Government

Report: Your Tax Dollars Funding Lavish World Trip to Photograph…Billboards

Report: Your Tax Dollars Funding Lavish World Trip to Photograph...BillboardsTwelve days featuring world class meals and luxury hotels down‘unda in Sydney’s famed harbor, then off to Sweden and the beauties of Scandinavia, followed by the tulip-lined highways of the Netherlands, then a few days in Scotland, and finally, bringing the seventeen day extravaganza to an end, a stay at a luxury London hotel around the corner from Buckingham Palace.

Is this the vacation of your dreams? No, just a few weeks of work for a group of taxpayer-funded bureaucrats employed to travel the world and study, among other things such as foreign highways, billboards.

An ABC News investigative team broke the story this morning that the U.S. government spends millions every year to send a twelve member team of federal and state highway officials on lavish research trips around the world in order to produce a 76-page report on outdoor advertising policy few ever read. The initiative is known as the International Scan Program:

Report: Your Tax Dollars Funding Lavish World Trip to Photograph...Billboards

The program has been going on for years and the latest report describes the practice as “a large savings of research dollars and time.”

At a time when tax rates and gas prices are as high as they have ever been, government officials are already scrambling to point blame and disaffiliate with the program. Just a few hours after ABC News began to contact government officials questioning the program, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood ordered the program suspended saying the President has been clear we need to get rid of stupid spending and pointless waste.

LaHood said that while the program is suspended  he will personally review the way taxpayer dollars have been spent.

“Each taxpayer dollar is precious, and there is no excuse for wasting a single one,” he told ABC.

No kidding.

The Secretary said this all the while another group of transportation officials were already abroad. ABC News discovered that the group plans to continue their itinerary — studying pavement — while LaHood studies the value of the program. The group will return June 26, as scheduled, completing one of many trips that have cost taxpayers nearly $12 million over the last ten years.

ABC News first contacted the Federal Highway Administration on Monday evening after obtaining a copy of a letter that House Republicans sent to the department late last week. The letter was sent shortly after Representatives learned of the seventeen day world tour. The letter is signed by Reps. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), John Carter (R-Texas), Lou Barletta (R-Pa.), Steve Southerland (R-Fl.) and Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.).

The question then, is, what can Americans do to provide oversight to government waste like this?

(H/T: Townhall)

Comments (64)

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  • Taxed_N_Spent
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 9:45pm

    It should be called the International SCAM Program.

    Report Post » Taxed_N_Spent  
    • csquare
      Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:18am

      I was going to say…they missed it by only one letter.

      Report Post » csquare  
  • Liberalismsamentaldisorder
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 8:44pm

    This is what smaller government is about. Anybody think this isn’t just the tinyest, tippy-tip of the iceberg? If a human was diagnosed as bloated as our government is, they’d be given minutes to live.

    Report Post »  
  • paperpushermj
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:42pm

    The question then, is, what can Americans do to provide oversight to government waste like this?
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
    Answer: It’s not a Citizens job to micromanage looking for government waste. But the answer is to limit the money going to an agency to the point that management has to decide who get funding and doesn’t. Force management to sort out the wheat from the chaff, that what they get paid for.

    Report Post » paperpushermj  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:35pm

    Every day this government in the US operates it is one huge waste!

    Report Post »  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:26pm

    So what? It’s the Government!
    It’s not like it was a productive taxpaying Corporation rewarding a few top execs for the 80 hour work weeks away from their families all year! Jeez-

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • elphi43
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:08pm

    Obama hasn’t followed the (constitutional) law for the last 2 plus years, why start now.

    Report Post » elphi43  
  • thinkinghuman
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:49pm

    GOOGLE MAPS Street View already takes all the pictures we need. Save a few million and click on Google Maps instead, government morons, that’s what the PRIVATE SECTOR would do.

    Report Post » thinkinghuman  
  • nomercy63
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:42pm

    Does anyone find this surprising??????????????? no comment!

