Congressional auditors responsible for holding governmentagencies responsible for their financial integrity are doing a bang-up job -according to a performance review that they conducted on themselves.
As Congress' watchdog organization, the GovernmentAccountability Office is often sharply critical of slipshod accountingpractices and other deficiencies at the federal departments and agencies thatit audits.
But when the GAO turned the spotlight on its ownactivities, the government auditors found little to carp about. According to anew, self-administered performance review, during fiscal year 2009, the"GAO met or exceeded all of its performance targets" and maderecommendations that resulted in "over 1,300 improvements in laws andgovernment programs and operations."
At the same time, the GAO praised itself for"identifying $43 billion in financial benefits" to taxpayers -"a return of $80 for every dollar the GAO spent," according to thereport.
"The election of a new U.S. president in November2008 marked the first wartime presidential transition in 40 years and the firstadministration change since 9/11," acting GAO comptroller Gene Dodarosaid. "To ensure that the government carried out its essential missions asefficiently and effectively as possible during this time of change, we did ourpart to help effect a seamless transition by outreaching to key members of thenew administration and the Congress."
