(Image source: Pak Update)

BY MILA MIMICA

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

You're watching multisource US video news analysis from Newsy. 

Government officials are under fire this week for spending federal money on a pricey breakfast item. Fox news has the latest:

“Iowa republican senator Chuck Grassley says heads should roll following an audit that showed justice department officials were spending 16 dollars a piece for muffins and 8 dollars for a cup of coffee during government conferences.”

Grassley likened the muffins to the culture of elitism in Washington:

“They said well because of the political appointees, and the senior executives just because they are quote unquote somebody high level you know then they expect it, well it’s that sort of elitism and culture in Washington that we ought to encourage elitism -- that’s wrong.” (Video source: CNN)

But Hilton Worldwide, which hosted the conference back in 2009, says the muffins were part of an all-inclusive breakfast package. A writer for The Washington Post explains.

“...it seems, nobody -- including the reporter who broke the story -- checked the cost details with Hilton. … Hilton ... said Friday that conference attendees enjoyed a continental breakfast spread of fruit, coffee, juice -- and the infamous muffins -- for a cost of about $14 per person (including tax and service charges).”

A blogger for Outside The Beltway pointed out the skewed equation which led everyone to believe the Feds actually paid 16 dollars per muffin.

“This is pretty standard procedure at conferences and, well, just about everything. You usually don’t actually get an itemized breakdown of costs. And, when you do, it’s often seemingly random. That’s why a hospital aspirin costs $200 and a military hammer costs $600; they’re just made up numbers to add up to the total cost.”

An MSNBC contributor points out the effect wasteful spending on muffins could have on Americans’ perception of government.

“This story comes out at a time when there’s this ongoing debate and narrative as to how much government should be involved in the delivery of different services and this will fuel the concern that many have that the government is just incapable, inept of doing the most basic things."

Itemizing muffins aside, Republican Frank Wolf is calling for government overhaul of reckless spending. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Wolf said --

"It is clear that while American taxpayers were tightening their belts and making difficult financial decisions, the department was splurging on wasteful snacks and drinks as well as unnecessary event planning 'consultants.'" (Source: Los Angeles Times)

In 2008 the government implemented policies and procedures meant to control conference spending following a reception where feds were served five dollar Swedish meatballs.


Transcript by Newsy.