    Report Post »  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:37pm

    I’m sure that this is only a very tiny example of massive theft and corruption of taxpayer dollars. As we speak, Moochelle is in South Africa with her extended family, using Air Force One and crew etc, doing Cape Town/Johannesburg on our dime.

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:32pm

    I think we should send each of them a bill for the 17-day junket, luxury hotels, cocktail parties and airfare. I’m assuming they flew first class? I’d make them pay up or be fired. If they couldn’t pay, I’d put it on their collections or credit record and let them deal with it the way taxpayers have to .

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
  • eramthgin
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:21pm

    Governmental theft pure and simple. The more of this that gets out the more willing people will be get a rope and find a strong oak tree.

    Report Post » eramthgin  
  • cece959
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:12pm

    After hearing how one congressman got money for a turtle bridge, nothing surprises me anymore.

    “Let’s say you were an idiot. And let’s say you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself.” Mark Twain

    Report Post »  
  • Starkadder
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:59pm

    I thought Biden was Obama’s life insurace policy.

    Report Post » Starkadder  
  • frustratedwithgovt
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:58pm

    Wow – I’m guessing they should have called it what it is, the Scam Program.

    Report Post » frustratedwithgovt  
  • sunflowereyes
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:56pm

    More like the international SCAM Policy

    Report Post »  
  • sunflowereyes
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:53pm

    wow…

    Report Post »  
  • jim
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:52pm

    It’s always important to take pictures of pictures, using our money.

    Report Post » jim  
  • Outlaw_Josey_Wales
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:48pm

    For the last two years I have been preparing for a total collaspe of the united states economy. Obama spends tax payers money like he wants the economy to fail. $ 1.6 Trillion dollar deficit for 2011. And trillion dollar deficits for years to come. I’m very thankful I have been preparing for the last two years. The collaspe of the American way of life is only a few months away.

    Report Post » Outlaw_Josey_Wales  
  • mhanderson1234
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:19pm

    Well they were very quick to say that it had been “going on for years” wink wink-it is Bush’s fault. So obuma is going to stop it-because he doesn’t want ANY waste. HA HA HA. Ridiculous……..

    Report Post »  
    • USAMama
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:22pm

      Very true…. my first thought when I read that too.

      Report Post » USAMama  
  • USAMama
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:19pm

    Glad to see Altmire in there, he‘s my rep and even tho I didn’t vote for him, if I had to get stuck w/ a Dem he’s a mild version.

    Report Post » USAMama  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:16pm

    Did ABC news ever report on all those billboards that the Obama administration put up announcing the Stimulus, and all those intrastructure, and shovel ready jobs?

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • royhobbs9000
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:12pm

    Ever here of Google Images?

    Report Post »  
    • LibertyWon
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:30pm

      No kidding, like kids left alone In a candy store. No such thing as a victimless crime, unless an I.G. Doesn’t catch it. Sad

      Report Post »  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:34pm

      Ever heard of internet porn ?
      How will the government leeches checkout google images when they have to use the same computers @ workplace to facebook, twitter and watch porn ?
      They only have a limited amount of time while at work !!

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • KevINtampa
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:12pm

    The question then, is, what can Americans do to provide oversight to government waste like this?

    Well for starters, a law that forces government to tell me EXACTLY how my money is spent. So I pay $10,000 in 2011. By tax time in 2012 you need to tell me EXACTLY how every dollar of my $10,000 was spent or allocated. If I find out all $10,000 of my taxes were allocated to “Bill Board Watching” you will have 2 options. Give ALL that money back, OR, you do my job for an entire year while I go take pictures of billboards in Morocco.

    Report Post »  
  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:08pm

    Now that we have YouTube & Twitter we don’t need our tax dollars going to the obvious.

