Comments on Use of Appropriations to Pay for Personal Long Distance Calls

The Office of Emergency Management requested GAO's opinion on whether it is authorized to certify for payment a voucher in favor of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, covering charges for personal long-distance telephone calls over Government leased facilities irrespective of the fact that some of the charges cannot be collected from the employees, it being proposed to make payment now from appropriated funds, the appropriation to be later reimbursed if and when collection is accomplished from the employee.