you need a fridge in a bathroom?
  
  Report this comment
dcgirl
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:16pm
At that price you could have a custom home in Texas.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Mil-Dot
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:15pm
The American people are nothing more than a giant ATM machine for these goons. There is absolutely zero oversight and accountability over how our hard earned money is spent. This criminal, yes, that is what he is, should be in jail for this. Didn’t they send Rostenkowski to prison for stealing our money and throwing it around? And they wonder aloud why we hate them. Pfft.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
BODYBAG
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:15pm
These prices really are NOT outrageous. It is deceitful to portray them as such.
They are upper mid-range at best. Cabinetry is expensive. Go to Home Depot and
price out Corian countertops @ $1K per linear foot. Refers like a GE Profile can
approach $10K.

Could they have done it cheaper? Yes.
But this is by no means lavish or opulent.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- BODYBAG
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:23pm
  With that said, the line items singled out here [refer, cabinets, toilet paper holder, etc]
  total roughly $7K.
  
  Where’s the REMAINING $215,000 ????
  
  Report this comment
- kaydeebeau
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:22pm
  You could build a whole house for $222,000
  
  Report this comment
- team1blazer
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:56pm
  Really? That is $2,220.00 per square foot! The average bathroom remodel is about 15-20k with custom showers, floor, cabinets, tile, lighting and ventilation. If you think 222k is not unreasonable, I want you for my next customer!
  
  Report this comment
raabhimself
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:10pm
Who would want a fridge in their bathroom?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 13th Imam
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:20pm
  Elvis
  
  Report this comment
- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:20pm
  RAAB,
  What is wrong with you? He needs that refrigerator to store the Champagne that he sips while soaking in the tub. It goes great with the Cuban cigars.
  
  Report this comment
- BIG_G
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:30pm
  Maybe he drinks beer while sittin on the sh i t ter.
  
  Report this comment
- BODYBAG
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:49pm
  These people often sleep in their offices since many of them dont live there permanently.
  I imagine this was like a combo room kit/bath.
  
  If I were an elected official from AR I would probably like my DC office to have a place
  to shower, s**t, shave and keep some food cold without having to rent a separate apartment.
  
  Just sayin’
  
  Report this comment
- raabhimself
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 2:11pm
  @Bodybag
  
  Yeah I understand that but most government offices have a breakroom… almost everywhere I have ever worked has had a place for you to store lunch if you decided to pack…
  
  Report this comment
dropthehammer
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:08pm
Seriously? $222,000? Couldn’t the son of a bitch walked down the hall like the rest of us?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- SUNTZU
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:25pm
  Just think what it would cost if he were the
  outerior sec.
  Outhouse-32,000
  frige-3,500
  faucet-689
  4 holes-1,600
  driveway 14,000
  BMW-124,998
  I’m just glad he put it in
  the house.
  
  Report this comment
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:08pm
And so the corruption of the princes and princesses of America continues unabated.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- zenjak
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 7:23am
  It’s not corruption. The people in the upper echelons of the government are simply much better than you or I could ever be. We must bow our heads in reverence to their greatness and remain in our lowly places.
  
  Report this comment
mrunner
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:07pm
Just makes it that much clearer. Repubs, Dems, doesn’t matter. They are all self absorbed pukes who have no sense of what the term “public servant” means. Secretary of the Interior?? Are we sure it wasn’t the Secretary of Interior Decorating?? One more department that must go away. This renovation of a 100 sq. ft. bathroom cost more than I paid for my 2600 sq. ft. home…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
landowner
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:06pm
Don’t care what party, who did it, where it happened. STOP IT. Spend your own money.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:32pm
  Agree. Something we can all agree on.
  
  Report this comment
jman-6
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:05pm
No sane person ever thought Bush wasn’t aware of the corruption in his administration and did nothing about it.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 13th Imam
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:11pm
  G must have personally OK’ed this travesty of justice. I guess murdering our Ambassador by deliberate inaction doesn’t measure up to a gold and jewel encrusted hammer.
  
  Report this comment
- MAULEMALL
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:12pm
  idiot
  
  Report this comment
MrButcher
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:03pm
Interior DESIGN Secretary.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Rowgue
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:03pm
Just one example illustrating that republicans are not necessarily conservatives.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
riseandshine
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:01pm
No surprise….we’ve been getting bilked since 1913.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
FlagWavingPatriot
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 1:00pm
Government waste? Say it ain’t so!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.