Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : $492,000 Spent for Agriculture Party

Weeks after a congressman questioned the $667,000 cost of last year’s gala, an Agriculture Department agency spent nearly $492,000 to honor its employees. The Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service flew employees to Washington and put them up for the June 8-9 ceremony, documents show. The agency spent $7,656 on key chains, pens, lapel pins, tote bags and mugs. Other expenditures included $7,978 for plaques and $13,656 to print badges, agendas, certificates, signs and banners. “It is simply not acceptable to put on this kind of bash . . . ,” “ said Rep. David E. Price (D-N.C.).