03/12/10

From MyWay

Senators question $1 million pay for charity's CEO



By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER


WASHINGTON (AP) - A group of Republican senators is questioning high salaries and expensive travel bills for executives at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, raising issues that could jeopardize millions in federal funding for the national charity.

The four senators said they were concerned that the chief executive of a charity that has been closing local clubs for lack of funding was compensated nearly $1 million in 2008. They also questioned why in the same year officials spent $4.3 million on travel, $1.6 million on conferences, conventions and meetings, and $544,000 in lobbying fees.

"The question is whether or not a very top-heavy organization might be siphoning off federal dollars that should be going to help kids," said Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.

The senators sent a letter to the head of the charity's board of governors Thursday seeking detailed financial information about executive compensation, travel and lobbying expenses, and how the national charity awards grants to local clubs.

The issues they raise could threaten the reputation of a popular charity that supports 4,300 local Boys & Girls Clubs serving about 4.8 million children. The timing threatens a bill moving through the Senate that would provide up to $425 million in federal money to the national organization over the next five years.

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Okay, I agree that it's obscene for a trusted organization like Boys & Girls Clubs of America to be skimming donations and federal tax funding to help their top executives live high on the hog with big paychecks, perks, expense accounts and free travel and all kinds of emoluments. But isn't it kind of ironic for a bunch of senators to be making the accusation?