Burning Question: Is $66 too much for bagels and juice?

The government's rules and regulations about the value of meals federal employees can accept from outside sources are pretty strict. But what if an agency itself is providing the goodies?

At NASA, apparently the sky's the limit (so to speak). The Associated Press reports that an agency inspector general report found that at a three-day conference in Baltimore in December 2008, the space agency paid a total of $62,611 for "light refreshments," consisting of soda, coffee, fruit, bagels and cookies. That adds up to $66 a day per person for those attending the event.

The agency has pledged to define "reasonable cost limits" for snacks at future conferences. At least some officials should be well-trained to do that. After all, the topic of "reasonable price" was the subject of a session at the conference in Baltimore.

NASA pays sky-high $66 a person for cookies, juice, snacks at conference
(Associated Press, via the Washington Post)

Burning Question is a recurring feature that looks at key issues and compelling stories being explored at other publications and social media sites covering the federal government.