The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform conducts the first hearing on incidents of wasteful spending by the General Services Administration, the real estate agency for federal buildings, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, April 16, 2012. Being sworn in to testify, from left are, GSA Inspector General Brian Miller, former GSA Administrator Martha Johnson, Jeff Neely, former regional commissioner of the Public Buildings Service, Pacific Rim Region, GSA Chief of Staff Michael Robertson, and David Foley, deputy commissioner of the GSA Public Buildings Service. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform conducts the first hearing on incidents of wasteful spending by the General Services Administration, the real estate agency for federal buildings, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, April 16, 2012. Being sworn in to testify, from left are, GSA Inspector General Brian Miller, former GSA Administrator Martha Johnson, Jeff Neely, former regional commissioner of the Public Buildings Service, Pacific Rim Region, GSA Chief of Staff Michael Robertson, and David Foley, deputy commissioner of the GSA Public Buildings Service. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A fired General Services Administration official says he didn't know taxpayers would be billed $1,960 for a party in his luxury suite at a Las Vegas resort.
Robert Peck said Tuesday he had paid for some food out of his own pocket and was surprised when additional food arrived — eventually paid for by taxpayers.
The agency's new leadership has demanded the amount be repaid and Peck said he would do so.
Peck testified before the House Transportation Committee on the second day of hearings into excessive spending at the agency's Las Vegas conference in October 2010 and on other travel.
He was fired as Public Buildings Commissioner after the inspector general reported some $823,000 was spent at the conference in violation of agency rules.
