BUREAUCRATS AT WORK

Sometimes government bureaucrats have too much time on their hands and are willing to spend taxpayers' money willy-nilly, even as the federal government shuts down unfunded operations during critical budget-balancing talks.

For example: A public affairs officer for the Federal Aviation Administration wrote a package of seven press releases about the FAA's involvement with Santa's Christmas Eve air travels -- by sleigh. Then the releases were faxed to news organizations around a four-state area. The very nice woman who wrote the releases suggested that it was a way to educate youngsters about FFA operations, using Santa as a way to get their interest.

Yes, the nice woman said, she and her co-workers are considered essential employees in this go-around of the federal government shutdown. But some taxpayers might wonder.

And then there were the press releases from the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, letting the news media know that the department would be closed for Christmas, New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Day.

Fine, but why three separate releases? Wouldn't it have been more expedient -- and better use of taxpayers' money -- if the holiday notices had been combined in one press release?

Another example of government-think.