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:07pm

    This is most likely for Obama to use for his campaign and should come out of his campaign funds.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:19pm

      the President has been clear we need to get rid of stupid spending and pointless waste.
      ————–
      So no more lavish vacays for Moochl and her posse ?

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:30pm

      Agreed, this is as far as it matters from me, another one of those useless perks the Congress gets via ‘fact finding’ missions around the world. They basically do nothing and get to spend ghastly amounts of money on stuff that matters little in the end.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:31pm

      @Cheezwhiz:

      So if the POTUS says we need to stop stupid spending when is Biden going to be fired?

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:31pm

      Yes I agree there musty be some linkage directly to the president – in the next few hours our singular job will be to fabricate a fairly good conspiracy theory. Let the games — begin!

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:37pm

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      So if the POTUS says we need to stop stupid spending when is Biden going to be fired?
      ————-
      Bidet can NOT be fired, his sole purpose is to make #1 seem less stinky than #2

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • Timmtamm
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:39pm

      “The initiative is known as the International Scan Program”

      OOPS we ment to say… “National SCAM Program.”

      Report Post » Timmtamm  
    • JRook
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:41pm

      Of course ridiculous, but I’m sure you can find many examples from the Reagan years…and a boat load from the Bush’s magnificent management of federal spending.

      Report Post »  
    • UpstateNYConservative
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:47pm

      @MONICNE
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:31pm

      It works the same way you liberals blamed gays for spreading AIDS on none other than Reagan.

      Pffft!

      Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
    • Showtime
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:54pm

      82dAirborne is missing in action. Anyone heard from him? Is he okay?

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:59pm

      “Each taxpayer dollar is precious” sure…………. Can we get the pitchforks?

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:02pm

      Balanced Budget Amendment .. help put a stop to this cr* p.

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:16pm

      Fiddling as Rome burns….We are toast because of CRAP like this!

      Report Post »  
    • right
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:18pm

      ROOT OUT CORRUPTION
      where ever it is,when ever it happened
      EXPOSE IT
      STOP IT
      PUNISH the guilty
      DO IT NOW !!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Professional Infidel
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 8:05pm

      was it in 2008, “I will reduce the National debt by one half, when I am elected” can you really believe anything, except “I just picked my nose and scratched my a$$”

      Report Post »  
    • NOTYERHUCKLEBERRY
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 9:51pm

      Speaking of hope and change—I hope we can change the current control of this fine nation before it’s too late.

      Report Post »  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 10:15pm

      This is a ruse. It is also a fraud used by many politicians to fund their ‘private’ travels’ and vacations. It’s been going on a long time. It’s wrong, illegal, and SHOULD be heavily scrutinized. But our so-called leaders are too ‘politicall correct’ to report such actions on each other.

      I WILL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. No name, but just enough to show that it happens OFTEN in gov’t. A few years ago, an out-of-state Senator (no affiliations with Minnesota) was “scheduled” to visit/tour a Federal Prison in central Minnesota under the ‘ruse’ of reviewing a certain prison program. The Senator flew into Minneapolis airport, but never showed at the prison. It was very soon revealed that, coincidentally, the Senator had a daughter who lived in Minneapolis and was getting married during the same period of the so-called prison tour. Care to guess who funded that trip? Believe it or not if you want to,,,,but I worked there and know what happened.

      Report Post »  
    • outsidethebox
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:52am

      This is why I don’t pay taxes. It goes to crap like this.

      Report Post » outsidethebox  
    • Sound The Trumpet In Zion
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 9:48am

      “The initiative is known as the International Scan Program”
      Can’t these people spell anymore? I guess I have to teach spelling too. The correct spelling is:
      THE INTERNATIONAL SCAM PROGRAM! LOL

      Report Post » Sound The Trumpet In Zion  
    • IDareYa72
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:53pm

      ABC didn’t get the whole story… Rep Jason Altmire lead getting this program defunded…

      http://altmire.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=774&Itemid=48

      Report Post » IDareYa72  
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