Government

Muffingate Debunked? Hotel Company Says Fed Gov‘t Didn’t Pay $16 Per Muffin

Hilton Worldwide Says U.S. Federal Government Didnt Pay $16 Per Muffin

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The government did not pay $16 apiece for breakfast muffins at a Justice Department conference, no matter what the department’s inspector general thinks.

So says Hilton Worldwide, which hosted the 2009 legal training conference in Washington. Even the IG’s own report issued this week acknowledges that for the price paid, they also got some free fruit and drinks.

Hilton Worldwide, which manages and franchises hotels including the Capital Hilton where the conference took place, says the price included not only breakfast baked goods but also fresh fruit, coffee, tea, soft drinks, tax and tips. It says the report misinterpreted its invoices, which often use shorthand and don’t reflect the full menu and service provided.

The IG’s report allocates $4,200 for the muffins but also noted 15 gallons of complimentary coffee, 30 gallons of complimentary ice tea and 200 pieces of free fruit included in the overall price of $39,360. The question is — were these additional elements really “complimentary” or were they folded into the overall cost per person? Below, see a screen shot from the IG report:

Hilton Worldwide Says U.S. Federal Government Didnt Pay $16 Per Muffin

The IG says that the total cost per person at the reception was $14.74 – 2 cents over the allowable Justice Department limit. Totaling up the items in the IG’s report, the 534 attendees over five days were given 1,150 pastries, 1,350 pieces of candy and fruit, 1,250 cups of coffee and tea and 250 soft drinks.

The IG’s audit of excessive spending at 10 Justice Department conferences was one of those news stories that make the public sit up and take notice. Once again, the profligate government was overspending. But it wasn’t billions. Or even millions. It was muffins at $16 apiece, according to the IG’s office.

The report referenced the $16 muffins half a dozen times and it said their cost was one of many food items that “appeared extravagant and potentially wasteful.”

Not so, Hilton Worldwide said in a statement Thursday.

“In Washington, the contracted breakfast included fresh fruit, coffee, juice, muffins, tax and gratuity, for an inclusive price of $16 per person,” Hilton Worldwide said in a statement.

“Dining receipts are often abbreviated and do not reflect the full pre-contracted menu and service provided, as is the case with recent media reports of breakfast items approved for some government meetings,” Hilton Worldwide’s statement added.

On Thursday night, IG spokesman Jay Lerner said that “we stand by our report.” This may strike some as interesting, considering that Hilton has essentially given the government an “out” and a potential opportunity for good publicity. Either the government is striking to be open and honest or the report, itself, is flawed. Regardless of which is true, it’s likely that officials are trying to avoid bad press — something that a flawed report could also create.

Bill O’Reilly recaps the initial scandal based in the IG report below:

In its report, the IG’s office said the cost of the muffins was one of many food items that “appeared extravagant and potentially wasteful.”

“Many individual food and beverage items listed on conference invoices and paid by the” Executive Office for Immigration Review for a legal training conference “were very costly,” said the IG report. “The EOIR spent $4,200 on 250 muffins and $2,880 on 300 cookies and brownies. By itemizing these costs, we determined that, with service and gratuity, muffins cost over $16 each and cookies and brownies cost almost $10 each.”

Comments (96)

1 2 3
  • kentuckypatriot
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:02am

    Wonder what kind of tip the servers got? geez, Probably enough to pay all their monthly bills!

    Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
    • jzs
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:15am

      If you add the cost all the lawyers involved with this Republican witch hunt, the cost per muffin probably was $16.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • Resist We Much
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:28am

      Good point JZS! We could have saved all that money used on the “witch hunt” to pay for 2% of the cost of another Obama vacation. Or get Michelle another $40,000 bracelet…

      Report Post » Resist We Much  
    • Rashomon
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:49am

      “overall price of $39,360.” divided by 534 total people = $73.71 per person.

      “The IG says that the total cost per person at the reception was $14.74″ using what? gov math?

