The IRS is under fire for spending $4.1 million on an Anaheim conference in 2010, says a new report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
The audit identified such excessive costs as outside speakers, unnecessary video productions and Los Angeles Angels baseball tickets. Some of the 2,600 attendees stayed in presidential suites that run $1,500 to $3,500 a night, reports Associated Press.
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The Anaheim fiasco is part of nearly $50 million spent on 225 IRS employee conferences held between 2010 and 2012.
“I am absolutely appalled at the apparent waste of taxpayer dollars on frivolous conferences,” Kentucky congressman Harold Rogers told AP. “It seems we have a new misstep every day at the IRS.”
Acting IRS commissioner Danny Werfel, who took over two weeks ago after Barack Obama forced the prior head to resign, said the overspending is part of the old era. “We must have the trust of the American taxpayer. Unfortunately, that trust has been broken,” said Werfel. “The agency stands ready to confront the problems that occurred, hold accountable those who acted inappropriately, be open about what happen and permanently fix these problems so that such missteps do not occur again.”