A recent audit conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security’s Office of Inspector General found that Virginia has left over $38
million of its $90 million in Federal homeland security grants untouched that
it received from 2008 and 2010.
Virginia was criticized by the department for not allocating
grant money faster to local governments for various kinds of emergency response
gear.[1]
Presumably, then, Virginia would be left in a more precarious position were
another terrorist attack to occur inside Virginia.
The Office of Inspector General also faulted Virginia for
not creating measurable goals for the grant money as well as for inadequate
oversight of the grant money.[2]
The audit was made public Wednesday and officials with the
Commonwealth responded by saying that all of the funds will be spent by 2013,
leaving out a response to claims of inadequate oversight and lack of measurable
goals.
Given the rhetoric of accountability, fiscal responsibility,
and such, one would think that Virginia officials would be more rigorous about
where Homeland Security grant money is going and if the grant money is actually
meeting purposeful goals. Apparently, it is alright to unwisely spend Federal
money.
And while Republican representatives in particular gripe
about government overspending, they certainly do not miss an opportunity to
take more Federal money for what THEY perceive to be worthwhile goals and
causes.
It is a double standard that is woven into the fabric of the
Republican Party of Virginia: do as I say, not as I do.
Virginia may be spending the grant money wisely, but since
oversight and measurable goals are both wanting, it is difficult for concerning
Virginians to truly get a complete picture of the progress, or lack thereof.
It doesn’t matter where the money is coming from or where
the money is going to, the methods should remain similar: carefully track the
money and set measurable goals to ensure the money is being used efficiently.
Republican representatives, claiming to be high priests of monetary efficiency,
should already have this in place. Instead, its’ that old VA GOP double
standard once again.
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