The Interior Secretary’s $222,000 Bathroom

[christiefan915]

I laughed like crazy reading this. So much for repubs wanting to clamp down on government spending.

Maybe the Pentagon’s legendary $600 toilet seat was a bargain.

The personal bathroom used by the secretary of the Interior is so swanky that its renovation cost $222,000. No detail was overlooked: It has a $3,500 sub-zero refrigerator (hey, if you’re going to have a fridge in the bathroom, it might as well be a good one) and a $689 faucet. At least the “vintage tissue holder” was cheap: just $65 bucks.

The renovation was done in 2007 under President George W. Bush’s Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, but is only now coming to light, thanks to the dogged reporting by ABC News Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV, which first filed a Freedom of Information Act request on the renovation four years ago.

The renovations were the subject of an internal audit by the General Services Administration, which has responsibility for most federal government properties.

In a classic bureaucratic understatement, the audit report noted, “A number of the items incorporated into the renovation project call into question the need for luxurious materials.”

UPDATE: GSA spokesperson Dan Cruz responded to our story with this statement:

“These renovations began in 2007, which predates the current leadership at both the GSA and the Department of Interior. Under the current leadership, we have greater oversight to ensure the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. The renovations were part of a larger restoration project at the historic facility.”

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/the-interior-secretarys-220000-bathroom-2/

 

[Cancel 2016.11]

A sub-zero refrigerator in the bathroom?

I guess the rich really are different.

 

[Damocles]

A sub-zero refrigerator in the bathroom?

I guess the rich really are different.

Bureaucratic Government Elite would be a more accurate description of the "class" that created this foolish monstrosity. I can't imagine the want and/or need to eat while on the toilet or even near it, the refrigerator can wait for when I'm not near an evacuation center and just maintain an outside position, somewhere in the vicinity of a place where actual food preparation may take place... I suggest a kitchen area that does not include a toilet and/or bidet, however expensive the toilet and/or bidet.

 

[Cancel 2016.11]

It reminds me of when Kramer was making salads in the shower and serving them to people. And then people found out and everyone puked.

 

[christiefan915]

Bureaucratic Government Elite would be a more accurate description of the "class" that created this foolish monstrosity. I can't imagine the want and/or need to eat while on the toilet or even near it, the refrigerator can wait for when I'm not near an evacuation center and just maintain an outside position, somewhere in the vicinity of a place where actual food preparation may take place... I suggest a kitchen area that does not include a toilet and/or bidet, however expensive the toilet and/or bidet.

I was grossed-out just reading about it.

 

[007]

It's a drink fridge, so you can select a beer or a bottle of Krug Grand Cuvée whilst enjoying the spa bathtub!
If the Krug isn't for you, try the Pol Roget!!

Beer would still be better!

Alchemist Heady Topper!

Best beer on earth!!
( experts just said so apparently)!!

 

[apple0154]

I suppose this could be referred to as "going in style."

 

[NOVA]

I laughed like crazy reading this. So much for repubs wanting to clamp down on government spending.

Maybe the Pentagon’s legendary $600 toilet seat was a bargain.

The personal bathroom used by the secretary of the Interior is so swanky that its renovation cost $222,000. No detail was overlooked: It has a $3,500 sub-zero refrigerator (hey, if you’re going to have a fridge in the bathroom, it might as well be a good one) and a $689 faucet. At least the “vintage tissue holder” was cheap: just $65 bucks.

The renovation was done in 2007 under President George W. Bush’s Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, but is only now coming to light, thanks to the dogged reporting by ABC News Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV, which first filed a Freedom of Information Act request on the renovation four years ago.

The renovations were the subject of an internal audit by the General Services Administration, which has responsibility for most federal government properties.

In a classic bureaucratic understatement, the audit report noted, “A number of the items incorporated into the renovation project call into question the need for luxurious materials.”

UPDATE: GSA spokesperson Dan Cruz responded to our story with this statement:

“These renovations began in 2007, which predates the current leadership at both the GSA and the Department of Interior. Under the current leadership, we have greater oversight to ensure the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. The renovations were part of a larger restoration project at the historic facility.”

