GovernmentExecutive.com

The purpose of the subsidy is to clean up the air. We have already had Code Red days. I agree cheaters should be fired. Some employees don't sell them, they give them to relatives and then drive to work. This benefits no one since they still drive downtown and pollute the air. One comment stated, "And don't get me started on travel expenses". Try sitting in a bus and looking at single driver cars cut in and out of the car pool lane. People have no standards for their behavior anymore.

Lorrie  | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 |  11:17 AM

---

Set aside the fact that these employees violated the rules, and should know better. Transit vouchers (at least in my agency) are flat rates regardless of the actual transit expenses of the employee, and the purpose is to subsidize the employee's commute. If one sells the voucher, the employee still has transit expenses to pay for, and the gas it takes to get to the park-and-ride also costs money. Audits, investigations and the penalty process all cost taxpayer dollars, too, not to mention the cost of training replacements for terminated employees. Why not simply pay the subsidy and be done with it? If the employee continues to show up for work, the employee has fulfilled his/her obligation. If the employee drives (perhaps carpooling) instead of using mass transit, there may be issues that are better addressed by transit planners than auditors. Moreover, when the government charges fees for specific services and then throws the fees into the general fund, that is considered acceptable practice. We should get over the fear that somehow an employee might actually benefit from an employee benefit. (And, don't get me started on travel expenses.)

Ted Bean  | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 |  10:11 AM

---

When so many of our top executives and leaders get away with other sundry violations, with little or no price to pay, then the rest of the employees want to follow suit and get their cut. This is not justification for the illegal actions but a resultant mindset that unless you get caught, its okay. Need solid leadership to show the right path and the vast majority will follow.

Realist in Philadelphia  | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 |  08:54 AM

---

Put them away and throw away the keys.

charles gray  | Monday, May 28, 2007 |  07:14 PM

---

Let us not forget that most federal employees do beleive in an honest days work for an honest days wages. They would never violate the transit benefit privilege and are also horrified that any federal employee would. So let's all take a deep breath and remember that the violator's are only a handful as is true for any program, public or private. There are always a few rotten apples and they should be punished but let's not slam the entire federal workforce.

Skeptical  | Monday, May 28, 2007 |  06:32 PM

---

I am a active federal employee and utilize transit vouchers. In my opinion this is both the employees fault and the employers fault.

The employee is stealing and should be subject to civilian penalties for their thefts. For the employers, they should be instituting quarterly audits where the employee has to show their monthly (or whatever is received) tickets and unused vouchers. If not validated, the employee's use of the voucers would be terminated.

Charles Smith  | Monday, May 28, 2007 |  11:00 AM

---

They belong in jail along with a fine. Personal responsability is not a part of many employees life today.

ken wiesman  | Saturday, May 26, 2007 |  12:36 PM

---