Blunt says GSA conference Obama's latest 'wasteful and blatant misuse' of tax dollars

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said Tuesday that a report issued this week detailing a lavish $800,000 conference by the General Services Administrations (GSA) in Las Vegas was "just the latest example of this administration's wasteful and blatant misuse of Americans' hard-earned taxpayer dollars."

The report led to the resignation of GSA Administrator Martha Johnson and the firing of a number of top-level employees. The White House said President Obama was "outraged by the excessive spending," which included tens of thousands of dollars in catered food costs and events with entertainers like clowns and mind readers.

“At a time when families and job creators in Missouri and across America are being forced to cut back to make ends meet, it's critical that we spend federal resources as effectively as possible. Unfortunately, these reports of GSA’s reckless spending habits are just the latest example of this administration's wasteful and blatant misuse of Americans' hard-earned taxpayer dollars," Blunt said in a statement. "I look forward to working with the new GSA leadership, and I'll continue to fight to ensure this administration is held accountable for its out-of-control spending habits."

Meanwhile, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said Monday he would schedule a hearing as soon as possible to examine the hearing.

"It is outrageous that this agency, which costs the taxpayers billions because it's sitting on its assets, would spend nearly a million dollars on a Vegas junket," Mica said. "The tab even included a clown for entertainment. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We have been trying to get the administrative costs from the agency and now we see why they have been stonewalling."

The White House has tried to avoid fallout through demanding Johnson's resignation and agreeing the cost of the conference was wasteful.

"He called for all those responsible to be held fully accountable given that these actions were irresponsible and entirely inconsistent with the expectations that he has set as president," White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew said.

But Republicans see a political opportunity to highlight the conference as an example of the type of wasteful government spending they say Washington regularly employs.

“After President Obama lectured the private sector about not wasting funds on Las Vegas conventions, it’s hypocritical that such a large agency with critical management responsibilities across government would hold this luxurious conference at the height of the recession and even spend thousands on custom made coins touting the stimulus," House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said in a statement.

Johnson will be replaced as the head of the agency by Dan Tangherlini, an assistant secretary in the Treasury Department.

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