Doan welcomes Waxman's call

Lurita Doan said she is delighted to have the chance to answer the personal attacks and “scurrilous” charges she has faced since she decided, as administrator of the General Services Administration, to drive the agency to fiscal recovery.

“Ever since I made the decision to restore fiscal discipline to all divisions within GSA, I have had to face a series of personal attacks and charges,” Doan wrote in an e-mail message late March 6. “I am eager to have the chance to show the progress we have made at GSA to eliminate wasteful spending and restore the agency to a sound financial footing.”

That afternoon, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, called Doan to testify March 20 to answer allegations of wrongdoing and illegal contracting maneuvers.

Waxman has investigated Doan’s business relationship with longtime friend Edie Fraser, owner of the Public Affairs Group. He wants answers to allegations that Doan used GSA to benefit Republican candidates and about problems with a Sun Microsystems technology contract, according to Waxman’s letter to Doan.

Waxman wrote that the administrator should be “a model for integrity in contracting.” His letter describes ways Doan has failed at that.

But Doan said she is glad about the committee’s call.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to set the record straight and provide a full and complete record to Congressman Waxman and the committee, and refute these scurrilous allegations,” she wrote.

One of Doan’s objectives is getting GSA to live within its budget. In a speech in August 2006, she talked about gutting unproductive programs. “I have had the truly rare privilege of cutting the budget,” she said then with a smile.

In a March 2 interview, Doan reiterated her desire to continue to cut spending. She said agency employees know where the wasteful programs are, and "it is so important for them to know there are no sacred cows.”

That has ruffled feathers. GSA’s Office of the Inspector General has disagreed with Doan’s efforts to cut its budget. Its funding goes toward auditing and checking the agency’s steps.