Given the entire foundation surrounding Jonathan Gruber’s expertise is based on lies, deceptions and false presentations, does it really come as a surprise that he billed various state governments for products and services he neither produced nor serviced?
Vermont got “Grubered” !
According to Vermont Media: Vermont officials ignored “obvious signs” of problematic billing by health care economist Jonathan Gruber, the state auditor said in a memo released Monday.
Gruber’s invoices lacked important details and claimed dubious numbers of work hours as he prepared economic models for a single-payer health care system — but state officials failed to scrutinize the invoices, Auditor Doug Hoffer wrote.
[…] In the report released Monday, the state auditor said the Agency of Administration “failed to exercise due diligence,” naming Robin Lunge, director of health care reform, and Michael Costa, deputy director of health care reform.
Gruber submitted two consecutive invoices in September and October claiming the exact same figures — 100 hours for Gruber at $500 per hour, and 500 hours for his research assistants at $100 per hour. Only one research assistant worked on the project, according to the auditor’s report.
“The evidence suggests that Dr. Gruber overstated the hours worked by the RA and that the Agency of Administration ignored the obvious signs that something was amiss,” Hoffer wrote. “Even if the State was not overly concerned about the first invoice, Ms. Lunge and Mr. Costa should certainly have been alarmed by the second.” (read more)
Meh, fortunately for Gruber he’s part of a protected class and he will not suffer any legal action or admonitions. If the State of Vermont were to hold him accountable it would expose more political types to scrutiny. Ergo, alas he’s got nothing to worry about….
