Senate Votes to Urge Smithsonian to Make Changes in CEO’s Spending

The Senate has voted not to give the Smithsonian Institution $17-million of the increase the White House sought for the museum until the organization makes serious changes in spending by the chief executive’s office, reports The Washington Post.

The White House had sought $678.4-million for the Smithsonian in the fiscal year that begins October 1. It received $637-million last year.

The legislation comes after a series of articles in the Post reporting that Lawrence Small, the institution’s secretary since 2000, spent $90,000 in personal expenses and $2-million on improvements in his private homes and offices.

Under the new measure, Mr. Small’s annual salary would be capped at $400,000; he currently makes $915,698.

The Senate provision was sponsored by Sen. Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa. “It signals to the Smithsonian that a champagne lifestyle at taxpayer expense is unacceptable,” Mr. Grassley told the Post.

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