Political Quotes

“today I pay tribute to the memory of Elmer B. Staats, one of the great civil servants of the post-World War II era. A former Comptroller General of the United States and head of the General Accounting Office, as GAO was then called, Mr. Staats died July 23 in Washington at the age of 97. Elmer Staats had the distinction of serving under every U.S. President from Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan. But more important than the longevity of his career was his record of professional achievement. A leading figure in the world of public administration and government accountability, Elmer Staats was renowned for his dedication to constructive change and good government principles. Appointed Comptroller General in 1966, Elmer Staats helped lay the foundation for the modern-day GAO. He transformed it from an agency primarily known for financial audit work to one that evaluates the effectiveness of virtually every Federal activity at home and abroad, from antipoverty programs to military spending to investments in infrastructure. At the start of Staats' tenure at GAO, accountants comprised more than 95 percent of the agency's professional staff. By the time he retired in 1981, the agency's workforce included such diverse professionals as economists, social scientists, attorneys, and computer experts--all career employees hired on the basis of their knowledge, skills, and ability. Under Elmer Staats, GAO took a lead role in issuing auditing guidance.…”