      Report Post » Rashomon  
    • jzs
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:08am

      Resist, we have to first pay for the 879 days that Bush took on vacation. Bush broke Reagan’s record for most vacation taken by a President, for you trivia fans. Look it up

      And, if you want to make stuff up, we have to pay for the two million dollars necklace that Barbara Bush got from taxpayers funds, money left over from unspent money Reagan allocated to to buy weapons for the Iranians.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:16am

      So we have one of two possiblities either Hilton charged the DOJ 16.00 for a muffin or Hilton is now trying to cover up the fact they charged 16.00 a muffin because the DOJ had no idea that they did….
      Because the budget reports shows 16.00 per muffin.

      Report Post »  
    • Resist We Much
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:39am

      @JZS,

      Oh, cool. Did I say I was a Bush fan? You can have that fiscal socialist if you like. I guess two wrongs make a right for you then? Bush took too many vacations so it’s alright if Obama does?

      I’m not making anything up. You can look up the $40,000 diamond cuffs for yourself, Mr. Google.

      Report Post » Resist We Much  
    • Nasado
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 12:06pm

      @Rashomon
      Actually, that was the cost per person for the entire 5 days they were there so it equals out to $14 and some change per day. Not that $16 for a muffin, coffee, and some fruit is pretty obsurd but the math is correct.

      Report Post »  
    • MHP
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 12:13pm

      Nope jzs

      That was the hotel bill itself. The Hilton confirms that.

      You need to go back to 1st grade and learn how to read.

      Report Post » MHP  
    • Jim in Houston
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 12:13pm

      JZ the Huff & Puff wants you back, they miss their idiot.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 12:29pm

      Resist, Obama has taken 1/3 as many vacation days as Bush did over the same period, and half as much as Reagan. He’s taken about 20 days a year, which is less than I get.

      So how many days do you think a President should get, if 20 a year is excessive? And exactly when did your concern for the vacation days Presidents take develop? Like – just a guess – around January of 2008?

      The jewelry was borrowed from jewlry designer Katie Decker. Sorry, I guess you’ll have to find something else to hate her for. But wait, even if she did own the jewlry, is that a crime? Why is it that you hate the rich if they are Obama, but love the others?

      Report Post » jzs  
    • Bullhorn Guy
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 2:52pm

      @JZS “Like – just a guess – around January of 2008?”

      Why would he take an interest in it during the last year of Bush’s presidency? I don’t get it…

      Report Post » Bullhorn Guy  
    • Kevin
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 3:34pm

      Big difference between the vacations Bush took and the ones Obama takes. Bush took his “vacations” at a place HE owned, and often conducted government business while there. Obummy has taken vacations to to places that cost the tax payers. AND Obummy’s vacations always seem to come during times of national crises or just before important legislation needs to be passed.

      Report Post »  
    • Bluefish49
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 5:17pm

      @jzs…..you should change your screen name to “****”.

      Report Post »  
    • Resist We Much
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:26pm

      @ JZS. There is a big money difference between Bush spending time at HIS ranch in Texas where he also held press conferences and worked vs Michelle taking 40 of her friends to Spain and renting out some of the best suites in town. Or Michelle traveling to Martha‘s Vinyard in a separate plane because she couldn’t wait to get there only 4 hours before Barack did. Everything the Obamas do has to be the most lavish, expensive party. But, regardless… You say Bush took too much time off. I agree. He sucked as a president. I don’t “hate the rich”. I hate hypocrisy! If the Obamas want to spent all of THEIR money, great! They just need to shut the hell up about telling ME I need to tighten my belt and “we need to spread the wealth around cause it’s good for everybody” while they party in style on our dime during a big recession.

      Report Post » Resist We Much  
    • jzs
      Posted on September 24, 2011 at 2:14am

      Resist Much, Republicans get these factoids stuck in their brain. Presidents and First ladies vacations on their own dime except for Secret Service protection.

      Q: Did Michelle Obama and her daughters use taxpayer money to take a European vacation?

