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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Workers Charge Laptops to Lingerie on Fed Credit Cards

Audit: Nearly half of purchases broke rules

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(Newser) – Millions of dollars government employees charged to federal credit cards went for less-than-appropriate perks ranging from digital cameras to dating services, sexy lingerie, laptops, and a $13,000 postal party, reports the Washington Post. An investigation by the Government Accountability Office found that 48% of major purchases on federal credit cards violated rules.

Some $2 million worth of purchased items couldn't be accounted for. "Too many government employees have viewed cards as their personal line of credit," said a senator.  "It's time to cut up their cards." Money "intended to pay for critical infrastructure, education, and homeland security is instead being spent on iPods, lingerie, and socializing," he complained.

Pedestrians walk by a Sharper Image store in Beverly Hills, Veterans Affairs employees racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in government credit-card bills at The Sharper Image, casinos and luxury hotels.
Pedestrians walk by a Sharper Image store in Beverly Hills, Veterans Affairs employees racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in government credit-card bills at The Sharper Image, casinos and luxury...   (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)
Government credit cards were used to buy laptops, sexy lingerie, steak dinners and for other unauthorized purchases, according to a federal investigation.
Government credit cards were used to buy laptops, sexy lingerie, steak dinners and for other unauthorized purchases, according to a federal investigation.   ((c) pingnews.com)
Sen. Carl Levin and Sen. Norm Coleman ordered an investigation that uncovered millions of dollars in fraudulent or question purchases on government credit cards.
Sen. Carl Levin and Sen. Norm Coleman ordered an investigation that uncovered millions of dollars in fraudulent or question purchases on government credit cards.   (AP Photo)
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