Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the storyPHOENIX – A $700,000 management conference held by the Social Security Administration in Phoenix last week continues to draw new national attention.
It all comes on the heels of an ABC15 investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY: Social Security spends $700,000 on Phoenix conferenceThe SSA has now sent a three-page letter to Congress about their 700-person conference held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa.
The letter comes only days after the U.S. House Committee on Way and Means
sent their own letter to Social Security, demanding the department turn over all records about the costs of the conference.
"It's unsurprising that a massive government agency would fall victim to an 'entitlement mentality,'" said Arizona Congressman Trent Frank. "This is clearly a case of sheltered bureaucrats forgetting that they work for the American people and deciding that the taxpayers' money is their own personal bankroll."
Our hidden cameras captured hundreds of federal employees dancing in Phoenix on your dime at the conference, along with private dance recitals and paid motivational speakers.
There was also a trip to a local casino.
"What we want to know from the agency is, how much money did you spend?" said Congressman Kevin Brady of Texas. "Not just on rooms at night, but on travel and organizing the conference."
While the SSA three-page letter does not provide all information requested by the House committee, it does list who attended the conference, a list of courses and workshops, and provides additional insight into the how much the conference cost.
According to the SSA, the Biltmore Resort was the lowest bidder.
Listed charges included $20 per person for a luncheon, $15 per person for refreshment breaks and rooms at $85.51 per night.
The letter shows the hotel waived a standard $24 per night resort fee, and did not charge for ballrooms and meeting rooms.
However, audio/visual equipment cost you, the taxpayer, $67,760.
The letter also states that no government funds were used for a "casino night."
That was "an optional activity which was not part of the Forum. A local casino provided complimentary bus transportation from the hotel for all who stayed at the hotel."
The SSA letter refers to the Phoenix conference as "The San Francisco Region Management Training Forum."
Social Security Regional Commissioner Peter Spencer earlier told ABC News that staff members needed to learn how to reduce stress because of a growing number of death threats made against them.
The letter says the purpose of the forum was, "to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the Social Security Administration's service provided to the American public by providing substantive training for managers."
However, all signage at the Biltmore referred to the conference as, "2009 Management Tango."
On Thursday, the United States Senate Finance committee also requested the Inspector General audit the entire contracting process used by Social Security to select the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa for their conference.
"It's especially frustrating when you have people who truly are disabled who will wait years just to get their case heard and years more just to get a little help," said Congressman Brady. "When they see the government and the agency wasting their money like this, I know it makes them angry and I know it really frustrates them."
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