      A: The first lady, her mother and her children did stay in Europe for a private vacation after the president completed an overseas trip on official business. However, no taxpayer money was used for the first family’s personal expenses.

      http://www.factcheck.org/2009/07/michelles-european-vacation/

      And, because you don‘t follow the news you don’t realize that the stimulus gave you a tax break. One third of the stimulus, so hated by Republicans was tax breaks for you and me.

      http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/feb/10/jon-stewart/stewart-claims-stimulus-bill-one-third-tax-cuts/

      President Obama’s jobs plan also gives you a tax break. I’m not sure of your income level Resist, but the administration want YOU and me to have money to spend, because that’s what stimulates the economy, not tax bremillionaires millionairs. Nobody is asking you to “tighten your belt.” nonsenseure nonsence. The best thing for the economy is to put money into your hands and mine, and for you and me, to spend it.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • Resist We Much
      Posted on September 24, 2011 at 5:11am

      @ JZS Well, if a reliable source like Katie McCormick Lelyveld, Michelle Obama’s press secretary, told FactCheck.org in an e-mail: “All personal travel and expenses incurred were paid for personally.” then that settles it. Lol!

      No I guess I just DON’T realize that the stimulus gave me a tax break. It’s almost as if I have less money to spend! But, maybe I’m just not “poor” enough (and I ain’t rich either). It’s a good thing that stimulus was passed though… It created all kinds of shovel ready jobs that prompted the president to say, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVonk_OqEUU The economy is, well as bad as ever, but if we hadn‘t had the stimulus we’d all be living in cardboard boxes by now… right.

      According to the oh, so conservative AP, “The 10 percent of households with the highest incomes pay more than half of all federal taxes. They pay more than 70 percent of federal income taxes, according to the Congressional Budget Office.” I guess Obama lied about Buffet. Maybe you can get that factoid stuck in your brain.

      http://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-rich-taxed-less-secretaries-070642868.html

      This article will give you links directly to the IRS should you choose to skim through all the numbers..

      http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/250.html

      Report Post » Resist We Much  
    • Resist We Much
      Posted on September 24, 2011 at 5:18am

      @ JZS So, how much MORE should these “evil” rich guys pay!? They DO stimulate the economy. A prosperous Rolls Royce company doesn’t stimulate the economy or create jobs? Rich people buy those cars you know. I don’t recall buying any economy stimulating products that were produced by the bum on the street corner. You wanna get rid of loopholes for companies like GE? Cool! Me too. How about a flat tax?

      Now we are getting into novel writing territory. The posts get longer and longer…

      We can sit here and go back and forth all day. The bottom line is that progressivism is gutting the engine that makes America run. And as the years go by and we continue down this socialist path, unemployment goes up and inflation skyrockets and more riots are started over here and in socialist Europe, you can find other excuses as to why the true conservative minority is screwing it all up.

      Report Post » Resist We Much  
    • Resist We Much
      Posted on September 24, 2011 at 5:40am

      You know… I think that if I ever do become a billionaire, I’ll just be a hypocrite and tell every liberal I meet that, “We really should spread my wealth around. I really wish I was taxed more… But since I’m not, I have to drinking another $1000 bottle of Pinot Noir. Cheers!” Then they will love me and leave me alone.

      Report Post » Resist We Much  
    • Resist We Much
      Posted on September 24, 2011 at 7:49am

      One last thing here… I’ve been checking out your beloved, untarnished and completely unbiased and the last word in everything website, factcheck.org and it’s run by the Annenberg Foundation. Obama was a community organizer for the Annenberg folks along with terrorist Bill Ayers… nice.

