GAO audit turns up credit card abuse

WASHINGTON, April 9 (UPI) -- Federal employees have been using government credit cards to enhance their personal lifestyles, an audit by a U.S, watchdog agency discovered.

Millions of dollars in improper purchases were uncovered by the Government Accountability Office, including government workers who bought lavish dinners, lingerie, iPods and even went gambling and used Internet dating services all at taxpayer expense, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

"To any government employees have viewed purchase cards as their personal line of credit," Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. said. "It's time to cut up their cards and start over."

The GAO audit determined that nearly half the purchase card transactions it examined were improper, calling that "unacceptably high." The office also found agencies could not put their fingers on nearly $2 million worth of laptop computers, digital cameras and computer servers.

The purchase cards, the equivalent of government credit cards, were used by about 300,000 federal employees last year.