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/the-interior-secretarys-220000-bathroom-2/

I don't know why you would find this 'funny'.....unless your only reason for posting it was because it was a Republican involved and it was under Bush....
I suspect that is the entire point of the post...and you only hope I take the bait and respond in kind.....like your snarky list of R politicians that didn't serve....

OK. so lets put your post into some kind of perspective with spending.....lets take Air Force One as an example....

The cost of flying AF1 for one hour is about $180,000.....one hour....not adding into the cost of the 50 to 75 people that commonly accompany a President on any given trip....
So figure one trip to Hawaii and back...Or one trip to Texas for Bush.....etc......is it adding up ?.....that bathroom pales in comparison ...and it won't get renovated
again for years to come......so get a grip.....its nothing to lose sleep over and just shows your lame attempt to ridicule an R with petty potshots.....more of your partisan crap....
\
And don't give me shit about picking on Obama....the cost is the cost no matter who is President....its just to point out that spending in Washington is
a no limit game for every politician there, whether Senator, Representative, Judge or President....we've lost control of the government a long time ago
and its time we ALL realize it.

 

[christiefan915]

I don't know why you would find this 'funny'.....unless your only reason for posting it was because it was a Republican involved and it was under Bush....
I suspect that is the entire point of the post...and you only hope I take the bait and respond in kind.....like your snarky list of R politicians that didn't serve....

OK. so lets put your post into some kind of perspective with spending.....lets take Air Force One as an example....

The cost of flying AF1 for one hour is about $180,000.....one hour....not adding into the cost of the 50 to 75 people that commonly accompany a President on any given trip....
So figure one trip to Hawaii and back...Or one trip to Texas for Bush.....etc......is it adding up ?.....that bathroom pales in comparison ...and it won't get renovated
again for years to come......so get a grip.....its nothing to lose sleep over and just shows your lame attempt to ridicule an R with petty potshots.....more of your partisan crap....
\
And don't give me shit about picking on Obama....the cost is the cost no matter who is President....its just to point out that spending in Washington is
a no limit game for every politician there, whether Senator, Representative, Judge or President....we've lost control of the government a long time ago
and its time we ALL realize it.

Well duh Captain Obvious. Of course it was a dig at repubs. Aren't repubs always claiming that dems are reckless spenders?

I also laughed like crazy at you equating this ultra-bathroom with flying on Air Force One.

 

[NOVA]

well, Democrats are reckless spenders, but thats neither here nor there, so are Republicans....didn't I make that clear.
Thats something I'll admit about politicians (all of them) You won't.....you're totally submerged in the Koolaid.

And I didn't mean to 'equate' the bathroom with AF1....I was trying to put spending, in general, into some perspective......I thought I made that clear in my post too.
You did actually read the post, didn't you ?

one bathroom that probably won't cost the taxpayers another dime for the next decade and AF1 that costs the taxpayers $180,000 per hour to operate.....for hours and hours at a time, a couple of times a week maybe on average....what is flying time to and from Hawaii ....or Texas....?

Doesn't the perspective register with you...???? That stupid bathroom is a joke compared to what is spent by Washington
roads to nowhere, cow farts, parties, travel, cars, insurance, thousands or perks we're not even aware of........Nice 'dig'....but kinda lame in the grand
scheme of things, don't you think.

I guess no matter what I post will be turned on end and mis-characterized in any way possible....

 

[Lowaicue]

Bureaucratic Government Elite would be a more accurate description of the "class" that created this foolish monstrosity. I can't imagine the want and/or need to eat while on the toilet or even near it, the refrigerator can wait for when I'm not near an evacuation center and just maintain an outside position, somewhere in the vicinity of a place where actual food preparation may take place... I suggest a kitchen area that does not include a toilet and/or bidet, however expensive the toilet and/or bidet.

Fridges should be kept under cover, in the garden, arms reach from the barbie and the space not wasted on the storage of food!