      This from totally conservative leaning CNN:

      “A review of board minutes and records by CNN show Obama crossed paths repeatedly with Ayers at board meetings of the Annenberg Challenge Project.”

      http://articles.cnn.com/2008-10-07/politics/obama.ayers_1_ayers-and-obama-senior-obama-adviser-stanley-kurtz?_s=PM:POLITICS

      You can download the original grant application submitted by Bill Ayers here:

      http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/4322/inside-the-obama-ayers-chicago-annenberg-challenge-records/

      One director of the factcheck.org site is Kathleen Hall Jamieson who wrote “Echo Chamber: Rush Limbaugh and the Conservative Media Establishment” so she’s obviously a centrist and the rest of the crew over at factcheck.org doesn’t seem much better. So, there you go! Totally a FACTS website and nothing else. But, I’m sure you already knew about all this stuff JZS. After all you pay attention to the news and I don’t…

      Report Post » Resist We Much  
  • Ch
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:02am

    The ****** cost was figured into the cost of refreshments.

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:10am

      Too bad there was not someone to say to them after eating most of the muffins “Uh guys, what is this thing crawling around in the muffins….”

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • JustPeachy
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:54am

    WHATEVER they paid is too much. It’s time they began practicing themselves what they preach.

    WE ARE OUT OF MONEY.

    Make your own #$!!!***& muffins, pack a lunch, use GoToMeeting! Now if you want to spend your OWN money on $16.00 muffins–fine–go right ahead! But spending more of taxpayer’s money on stuffing your fat faces with muffins, candy, and sodas no longer cuts it.

    So don’t come whining now to us saying you were “unfairly accused” – the muffins didn’t cost “that much” – frankly, my dears, we don’t give a damn! Next time, buy your OWN muffins!

    Report Post » JustPeachy  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:05am

      The DOJ has to support SEIU. The cost of Muffins and candy and fruit, coffee tea and soft drinks, was probably $3.50 and the donation to Barry’s “Screw America Four More Years” reelection bid was $12.50 per item. Nov 2012 can’t come fast enough.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • livinglarge
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:53am

    The cost of food at hotels can be very pricey. When you include the cost of food, tax, gratuity and service charges, that $2.00 muffin becomes $10.00. Anyone can go to hotel and get a price sheet to see cost of muffins, cookies, coffee, soft drinks, etc. and you will be surprised to see how costly it is. It is actually cheaper to order room service instead of from banquet menu. We do that often at our meetings to cut cost. Anyone out there that has been to a function at hotel or conference should inquire to cost of items…shocking.

    Report Post »  
    • Countrygirl1362
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:51am

      Most people cannot afford to go to a hotel at all and our govt. is wasting money like this. This is just another slap in the face to those that go without so the govt. workers don’t have to go without. We all give up things, when will the govt. start doing the same.

      Report Post »  
  • DJR
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:53am

    So they jack the price up of a muffin that I can buy for $1 up to $16 and say they’re gave them free fruit & drinks. Let’s take the FREE stuff out of the picture, they still paid $16 a muffin!

    Report Post »  
    • ruffnex
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:50am

      The fruit, etc. was COMPLEMENTARY??????????? HA HA

      Report Post »  
  • AB5r
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:51am

    Just imagine how much the hotel would charge for that if they were using American citizens for labor!

    Report Post » AB5r  
  • booger71
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:50am

    Only if the muffins had some herb in them would they be close to being worth $16

    Report Post » booger71  
  • Mandors
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:50am

    It was probably $16 per person for breakfast. 250 x $16 = $4000. $4200/250 = $16.80. Which for a catered event at a hotel is not that bad.

    I hate fake numbers. This report stinks, and the authors should be fired. There is plenty of overpaying in Washington and mischaracterizations like this don’t help.

    Report Post » Mandors  
  • Discord
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:48am

    lol

    Report Post » Discord  
  • Spendstop
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:47am

    To bad they did not serve 20 dollar hot dogs for lunch. We could have had weinergate part 2

    Report Post »  
  • EP46
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:46am

    Could this money have been used to buy breakfast for the people obama says are dying in the streets because they have no health coverage ? You know, like here is your last meal. People, like ELECTED OFFICIALS, who live off tax payer ‘welfare’ can so easily spend money that they ‘steal’.

