Federal Workers’ Health Clubs Cost Taxpayers $1 Million a Year

In the latest salvo in the rapidly escalating war against perks, a Republican congressman charged Friday that the executive branch is paying for memberships in private health clubs for scores of federal employees at a cost of nearly $1 million a year.

In addition, said Rep. Scott L. Klug (R-Wis.), many of these employees are allowed to leave their jobs to get their exercise without being docked for vacation or personal leave.

“The General Accounting Office estimates lost work time for push-ups and sit-ups could be costing taxpayers a staggering $379 million a year,” Klug said in a statement.

Perks have become a sensitive issue on Capitol Hill since the House bank scandal created the impression that members of the House of Representatives could write unlimited overdrafts on their checking accounts without penalty.

As part of an effort to cut back on congressional excesses, the leadership announced recently that members would be charged $400 a year to use the Senate and House health clubs, a four-fold increase from the previous $100 fee.

In his announcement of a GAO survey of executive branch practices, Klug said that 15 federal agencies acknowledged paying for 305 memberships in fitness centers at private spas or public parks at an estimated cost of $969,471 a year.

The GAO also found that 11% of the federal work force--more than 250,000 people--now use health facilities in government buildings where they work.

If a comparable percentage of the U.S. work force could be excused from work to go to fitness centers, the GAO said, it would be a very costly benefit.

“While it makes sense to encourage workers to stay fit and healthy, we’ve got to develop some stricter enforcement policies to make sure taxpayers aren’t taken advantage of,” Klug said. “The current environment is ripe for abuse.”

Klug and other members of Congress have written to Constance Barry Newman, director of the Office of Personnel Management, demanding a halt to government payment for private health club memberships. They also asked her to stop the practice of allowing employees to go to fitness centers without using their annual leave to do so.

Questioned by members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on executive branch practices, White House Budget Director Richard G. Darman took a cooperative stance.

Rather than resisting congressional attempts to curb executive branch perks such as cars and drivers assigned to some officials and elegant dining rooms for senior staff aides, Darman said the Office of Management and Budget would “race” lawmakers to see who could eliminate them first.