The IRS spent $60,000 on two "training videos" which parodied the popular TV shows, “Star Trek” and “Gilligan’s Island.” The Star Trek parody was created to open a 2010 IRS training and leadership conference, according to the IRS, who now admits the videos were a mistake.
CBS News obtained one of the two videos, the Star Trek parody, which will be shown below. (The original article can be found at CBS News)
"Space: the final frontier
These are the voyagers of the Starship Enterprise Y
Its never-ending mission is to seek out new tax forms
To explore strange new regulations
To boldly go where no government employee has gone before."
Thus begins a six-minute "Star Trek" parody starring IRS employees and paid for with your tax dollars. It's not likely to go over well with some Americans and members of Congress, especially since federal agencies have been complaining that it's difficult to find trims under forced sequestration.
CBS News filed a Freedom of Information request asking for the video after the IRS earlier refused to turn over a copy to the congressional committee that oversees tax issues: House Ways and Means. According to committee Chairman Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA), the video was produced in the IRS's own television studio in New Carrollton, MD. The studio may have cost taxpayers more than $4 million dollars last year alone.
Star Trek Parody below:
CBS News reports the IRS did not provide the Gilligan's Island parody video.
Was the video above worth $30,000- $60,000 tax dollars when the nation is over $16 trillion in debt and have run $1 trillion-plus deficits for four years straight?