    Report Post »  
  • cknapp
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:45am

    The problem is that Comptrollers in the Government have no idea that muffins should not cost anywhere near sixteen dollars. If you can bamboozle them on the price of a muffin, how do they know what a jet fighter or battleship is really worth?

    Craig Knapp
    Age 50
    Posting Anonymously is for Wimps!

    Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:42am

    Administration clinging to it’s muffins, solar panels, and arms giveaways.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:42am

    Maybe those were the “Other Kind Of Muffins”.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:39am

    .
    I love to eat a good muffin………

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • mikenleeds
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:37am

    king obama and the rest of the dum-o-rat party does nt care what anything cost , to them it s all free and us tax payers have to pay for it

    Report Post » mikenleeds  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:35am

    Cake for breakfast? Oh Lordy, don’t let Moochelle know about this!!!

    Moochelle Antoinette: “How dare they eat muffins?!?! Oh, wait. They were overpriced and taxpayers footed the bill? Carry on then….”

    Report Post » biohazard23  
    • Sleazy Hippo
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:12am

      I have never been to a retirement ceremony on a military base that did not have ample refreshments and catered meals, it is just part of having a successful event.

      Report Post » Sleazy Hippo  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:14am

      You have probably never been to a retirement ceremony of any kind, let alone a military one. Continue your grazing, water mammal.

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • Sleazy Hippo
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:03am

      I never forget that what we do not know about reality is awesome.

      As a former brat with tons of experience living on US Military bases, do you refute that retirement ceremonies are not catered to within pennies of the federal allowance for “per-guest” refreshments?

      Report Post » Sleazy Hippo  
  • Polwatcher
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:33am

    Luxury Hilton? With tip? Government paying bill? I believe it.

    Report Post »  
  • christos
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:27am

    ……More evidence they are financially incompetent,reckless and unconscionable,have they ever heard of video conferencing fire them,where is the oversight and accountability,the muffins look horrible also,,,,,,TA,,,,,, YEAH they have a strong case they care about the poor don’t they Shameful/waste.

    Report Post » christos  
    • Obama Snake Oil Co
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:32am

      To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature

      It is now official that the majority of you are corrupt morons:

      a.. The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years
      to get it right and it is broke.

      b.. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it
      right and it is broke.

      c.. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right
      and it is broke.

      d.. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right;
      $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to “the
      poor” and they only want more..

      e.. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years
      to get it right and they are broke.

      f.. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right
      and it is broke.

      g.. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence
      on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion
      a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right
      and it is an abysmal failure.

      You have FAILED in every “government service” you have shoved down our
      throats while overspending our tax dollars.

      AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED
      WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ??

      Report Post » Obama Snake Oil Co  
    • EP46
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:54am

      @Snake…great post. Also it has been over 50 yrs. since government forced school integration began and each decade has resulted in lower educational standards at a higher cost.

      Report Post »  
    • woodyb
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:34am

      @ SNAKE OIL –

      BEST POST I have seen on this site –
      Blame lies with BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:26am

    Come on with plain bagels and cream cheese. Muffins are too sweet and what Michelle O say? You know she’s watching what we eat!
    Don’t suppose she would allow the cream cheese either. }:

    Report Post »  
  • Commiehater4
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:24am

    I love muffins, but I draw the line at £2.50

    Report Post »  
  • Commiehater4
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:23am

    Muffins are nice, but I wouldn’t pay more than £2.50 for a muffin, which I suppose is about $4

    Report Post »  
  • slvrserfr
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:19am

    $16 or $17 a muffin – its still excessive careless government spending no matter how you look at it.

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:27am

      It does not matter what the DOJ says, the matter is still they got charged too much for the muffins, and now seem to be entering desperate spin control for getting caught. Muffingate lives on.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • AzCowboy
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:15am

    I don’t get a muffin for showing up for work?

    Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:08am

    Muffins?…I don‘t need no stinkin’ muffins!

    Report Post » ares338  
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