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Rep. Jeff Denham, (R-Calif.), on the costs to taxpayers of maintaining the numerous vacant properties owned by the federal government.
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-- meant playing landlord to high value but vacant federal buildings and guess what you pick up the tab to maintain them.
The house holding a hearing today in one of the emptying buildings to get to the bottom of the problem Republican congressman Jeff Denham of California is leading the cause he joins me now.
And just to be clear here this is property the government owns does not used has not sold is paying to maintain.
Yet your fourth field hearing on this congressman is there any progress being made.
Well the only progress and we got out of today's hearing was they actually said that all our hearings are helping them to market these properties.
So I've made a commitment to them -- I continue to hold hearing after hearing after hearing on all these big and buildings.
Says there -- relying on congressional hearings.
That's unbelievable.
I mean these people -- -- there -- also some shoppers in the hearing today and an -- up to one right here says at one of the General Services Administration -- this is that group of folks we've talked about a lot on the show.
You talk to them today about what they're doing and if they're getting any any.
Forward momentum on this here's what they told you.
If the president wants -- parties to work together the president wants both houses to work together why isn't the president issued a directive to the senator the house to say give me the bill.
You -- -- bill let's get this done because today you can't get your job.
I don't first of all don't see how you can defend your record but secondly what -- -- more that's why the president's outlook -- about coming up with a solution.
Justice.
Well what -- through your mind when you heard that answer.
Let's just frustrates yeah its very frustrating to see all the finger pointing going on at those same time we spent.
One point seven billion dollars.
Just in maintenance just taking care of these buildings.
That bowl parties that the administration everybody said these things aren't needed their excess properties.
What wasting one point seven billion dollars a year and this property that we did in Georgetown two and a half acres.
In the middle of Georgetown.
Where I need huge really Citi.
Let's break this down for a minute because the White House adds that there are only spending -- 109 million on these properties to maintain -- say that's wrong.
No one point seven billion and all of our properties across the nation are right -- one property Georgetown was 350 -- alone.
All right well let's take a look at that -- the Georgetown heating plant let me tell you Georgetown is a high rent district okay if you have property there you're proud of it.
You probably pay a lot of money they get it.
And from what I understand it's costing taxpayers 3.5 million to maintain an operating expenses do you have a different number than that congressman.
Well we certainly we feel their numbers are -- we wanna see how they came up with those numbers visiting -- its security does include all of the -- maintenance factors and involved you know.
I can understand that it's difficult to unload buildings in this market because it's not been a great real estate market -- -- for commercial buildings.
What's your response to that.
Well these are all very unique properties I mean this morning in particular Georgetown -- you can't find two and a half acres in Georgetown.
The old post office in Washington DC one of the most historic buildings.
In our nation's capital when we put that out to bid.
I mean we had death of over a dozen different companies that came -- but high value offers that not only did us.
Off of spending six and a half million dollars a year on that one property.
But actually getting us proposals -- -- bring in 25 kids at thirty million a year and create 300 jobs in the process I mean this is about jobs.
And getting these properties back on its actual marriage just as much as it is about getting the money in to reduce our debt.
Well congressman your taxpayer dollars at work working for somebody else obviously not working for us congressman what you're gonna.
You're gonna see is going across the nation -- these vacant buildings are everywhere across the nation and we're gonna continue to help them to market these properties.
Thanks so much for your help tonight appreciate it thank you.
