FOXNews.com: Investigation launched into 1 day GSA awards ceremony that cost $270G

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Investigation launched into 1 day GSA awards ceremony that cost $270G Jul 19th 2012, 16:40 The inspector general for the scandal-plagued General Services Administration has launched an investigation into a $270,000 awards ceremony held in suburban Washington, Fox News has learned.  The GSA apparently spent thousands of dollars on hors d'oeuvres, goodie-bag items and travel costs for the one-day ceremony in November 2010. The ceremony was held shortly after GSA hosted a now-infamous Las Vegas conference that led to a shakeup at the agency and drew the outrage of lawmakers.  In a letter obtained by Fox News, Inspector General Brian Miller told Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., whose subcommittee has jurisdiction over the GSA, that he's investigating the 2010 awards ceremony -- which was held across the river from the nation's capital in Arlington, Va.  The ceremony didn't include any mind readers, as the Vegas convention did, but did feature a violinist and guitarist, and plenty of novelty items for guests that ran up the tab.  It also featured what was described as a "drum band exercise." As part of that, the agency spent nearly $21,000 on 4,000 drumsticks for attendees. Separately, the agency spent more than $28,000 on "time temperature picture frames," according to the letter.  That's all on top of the much higher costs for catering, transportation and the venue at the Crystal Gateway Marriott. In addition, Miller said the agency spent $8,600 for an appearance by someone named "Agent X."  "We have begun a preliminary analysis of the information we have received from the Agency and have opened an administrative investigation. Our initial findings show costs upwards of $268,732 for the one-day ceremony," Miller wrote.  The letter comes just days after the GSA announced it was freezing hiring and most bonuses as part of the federal agency's response to criticism about lavish spending.  "We are committed to doubling down on our core mission of promoting efficiency, driving steeper bargains, delivering better value, and creating greater opportunities for government-wide savings," Dan Tangherlini, the GSA's acting chief, said in a post on the GSA blog.  After a three-month review of agency operations, Tangherlini said the GSA would cut senior executive performance awards by 85 percent this year and institute a temporary hiring freeze across the agency.  Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.

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